The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-09-26
,rrespondence Of the Times.

DS1T or: In summing up your travels
khrough Northern Iowa in the Times of
kugust s2d, you allude to "Mason CITY as
ace which looked as though it had seen
yer days We might Judge from your
11gaage that you do not consider it enti-
q to the "cold respcctofa passing glance"
hen you proceed to characterize Clear
Re in high sounding terms, as very
Ueautlinl place, deserving public admiration,
destined to be point of no small distinc.
ion, &C., but fail to mention the present
atrast between the two places.
That Mason City has seen hard times, is
cry true, and the same truth will apply to
very village in this part of the State
put we can say in "sober truth" that our
IN has done more to retrieve the past
any other village in these parts. The
te OF our finances is at present low, but
ops are beautiful, yielding an average of
twenty live bushels of wheat per acre, and
her grains in ratio.
II farmers can getanything like decent
Price for their produce, we shall be as well
prepared to live as our neighbors nearer the
nver, or even our friends at the Lake with
their fishing and sailing privileges -,
very building that could be converted into
human habitation, Of every grade and
oop dition, during the past season, has been
hped, and still more have been in good
femand. Several new families have settled
9ong us this season, who appear to be
Veil satisfied, having land enough to cult
waite, enough to do, and enough to cat.
There is more improvement going on
pong us than in any of our neighboring
towns. Two good dwelling houses have
been erected this past summer, one of stone
and the other of wood. A large stone
ssore-house is in process of erection, and
Also large two-story stone machine shop.
Three stores are in active operation. several
masons, carpenters and blacksmths: while
- as good entertainment can bc found at the
ahkonsa as can be found any where this
le OF my old friend w. A. Dunham's, at
McGregor.
At Clear Lake they have built one barn,
Fhile several dwelling houses have stood
unoccupied and tenantless. do not wish
to disparage the true merits of Clear Lake
l Its interests are too closely identified with
our own. But wish to have the facts as
they are, presented to the public, that they
may see and judge for themselves. 1t has
its advantages and attractions, but it is not,
and never can be, so good point for bust
ness as Mason City is, although it is locat-
Cd IN the same county. The lake itself is
= the only advantage that it possesses at the
present time over us, and that is what |
consider poor capital. l think if that were
Cerro Gordo's only attraction, that ssabsen-
feelsm' would be more prevalent than it is
low. Our village is situated but half
plle from Lime Greek, along which there is
as good supply of timber as they have at
the Lake, and think full as good as can
pc found any where in these parts. Here
we nave the advantage of a never-failine
water power, which Clear Lake does not
possess, which has proved the most efficient
curing the past dry weather of any within
forty miles Of us. People from the coun.
ties Of Floyd, Worth, Winnebago, Hancock
Wright and Franklin, have patronised the
srist mill of E. Randall C Co., for several
months past.
In regard to roads and bridges there are
improvements continually going on in that
hne, and in that respect Cerro Gordo will
compare favorably with any of her sister
counties. 1t is true that majority of our
lands are owned by non-residcnts, but tina,
is fault of the Government and not ours
Spectators have been a curse to every
county in Northern Iowa, and if they will
buy our western lands and leave them un
occupied to the disparagement of our inter
ests, we, Of course, will have to collect :
tax from the same for the benefit of actua
settlers. We must have public building.
and bridges, and every free holder mus
help pay for them, whether he is rcsiden
or not.
Now, Mr.. Editor, will close this letter
which ! fear is getting too long, by sayin,
that out this way we want Lincoln fol
President, and Homestead Bill passed fo1
the benefit and protection of settlers; ant
If you will give us railroad we will keel
up with the spirit of the age without fur
ther trouble
Hoping that this will find a place in tn,
columns OF your paper, remain
Yours truly, G.
RENARKs-Onr correspondent would no
do us intentional injustice, though his Ian
guage implies that we neglected to give Ma
son City its due. BY reading. the accoun
of.our little land trip, it will be seen that "
did not travel to set towns up or set then
down. We were looking at the countr,
more than the towns, and space permitte
only passing allusion to any of Them
We prefer to have every town in Iowa sem
US description Of iself, as G. has done 70
Mason City
Mr.. Lincoln will probably fail to cor
nect' with the White House, notwithstand
ing the desire Of our correspondent.
~ A bit OF wag, on board of steam
boat, not little disquieted in his slumber
BY some fellow dodgers, who seemed to dis
pute his claim to the berth, called out
Hello, stewardP'
"What. NASSAU"