St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-04-11
Cbt gntcllleeuttr.
IOWA AND IOWA RAILROADS.

We take the following extract from
a long article in the New York Times.
The article favorably exhibits the con-
trast between the peaceful and pros
porous West and the disturbed and
onprcssion ridden South, and closes
with these remarks on the Cedar Val
Icy:
The rapid progress made by Iowa
and Minnesota in the great Northwest,
presents us with pleasant contrast
to the state of things existing in the
South. Where but few years ago
was an unbroken wilderness, and the
Indian sat in his camp, undisturbcd
by the white man, the locomotive is
now heard railroads cut their way
into the valleys, still westward the
din of mills and factories is now heard
on every stream bright villages
spring up as if by magic ; churches
rear their graceful spires, and busy
people arc everywhere seen pursuing
those peaceful vocations which give
strength and vigor to a State. We
read what their future will be in these
pleasant homes, surrounded by greer
fields and pretty gardens which dot
hill and valley, and present so pleas
ant picture for contcmp IatIon. The
soil and climate Of both these States
arc Observation-Disclosures mineral
productions arc incxhaustiblc. Both
offer strong inducements to settlers,
and steady current of emigrants OF
an intelligent kind, has been pouring
into them for the last four years. The
soil of Iowa is particularly rich, easy
of cultivation, and produces wheat
and other articles in great abundance
and Of superior quality. The rail
road enterprises projected and II
course of construction III these :" ial
off regions" are another feature wor
thy Of mention, for the benefits they
will bcstew on New York, in opening
up new avenues to commerce. In 10
wa road Of IS miles is in process o
construction from Cedar Falls t.
Otranto, on the state line of Minncso
ia. This road traverses the Ceda
Valley, the most fertile in the State
and will form a connection with Du
buouc aud Sioux City on one side, ant
Cedar Valley and Minneapolis (cxtcnd
ing to st. Paul, l03 miles) on the 9th
or. When both these roads, (the ace
dar Falls and Minnesota and thu
Cedar Valley and Minneapolis" " arr
completed, VIC shall have an unbrokoi
chain of railroad from New York ~
Chicago to st. Paul, in Minnesota
Other roads cutting through the mos
fertile portions of the State, and opel
cning up new avenues to commerce
and civilization, are also in course {
construction.
The picturesque regions of the FL
West have already begun to attra'
the attention of travellers in search {
health and pleasure. Our people (
wealth and refinement have cXhaustc
Europe, and require novelty and ne
scenes. Those who have hcrctofoI
rcsortcd to our fashionable and eXpe
sivc watering-places came away 50
isted that they have had but a pc
-nt-rn for thoir money But it is c.
dent from the tide of travel that h
set towards these picturesque rcgio
of the far Northwest during the pa
two years, that a material change HI
taken place in the tastes of our pcopl
Even our best artists, who few yea
ago sought objects for their canva
in Europe, are now turning their q
tention to the rich fields open to the
in the wilds of Iowa and Mnnesot
Tho influence of such changes cam
fail to make the railroad enterprise
if prudently conducted, means
safe investment, as well as an instl
mcnt of developing a political pow
the North can always rely upon.
much for Iowa and Minnesota, and I
claim they have on New York III
chants and capitalists.