The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-10-27
Letter From IOac0.
BROOKLYN, Iowa, Oct, 1865.

vegetation advanced with rapidity never
before known, and is followed by an abun-
dant harvest. The average yield of crops
here are stated in reports to be 40 bushels
of wheat per acre so, 60, IS and even
100 (according to variety of corn; from
400 to 800 bushels of potatoes and onions !;
and this with the small amount of labor
expended in cultivating compared with the
result, render it far ahead of the New
England states.
Horse power, connected with the i'm
proved agricultural implements, now ST.
persede the slow method of hand-sowing
and harvesting, formerly in vogue, and
even now to great extent in New Eng
land. The farmers use the rn-planter.
seed-sowcr, cultivator all with buggy
seat attached, and ride about their farms
with only the exertion OF guiding their
machines. Last season a buggy plow was
introduced, combination of two single
plows turning double trrrow, but allow
ing the laborer to ride while breaking the
stubborn soil of our prairieS.
| Corn grows here from II to Is feet in
heighth, and when harvested the stock is
turned in for the winter with no more
protection than the sunny side of straw
stack affords. In the spring the corn stalks
are passed over with harrow to break
down those remaining, and this is the only
preparation for sowing wheat, it being the
lnvariable practise to SOW wheat upon the
proceeding years corn ground thus obvi-
ating the necessity of plowing.
Iowa is in extent nearly onc-fourth
larger than New York, containing in 1868
a population of 7l2.OOO. an increase of
$40, 900 since 1850. Its name is fit
emblem of itself, termed as it was bv the
/ aboriginal tenants. 1.-The beautiful land"
or in their romantic phraSeology, 10
wah' 1t ranks with its sister states as
one of the foremost in pleasing variety,
and second to none in one item of vast im-
bot bo,I+I,
Late geological surveys inform us that
three -follrthS of the entire state lies on a
carbonifcrous Strata which will ultimately
yield an unlimited source of wealth to
those who will seek for it, Onc-tenth of
the state is timber land, comprising oak,
walnut, hickory, lime, ash, maple, elm,
cotton wood and locust. From the Ills
tory Of Poweshick county" Just published,
| take the following extracts
''lowa contains more coal than any 9TH
er state in the Union. Nearly two-thirts
of the state is vast coal bed Fine
qualities Of building limestone are to be
found on the banks of the two Skunks.
and many other streams. Lead, iron.
copper, coal and building stone, are the
principal minerals of value in the state
but in addition. there are valuable CLAWS,
marble, gypsum, quartzite and hydraulic
| limestone. The educational advantages
are second to none-the school fund by
examination of the reports of the state SUI
perincndent had increased in 1868 81
l21, POI co.
write thus particularly for the benefit
OF those wishing to emigrate West, sincere
ly believing that Iowa offers the grratest
inducements for those wishing to form new
societies and homes.
Living as we do, far from the din and
confusion Of any large city, communities
are drawn together by the common tie of
dependence and representatives from ev-
cry nation, as well as every state, minele
together in harmony and good will
Even though now and then we are star
tied as elsewhere, by the commission Of
some crime, the offspring of evil hearts,
new laws are made and enforced. bringing
the offender to justice, where but a few
years ago a mob OF excited citizens would.
without the formula of trial, execute
the criminal wherever taken.
have read with pleasure of the brave
ry of the Green Mountain soldier BOYS,
and claim with pride some portion of the
honor bestowed by a nation upon my nj
tive state for although charmed with the
rare beauty of the West, my thoughts Of
ten rove to the hills and forests of Yer
mont, and even here eulogiums are often
heard for its gallant troops. May God
bless the soldiers from every section OF
our land, and while We welcome the re.
turning ones. we can but mourn s.Om
! unreturning heroes and Grant to tbei,
memory the honor due, E.B.
a barrister, having wearied the court
by a long and dull argument, the judge
suggested the expediency of his bringing
it to close Il shall speak as long as
please" he replied, angrily. "You have
. spoken much longer than you please al,
rpaIN " ro,l.nl tLo III lo.o