North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-01-29

The SSrong MerthSysss.
While the Southern States send op
piteous cry for relief from almost univer.
sal destitution, and the manufacturing and
comercial States of the East are prsvaded
by a general feeling Of depression, il 10 Q
comfort to know that there 10 one part Of
the country-and tha. considerable one
where prosperity and financial soundness
are the rule, and poverty and depression
the exceptions. We refer to the North
west, and include in this designation tho
States Of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wiz
consin, Iowa and Minnesota,
included in the old Northwestern Terrific.
ry," and now the homes of between seven
and eight millions of the most energetic
people within the United States.
A friend who has just returned from
visit to this reigon confirms our previous
reports az to the general thrift and pros
perity which prevade it. The main inter-
est, of course, is agricultural, and this 10 in
a position Of peculiar independence. Du-
ring the war the high prices paid for pro-
ducts of the farm enabled the agricultur-
lists Of the West to get free from debt.
Tens of thousands Of mortgages for pur-
chase money and. improvements were lift.
ed from their farms during the first three
years Of the war, and since then good
crops, sold at high rates. have enable the
farmers to improve their farms, buy stock,
and otherwise intrench themselves against
the contingencies Of the future. Thus, as
class, they occupy an unusually strong
and safe position. If a geneIal financial
storm should arise they are fully prepared
to weatherit in safety and even in comfort.
The pulse of the Northwest can be- felt
better at Chicago than anywhere else, and
there our informant found among busines
mon feeling Of staunchness and con6dence
that was decidedly confronting. The busi-
ness Of that city since the gathering of the
last crops has been enormous. The very
causes which have damaged the manufac-
turers and wholesale merchants of the
East have helped the merchants of Chi
cago. With falling market, the small
dealers in the interior have preferred to
make small and frequent purchases near
home, rather than to lay in large stocks at
the East The numerous large and hand.
some stores that are building in Chicago
attest the great increase in its trade from
this and from moro permanent causes.
Among other indications OF the growing
comercial importance of that city is the
fact-pretty well authenticated-tha the
largest Of the new stores now in the course
of erection there is to be used as branch
by Mr.. A. I. Stewart, of this city.
With the prosperity of the agricultural
and mercantile interests Of the Northwest;
of course, the manufacturing interests
have not suffered. By the simple opera
ton Of the laws of demand and supply,
manufacturers adapted to the wants Of the
people having sprung up along all the wa
ter-courses Of this locality, and have now
obtained an importance and stability har-
dly to have been expected in SO young a
country. In some parts of the Northwest,
particularly along the beautiful Rock Riv-
er Valley, the number Of manufacturing
establishments reminds one of the busiest
inland districts of New England.-Ne,s
York Evening Post.