Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-06-24
~ .5G [For the JonrnAl.l -.-oCd
Agricultural COllege-A4 Journey to the
Inferior Of TOvya.

AueOEAOE u AOW0s
FRIEND MAHIN: 7 last week passed
out on the M. & NJ. Railroad 86 miles to
Marengo, thence nine miles north by
stage to Blairstown, on the Cedar Rap
ids & Missouri River railroad, thence
about 80 miles west through the counties
of Benton, Tama, Marshal and Story
to Colo, thence seven miles by stage to-
Nevada, and ten miles further to the
College Farm in the west side of Story
county. t-t' $3.50
The country generally looksvery fine,
at this season of the year especially
Crops look well, but suffering from the
drouth about the same as at Muscatine.
I had expected to find places where the
showers had somewhat relieved the
drouth, but was disappointed. South
and southeast of Desmoines, and also at
Cedar Falls, 1 learned there had been
showers. The frost had bit the corn in
the valley of the Iowa, through Benton
and Tama counties. Notwithstanding
all the croaking about the damage of the
drouth to crops, the late showers will
bring forth abundance think. 1 heard
less complaint of the chintz bug up that
way than here. l think the drOuth pre-
vented some of the corn from coming
up. If one can spare the labor, they
would do well to replant this week. I
have planted here on the first of July,
and the corn ripened so as to make good
feed and fodder.
Sheep and cattle in good quantities up
through that country.
Those two railroads will probably
make a connection somewhere. At Ma
rengo it is only between seven and eight
miles, but rough and high. 1t is con-
templated to connect at Nevada, which
is ten miles east of north from Des-
moines. The College Farm is 80 miles
due north of Desmoines and nearer than
Nevada, and a far easier grade; but the
Trustees consider that they have one
railroad too many on the farm now.-
Two miles west would suit better; and
that might answer for link in the Des-
moines Valley railroad.
Crops and business are going on about
right at the farm this year. We farm
on account of the State this year-have
good farmer, with two or three hands
and teams,-15 acres in cultivation
lumber, brick, lime and sand to haul
The large two-story brick farm house is
being finished up-is now being plaster
ed.
COLLEGE BUILDING.
The trustees met at the farm 18th and
10th of June. All the Board present
except Gov. Stone.
sented; most of them very beautiful
and some very good. We adopted one
made by Mr.. J. Brown, of DesMoines.
We located the site for the College on a
beautiful eminence near the center of
the southeast quarter of the section,
with the railroad about half mile to the
north and the county road 100 rods
south. For prairie scenery, of rolling
prairie, valleys, creeks, springs and
groves, its beauty and excellence is hard
to beat in Iowa.
But, to return to the building. 1t is
large and commodious-a basement of
stone and three stories of brick. Cost
not to exceed $4,000.
We had let contract to burn 500, 900
brick at S5.S5 and we find wood, some
of which is cut and dry, and more is to
be cut and delivered at the yard at ST.
per cord. The very best of clay and
water convenient.
We have advertised for the letting OF
| the stone basement and cellar, about soc
perch. The contract to be let the 9th OF
July, at the farm, where proposals may
be sent in-quarrying, hauling and lay
ing. There is plenty of good stone two
miles distant.
We have decided to run water to the
house and barn and College building
from big spring about half mile dis
tant, and to be elevated about 60 feet,
with one of Eames' "Water Engines y
an improvement on the Hydraulic
Ram. This supply of pure, spring wa
ter, which runs out of bed of gravel,
will be of very great value to the Col
| lege and farm house and barn.
SUEL FOSTER.