Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-02-12
imber sufficient to supply the intervening


timber sufficient to supply the intervening
prairies.
Floyd and Cerro Gordo counties are slna.
ted immediately north Of Butler and Franklin
which are watcrcd by the Cedar and its trib
utarics. Floyd is well timbered, and includ.
ed with the last four named counties, con.
tains the most beautiful and fertile prairies
in the West, we'll watered with spring brooks
and creeks Of tho clearest wator, which forms
those beautiful streams, Cedar and Shell
Rock, natural meadows atfoIding immense
quantities Of hay, and pasturage for ilocks
aud herds of cattle and sheep. st. Charles
City, County seat Of Floyd, ia located on the
Cedar fifty miles above Cedar Falls, is a
promising town, and has one of the best
Court Houses in the State. Population about
1000. Rockford on the Shell river, in the
west part of the county, is one Of the most
pleasant locations for town in the West,
with water power. One feature that strikes
the eye of the traveller in passing through
these new counties, is tie neat little villages
and new white school houses the latter OF
which are built chiefly a! tho expense Of non
resident land spectators. In the country
settlements and Villages, the school houses
serve the purpose Of meeting houses. Saw
and grist mills are erected in almost every
settlement. In these counties, somewhat re-
mote from any completed railroad, wild pral.
ric lands, as beautiful and rich as nature can
produce, is offered for sale at from one dollar
and ,ftty cents to three dollars per acre. ..
The above is a limited description Of this
portion Of Iowa, as observed by the writer
during recent travels through those parts dc.
scribod. Professor Owen in speaking OF the
Iowa and Cedar valley, says:
The caibonaceous rocks Of Iowa occupy
a region Of country which, taken as n whole
s one Of the most fertile of the United States
No country can present to the farmer greater
facilities for subdding, in shor: time, wild
land. The native prairics are fields almost
ready 10 his hands. Its rich black soil scarce
~ less productive than that of the Cedar val
ley, returns him reward for his labor a
hundred fold"
One or two other important facts might
here be mentioned in connection with what
has been SAID. A most superior quality of
lime stone abo.Inds here and at many other
points on the Cedar 1t is gray lime stone
that can be worked out into beautiful blocks,
, almost equal to marble also, the clay hesc
makes tire very best quality of brick. All
kinds OF small fruits, grapes and apples Of
the harder varieties are promising exceed.
ingly we'll, where favorable care and attention
has been given.
have secured thirty acres Of land adjoin,
ing this town which is admirably adapted to
the nursery business, which l expect, in
connection with exp srenced nurserymsn Of
Northern Illinois, to have stocked as early
as possible with fruit and ornamental trees,
plants and shrubbery adapted to this la,i
tudc.
In comparing Iowa with Illinois, which is
the only State in the West that will compare
with it, for extensive and rich prairies, it il
difficult to decide which is destined to excel
as an agricultural State when both have an
equal number of acres under cultivation.
! Iowa certainly is not behind Illinois in the
production Of giain either in quality or 9uan
tity. At present, aud for many year to come
during the cultivation of the newly broken
prairies the quality Of Iowa wheat will DO SUI
perior to that Of Illinois, and at the same
time largely excel in quantity. For stock
raising as compared with Illinois, Iowa has
decidedly tho advantage: meadow and pas
tare lands are more abundant here, and stock
Of all kinds are exceedingly healthy, partc
ulary sheep and cattle Illinois, at present
her extensive operating railroad system and
nearer proximity tothe Eastern market, has
all the advantage in favor Of better prices foI
produce, but tho completion of the great Pa
cific Railroad west, and the building of tho
Cedar Valley Railroad, which will bring St
Paul and st. Louis in connection by an al
most air line will give Iowa equal advanta.
ges with Illinois to the southern market
which, during half the year at least, is likely
to be the most important market Of our coun
try. So, upon the whole, Iowa viii not be
far from tina centre of the world.
The proprety Of a change OF residence
from Illinois or any other good country fur
ther east, depends something upon circum
stances. II a young man, who intends t.
make farming in any of its branches, hi,
business, and has but a small capital ant
cannot purchase farm in Illinois or othc,
States further east at the ruling prices there
he can certainly come here now and buy sc
or 1G0 acres of land for $500 or $500 pei
acre, and avail himself of all the advantage,
of the rapid improvements and advances tha
must necessarily follow.
To all good citizens who purpose making
the West their home, n welcome reception /.
ready for them at Cedar Falls and vicinity --
Thoro is room for thousands more, and plenty
Of cheap lands waiting for the plow and
reaper. Bring your hocks and herds and lei
them take the place Of the receding buffalo
and elk
Cedar Falls, Jan. 90, 1864.
II. i SLOAN.