The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-06-13
Correspondence of the News.
Letter from MOingOna, Iowa.
MOINGoNA, Boone Co. Iowa, J
May 30, 1867.

Correspondence Of the News.
Letter from MOingOna, Iowa.
MoINGoNA, Boone Co. Iowa,
May 30, 1867.
]. L. BoARDLAN, Esq.-Dear Sir:
Having had about eighteen months
experience in the "Far West" 4
thought a short and hasty sketch of
the same might be of interest to YOUR
readers. Boone county, Iowa, is a lit
tie west of the geographical centre of
the State, but exactly central between
the Northern and Southern boundaries,
MoingOna is near the centre of the
county, On the west bank Of the Des
Moines river, about $40 miles west of
Chicago, and on the line of the Chica-
go and North Western R. R. The
eastern terminus of the rOad-so far
as this State is cOncerned-is at Clin-
ton, on the Mississippi river; the wes-
tern at Council Bluffs, on the Missouri
river. At this latter point it connects
with the Pacific Union R. R. The
entire line of the road through this
State is complete and in running order
making daily connections with the
N. P. R. R. running west from Oma-
ha City, Nebraska.
There are three other lines of R. R.
stretching across the State from the
Miss. to the Missouri river, but none
of the other roads are near completed,
and now that the shipping to and from
the east, Via Chicago, has been COM
menced on this line, it will hardly be
changed for any other in the future.
Furthermore this line has the contract
Of carrying the U. S. mail lover Iand)
for the Pacific coast. But enough up
on railroads.
The situation of our town is beauti-
full, being surrounded by woodland,
and thus protected from the severe
winds of this latitude. We are very
near the 42nd parallel, consequently
the climate here is colder than it is in
Highland CO., Ohio. Indeed the only
objection one can have to this country
is the tedious winters. But then to
compensate for that, great amount
of grain and forage can be grown
here.
A great portion of the county is
prairie, and the soil is exceedingly
rich. 1t is the easiest country in the
world to farm in-there being no
stumps, stones or roots in the way.
Corn, Wheat and Oats are the princi-
pal products of the soil; potatoes and
all kinds of garden vegetables do
equally well here. Tobacco also can
be grown here and made profitable.
The climate is oosevere for Peaches,
but Apples and Grapes do well, so far
as they have been tried. There being
yet vast amount Of prairie land un-
cultivated, there are fine opportunities
for grazing Cattle and Sheep, and the
farmers are paying more attention to
stock raising than formerly.
In 1860 the entire population ofI
this county was 1921. Now it isl
more than three times that number.
This village of MOingona is only
about nine months old, but it has now
been created an independent School dis
trict and has between so and 100 chill
dren between the ages of and q |
years.
But the mining interest is the prin-
cipal feature that is to give this place
an Importance above other places on
the road. The Des NIoines valley is
one vast coaI-feld, and the r. r. co.
are sinking shafts at various points
near this place. Some of the coaI-pits
are in full working order and are turn
ing out immense quantities of coal
daily others are being opened.
A great humber of hands are en-
ployed in the coal business. They
have to be fed and clothed, so their
makes business lively. There
is no coal west of this in this State,
nor has any been discovered in Ne
braska. A vast amount of Coal is
shipped west from this point. The
U. P. R. r. have contracted for seve-
raj hundred thousand tons, to be fur
lished from the MOingOna mines.
All kinds of trades and professions
ire represented in the business of this
place. Farmers sell everything they
,an raise here for cash, and at a good
price. Farming is bound to be a good
business here, as there are so many
hands employed that there will always
De a good cash market.
Butter and potatoes are higher here
han in Chicago, for the simple reason
hat the demand is greater than the
supply. {
But believe 1 have written suf-
iciently long letter for the present.
I remain yours very truly.
J. T. MILLER.