Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-12-22
A TRIP THROUGH NORTH " EST.
ERN IOWA.

WsE, DsuC~UUWh, OotsWss AOWu
G,undy, Batier, Floyd, Mitchell
Worth, Cerro Gordo, Franklin
! Hardin, MarstaH, Hamilton,
Wright, Hancock. Websters, DC.
ELDoRA, HARDIN Co.. Dec. Is. 1868
DEAR DIcK.-Bclieving that your ru
merous readers are deeply interested il
the prosperity Of the State Of their adop.
ton, drop you line, giving an inn
perfect sketch Of my observations, made
during flying trip through the above
named counties. | left your beautiful
and prosperous city about the goth oi
October, fora business trip through
Northern Iowa, this being my first trip
through his portion of the State.
found much to interest and a,nuse me.
1t is very easy matter to trace your
route on the map from one county seat
to anothcr,-thc distance there seems
short aud smooth, but 1assnre you it is
quite another matter when you come to
travel it-when mile after mile, uphill
and down, through wood and mire some
times to your axle, and ever and anon
across the wide prairie where you have
no land marks, or gnide board, and a
blind COW path to follow, found in some
secluded sections by the name OF "the
big road" said to myself sometimes
"lf this is their big road, I'd like to know
what they call small one" Iowa has
55,045 square mics of territory, but
when we come to travel over it, it seems
500, ,OOO-he becomes so fatigue at times.
Now il had travelled over as much
territory in almost any portion OF the
Old Wrrld, l would pass for an exten
sive tourist-would have visited the
principal points Of interest in several
states, or provinces. lie that thinks
this State presents an rninteresting, mo.
notonous appearance, needs but to take
Q trip over 1t to un3eceive himself Ev
cry day and hour, almost, the landscape
varies; the rolling praires resemble 20
many lmmenee ocean waves, as they fade
away in The distance, the numerous
groves aud belts Of timber, and silvery
rivuIets and rivers (appearng like sill
yer thread upon the brown back ground)
often afford beautiful landscape. We
have never yet heard any one who has
viewed the State,say that she was not full
" entitled t, the al pelation of "beauti
fu land" the signifance in Indian dia
lect of the word "Iowa." This State EN-.
braces the largest area Of tillab.e land,
in one body, tina. exists in the United
States and l have now travelled through
nearly every county in the State, and am
free to say that Io,cd has no tcoste land!
am very much pleased with North
ern Iowa. find everything in more
prosperous condition. Not only are the
farms larger and better cultivated, but
the people are more intelligent and refin-
ed, aud more hospi,able they have bet
ter churches and schools and 7more
of them. II a child grows up here to
manhood, in ignorance. it is not from
want of educational facilities. Every
township almost has school house, and
generally every neighborhood, where his
education will be as free 10 him as the
air be brea,hes.
The farmers in Northern Iowa, as a
general thing are prosperous. Corn has
in many sections been falure-some
places from drought others from frost,
but they get enough for wheat to make
good their loss on corn, and farmers are
generally getting out Of debt.
War widows are increasing, in fact it
is almost dangerous for stranger-an
able.bodicd man-to travel through this
country without guardian to protect
him. He is everywhere put with the
question, "why amt you in the army
You have just as good a right to leave
your family and 60 to war as my hus-
band" When they hear my story Of the
destitute condition of the numerous war
widows and nnmberless children, on my
tra~cls, they subside besides l make it
point to pay my bills, which averages
from SO cents to 81 for stopping over
night--b;g thing! Old maids are every
where increasing, and old bachelors de-
creasing, and they say unless something
is done for the universal country, the
war must come to stop.
We have bad several miniature snow
storms, enough falling weather to make
the roads very bad in places. have
not been able to find any Burtis Horses
on the trip, and marry WATSON to
cater to my wants. If one would fully
apprec ate the comforts of the Burtis
House, let him 81 rowss around" any.
where in the country. Now and then |
get gay game dinner or supper, cooked
splcnd'dly, and have everything l could
ask Tor, but these places are the excep-
tions. But we cant expect to find a
good hotel at eve.v farm h use.
had the pleasure Ct spending day
with our former townsman J. w.
Churchill and family. They are very
pleasantly located in the Southwestern
part of Berrien County, and have one of
the most delightful residences in the
County. Their numerous friends should
never come this way without paying them
visit, which will be pleasant to the
members of the family, and the visitors.
| Mr.. Churchill is already doing much to
improve this section Of the State. He
has subscribed librally towards erecting
new Episcopal Church, and is Leading
of 10 several good enterprises. May he
and his enjoy long life and prosperity.
The people are for arigeous prosecu-
ton Of the war, regardless Of politics. l
hear no erumbling about taxes. The far
mers have plenty Of money, and will
shell out literally to restore peace.
There is heavy emigration OF Sweeds
and Norwegians into Northern Iowa and
thav bring supgid constitutions. ecOnom-