The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-01-09
TATlA COUNTY.


ties; on the East by Benton Co; on
the South by Poweshiek Co; and on
the West by Marshall and Grundy Coun-
ties. 1t comprises 20 congressional
townships, each being sly miles square
and containing Sc square miles. Her
extreme length from North to South is
thirty miles, and width, from east to
west twentyfour miles.
The Iowa river crosses the western
boundry line near It's centre, and them
mcanders in south eastern course.
leaving the county near the south east
corner
INFO this river, from the north, flows.
Salt Creek, Otter Creek, Deep Creek.
Sugar Creek and several other smaller
ones, ironi the South, Richland Creek.
Indian Creek, Raven Creek anl stu
Others Of less note. On the north, Wolf
Creek extends entirely across the coun-
~ from west 70 cast, and cmotios into
Cedar river, a few miles east of the
North East corner OF the county. Some
OF these creeks arc quite long. Vol
and Salt Greeks cannot be less s!an 2.5
miles in length. Deep Creek %, Otter
and Richland Greeks 16 or Is miles
These are the lengths Of their genera.
course; an accurate measurement, fol
Lowing their short and many mcandcr-
ings would show them to be at least
twice as leng. They all have numerous
branches which supply them and drain
the country, through which they pass
The land receding from their banks to
distance from one eight to three
fourths Of 4 mile, is nearly level and
is usually denomnatcd "bottom land :"
tho greatcr part Of which is arabic, and
the most productive in the world In
some places however the rolling praries
and bluffs commence at the banks Of
these streams. The "bottom land" along
the Iowa river is much more extensive
than that Of the creeks: cxtendn. back
from the river in some places, between
two and three miles. The banks Of this
river are lined with heavy timber, from
q fourth to Z mile in breadth. The most
of tho large creeks are skirtcl With
timber from few rods 70 a quarter q a
mile n breadth, and on tie average for
about, one half their length.
The greater part Of the bluff land in
the county extends along the line of the
river and bounds the bottom land. It
varies III width from single swell to
six or seven miles, and averaging about
one mile. 1t is usually, sparsels covered
with timber; some places however, have
not any, while others are denscly GOV
cred with it, forming first quality OF
timber land for any country. These
bluffs, although the poorest lands we
have in the county, are far FROM being
nonproductive; in fact, owing to con-
ysnience to timber, and other induce
nents, IS great proportion, of them
are nov cultivated az of our rolling
prailies and bottom land
There are but few bluffs along Wolf
and Otter Greeks, and none upon the
east banks Of Salt and Deep creeks.
The lcmainiay part Of the county con
sists Of gentle rolling pra,ries as beau.i-
fal as the sun eyor shone upon; nearly
every foot Of which, rs we'll rs the bot
tom land, arc susceptible Of the highest
state Of cultivation.
For six or eight mica, from the
mouth Of Wolf creek, there may be
found considerable timber along its
banks; while father up stream, is a
number Of groves OF good timber, con-
tanning from twenty to a Hundred acres
each. But far the greater portion OF
timber is situated in the Southern half
Of the county, where nearly every farm
cr owns piece OF timber land, within
his reach. The best evidence Of the
abundance Of timber in this part Of the
county, Is, that it sells at the county
seat for so per cord. This has been
the price since the golden days of IS 81,
and probably will be for some time to
come.
Under the liberal provisions for
schools in our State and the enterprise
ofcur people, Schoolhouseshave sprung
up almost as if by magic. So much
attcGtion has been paid to this impor.
tant enterprise, that they mark almost
every cross road, and in some instance
wo have questioned whether their
proximity, did not weaken rather than
strengthen the enterprise. Many Of
them are amply large, painted and
finished in good substantial manner,