The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-11-13
McCregor Photographed.

McCregor Photographed.
In the Chicago Times Of Wednesday
morning we perceived spicy and racy let
ter over the signature of "a. P.," which
only needed the addition of an "R" to form
triad with which all the old readers Of the
Times are quite familiar. We transfer to
our columns SO much Of the communica-
ton as has local interest:
McGREGoR, Iowa, Nov. T.
This smart river town is situated imme-
diately opposite the depot Of the Milwaukee
and Prairie du Chen Railway, on the Mis-
sissippi river, nearly 70 miles, by water,
above Dubuque. Its not handsome place,
particularly the only business street in it
runs westerly, at right angles with the great
river, and between ranges Of bluffs boaSting
an altitude Of two to three hundred feet
The dwellings are set IN the side Of the
bluffs, and look down very satisfactorily on
the h'le world Of activity which daily ell
livcnS Main str, ct. The houses are mostly
Of cheap construction, owing to an un
fortunate quarrel or law suit, now some 10
or IL years old, carried on by the McGregor
brothers, and which bids fair to b. extended
by the ci;iz:ns so long as lawyers are will
ing to conduct it. Under such circunstan-
ccs, the residents of the place do not feel
like putting up expensive improvements,
and hence nearly all the capital that finds
It's way here goes into commerce. Many
things might be said AS to the pccuiaritics
OF McGr.gor, aud its natural facilities as
point OF trade; but readers Of newspapers are
not now a-dayS much interested in details,
and omit particulars. The country west
of us, for 100 to 200 miles, is the garden of
the West, in soil, water, timber, aud health
There arc SO many gardens of the West re-
partsd, -howrr,.r, that our claims will prob
ably excite only smile but when YOU arr
informed that the country has been but re.
Gently settled, and that our receipts of wheat
for the year ending July, 1861, were ov.r
three miitton Bushels, you will probably con.
ciudc that We have some land out this way
and that it is worth cultiva,ing. In addi-
ton to tine grain receipts, We can show ship
ments OF pork last winter valued at 5000
900; hides and furs at 500, 900; besides
many other valu gathered from ii Id and
forest. 4 railroad is projected to run out
OF Us to Sioux City. with branch from the
Cedar river tn st. Paul This road. when
completed, will give us Nojl position be-
tween the great Northwest, on the sun,lown
side Of the Mississippi, and Chicago and
Milwaukee,, the New York and Philadelphia
Of the western lakes. But this road goes
slowly, anil the prospects are not favorable
for its early completion. At this point we
are not Ovcr-anxiOus about its construction:
most Of us have lived east long enough
&, learn that railroads, in general way, de-
sirOy natural advantages and extend bene.
hts to artificial points. The road will b.
built, however, in spite Of our wishes or
local interests "a country now capable Of
throwing into this entrepot from 10000 to
10000 bushels Of wheat per day, for
months together, will not long rest salts.
fled with team deliveries. Our receipts
(entircly by team are now, and have been
Tor weeks, nearly one hundred thousand
bushels per week. The visits Of 600 to
800 teams day, and the necessary trade
that results from these visits, place our
narrow city" in the very front rank Of
business activity, and you may be sure a
stranger scarcely knows what to make of
It. Far enough from the special evil in
fuenccs of the war, We are yet enough
to profit somewhat by its demands for sup.
plies; situated opposite railrod terminus
pointing eastward to Milwaukee and Chica.
go, having daily connection v ith Dub uaue,
and tri-weckly with St. Louis !; having no
rival roads nearer to us on the west than
the Cedar River 600 miles); claiming to
have two or three millions Of ,nrivalled soil
naturally tributary to this landing, We laugh
at the war, in business sense, and say to
those who forced it upon us, "Let 'er rip"
McGregor has population Of 5000, and
does daily business that would frighten
an eastern resident Of a 10000 to 10000
city out Of his senses. There is not
building in town for rent, and tho rents will
average 80 per cent Of the cost of the pro-
perty, the value Of the soil Of course ex
cluded. So much for the locality whence
am addressing you.