Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-10-30

and the quantity Of railroad lands, are ind.
Gated, nearly, in round numbers, by the fol-
lowing figures: 3.
Fort Dodge D:.r'cs Railroad lands. $4,000 acres
7" other lands. ..... $1,000 +"
Sioux City District. Railroad lands ...... 1900 7"
other lands. ......... $4,000 Z"
Dss MOne' District. Railroad lands '.... ~. 5000
.n other lands. s......... 1900 . s
I'd .t st. s Total. $4,000
These figures, like those referring to the
lands in some Of the counties, viii be slightly
changed in perfecting the list by the omis-
sion of some tracts selected by the counties,
and perhaps by some pre-cmptions. Tho ap.
parent deficit in the total number is made
up, nearly, by considering the maximum.
priced railroad lands ut twice their actual
quantity. Tw taa
Tho Act Of Congress limited tho minimum
quantity OF College lands, in single tract,
to 160 acres. and the General Assembly was
explicitly carcful to prohibit any selections
being made from the uncer,incd "swamp
lands" | was prevented from selecting
many fine prairie tracts near the rivers, and
| some timber tracts, also, in some counties
where such lands had been selected by tho
swamp land agents who, in some cases, Sc
| lected "on shares" and are, or were, inter.
cs,ed in tho operation with the county Off
GERS, Many of such lands are not swamp"
within the meaning Of the Act Of Congress
And the General Assembly appears to have
made no distinction between swamp lands
| that have been certified, and those which
these interested operators desire to have GER
tilted, IL possible. Tho swamp lands selected
appear, in some cases, to have been made at
random, and in others, in some counties, with
a view to avoid the wet land-hence some Of
the swamp land operators claim, with great
propriety, in offering them for sale, that
the swamp lands are as good es any in the
county" Occasionally they selected few
40 acre tracts in section, in such man.
ner that the balance could not be chosen as
College lands, nor would the remaining por-
ton be in a good shape for farm Tho
swamp lands in several counties not hay.
ing been certified were not marked on tho
pnts in the land Offices, hence, in the haste
necessary to prepare the list it may happen
that some tracts will have to be omitted from
the list. will, therefore, state in approxi-
mate numbers the quantity oflands selected in
the several counties, and refer to the maps,
plat books. &C., for the particular location, as
well as descriptions, in addition to the fol.
lowing brief notes on the counties and prin.
cipal localities.
HAMILTON COUNTY.
There werc but few vacant lands, compar-
atively, east Of Fort Dodge, yet the fact OF
thor being the nearest to present markets in
duced me to select about 4 800 acres OF rail.
road lands in this county, situated abou. mid
way setwceE Iowa and Boone rivers. The
tracts are oil gently rolling prairie, with a
fair proportion Of good grain land and the
rest better adapted to grass The soil in this
county, like that Of those farther westward,
is fully equal to any in the eastern part of the
State. and like the other lands on the line of
the Dubuque and Sioux City railroad, be-
tween these lands and Sioux City, they will
become rich agricultural country after the
road is built. The lands selected arc from
ten to fourteen miles from Webster City, the
county seat, prosperous town, with mum.
Der Of stores grist and saw mills, and nun.
Der OF mechanics. They nre about the same
distance from Alsso 90 Inc Iowa river, and
about seventy miles from Cedar Falls the
present terminus Of the Dubuque and Sioux
City railroad They are all within few
miles Of the railroad line, and some OF them
within fifteen miles Of the coal mines, on
Boone river, near Webster City.
| NNi1II NOINTt.
The 500 acres selected in this county are
similar to those selected in Hamilton county,
four to six miles from the railroad line, and
seven to ten miles from the considerable bod
les of timber on Boone river near Webster
City, and about the same distance from the
timber on Iowa river above Alden. One OF
the best features of the lands In hcse coun-
ties is the large growth Of good native grasses
for hay. Parts OF some tracts that would
make good plow land by furrow draining are
quite rs valuable in their present condition
for grass land. Among these grasses, be-
sides the "blue joint well known to be a
valuable one, ale two species Of "red top
excellent grasses, that are still more abundant
further westward, wherever College lands
have been selected in the valley Of the Des
Moines river. One species is ripe in the lat.
ter part Of July, and should be cut early !;
the other is ripe in September, and should be
cut in August. Most Of these tracts are al.
ternatc whole sections. and some are within
four or five miles Of Wall lake.
WEBSTER COUNTY.
There were no vacant lands in the eastern
part OF this county. About 5000 acres Of
railroad lands were selected in the western
part, within ten to fifteen miles of Fort
Dodge, the county seat, prosperous town
with number Of large stores, mechanics for
all kinds Of work required by farmers, grist
and saw mills, and at present nearly 600
| inhabitants. In view Of its location in the
valley Of the Dcs Moincs, and on the line of
the railroad, the timber and mineral rcsour.
ccs in the vicinity, it is the most promising
town within 100 miles west Of Cedar Falls.
The selections are good grass and grain
lands, and the whole sections, like those in
other counties, afford in many instances such
a variety of soil and situation as to crafty
the preferences of any immigrant farmer in
the choice Of quarter sections AZ farms
These lands are better watcred than those in
some counties, and when the railroad Is con.
| structed the large quantities Of coal in the
immediate vicinity of Fort Dodge will furn.
ish cheap fuel. The lands are equal to any
in heayylgrowth Of the best native grasses.
The immense quantities of gypsum at Fort
Dodge, in solid ledges over twenty feet thick,
| will eventually become valuable to the farm.
ers il long cultivation reduces the soil in such
manner as to require this occasionally use
ful fertilizer. This gypsum is Of superior
quality, Is more compact than usual, and
presents beautifully streaked and mottled
appearance, is easily dressed with an ak or
cut with saw into good building material,
use to which it has been applied for sew.
eral years at Fort Dodge. A fine dwelling
forty-two feet square and three stories high,
is now being constructed Of it., The fertility
Of the upper part Of the Des Moines valley,
or that portion Including Webster and four
other counties. containing ABOUT one third OF
the College lands, is not tsurpassed by that OF
any of the counties in the older settled por.
tons Of the State. The country resembles,
upon a large scale. the College Farm, in hav.
ing variety Of soil, situation. timber, build.
ing material, &c. with good choice OF grain
or stock farms in almost every neighbor-
| hood The cast and west forks Of tie LES