Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-05-30
A Trsp TAseugh 1SwaSsTAs AasSs
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We (.hs u. editor) have lassly returned

IOu the 0sSsOUSA CtOPeS Wo0S0 W INV
been sojourDing for tho last PEAR. On on,
hons~ard trip ~ INDUCED IN little
rounasbcrs course, travsrsing the whole
length Of the State, from Sioux City b.
way of Council Bluffs, Des Moiaes, Ostum
va, Burlington and Davenport. 70 Marsn.
60. In every stage Of our journey w
saw indications Of progress and increasing
prosperity. The 6ns weather with which
We have been favored this spring gave
the farmers An opportunity, (which they
seemed to be we'll improving) 70 do thei.
sowing and planting in good time, rem
dsring il season Of more than usual &C.
tivity. Occasionally the sight Of young
lady and an old gentleman assisting each
other in getting out the spring crops, and
on Sundays the unusual number Of people
dressed in mourning, to b seen in the
congregations 1t the different churches,
reminded Us Of the fratricidal strife that
10 raging 10 another part Of our country,
bringing 80 many Of our young men, the
strength and hope Of our land, to Infinitely
but honorable graves. Aside from this
there was nothing to bring to remembrance
the subject Of our national troubles. All
was peace and plenty.
As perhaps but few Of our readers have
been over the Missouri Slope, w propose
to say few words in regard to that locality.
The two principal towns Of Western
Iowa, are Sioux City and Council Bluffs.
The former 10 about the size Of Marengo
ia situated on beautifully rising bluff
at the great bend Of the Missouri River,
six miles below the mouth Of the Big
Sioax. Il is the only town in Iowa Of any
importance that is located directly on the
Missouri River, and consequently has nat
ural advantages for carrying on mercantile
business uuequaled b. any other point on
the Slope" It 10 the market for nearly
all that part Of our State lying west and
moth Of Fort Dodge, and also for the great
er part of Dakota Territory-contains a
number of large stores, . few banking
houses, several churches, and three very
good hotels. .ss-
The Iowa State troops, the I'd Nebraska
Cavalry and 9Th Iowa Cavalry are located
in that vicinity, all except the State troops,
being under the command Of Brig. Gen.
Cook, whose headquarters are in Sioux
City. These cavalry regiments are Of
great service to the frontier settlers, both
in protecting them from hostile Indians,
and in eating up the surplus produce OF
the country. Corn was worth so cts. per
bushel when we left there.
The next town south Of Sioux City is
Onawa, the county seat Of Monona coun
~, situated on the Missouri Bottom at the
western terminus of the Cedar Rapids l.
Mo. R. R. 1t 10 1t present small village
of about one hundred inhabitants-con-
tains good Court House and . 6ne brick
School House, in which the enterprising
citizens employ teacher for ten months
in q year ct . salary Of sixty dollars per
month. The friends of this town predict
for il I brilliant future. Monona and the
adjoining counties is the best region for
stock raising that We lave seen. The
prair:es furnish an unlimited supply of
grass during the summer. In the tall, the
wild pea" comes to maturity. This
plant grows in great abundance-the cat
tie devour it with avidity, and it is said
to be almost as nutritive as corn. Then
The crush beds" on the timbsred part of
The bottom give q supply Of green food
the winter. It ID not custom.
Ary for the stock raisers in that region to
iced their cattle more than about one.
fourth the winter, and this spring We saw
several hundred head that had not had 1
fork full Of hay during the whole winter,
hat looked at we'll - the ordinary barn
vard cattle. And not only is this the best
place in the State to raise cattle, bat il is
The best place to sell them. The large
amount Of freigbting done from the Mis-. |
,curi River westward, creates an almost
constant demand for draft horses, mules
md oxen.
The Missouri Bottom 10 level plain
rom six to twenty miles wide, and in fer.
ility is probably not surpassed BY tho
amous valley Of the Nile. The river
ans mostly along the west side Of this
plain Or bottom land. On the east side
he bluffs are very steep, in some places
'ising almost perpendicnlarly to : height
# over one hundred feet and frequently
numerous fantastic shapes,
which viewed from distance, with little
id from the Imagination, resemble the
uins Of old castles and Notifications.
The inhabitants Of this locality proba-