Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-07-28

find the following happy description q
Madison comfy and its city Of Wintersei.
1t is written by Link ensale" and in his
usual palatabls style
WISrERsET, Madison Co., Iowa, July II.
iEc county of Madison, just southwest
OF the capital county of the State, is gener-
ally admitted TO be one Of the finest coun-
ties in Iowa. have heard many travellers
say Madison county 10 the best lie the
State" II came from the hand Of nature
admirably 6xsd up.-It is frequently call
ed "ths country OF the Three Rivers" or
tho "rhree Rivers country" from the fact
that North, Middle, and South Rivers, con-
siderable tributaries OF the Des Moinss, flow
through the county. Along the borders
Of these streams, supplying cleo good va
tor power 10 several places. are belts Of tim
Der. Indeed, the forest near Wintsrset, on
the Middle river, 10 like the woods Of south
srn Ohio, the trees beisg nearly ~ large,
and among them the good old fashioned
"sugsr trees" producing large quantities Of
maple molasses in the spring
Only few years ago, one might travel
from Des Moines to Winterset without see
ing more than dozen farm houses. Now
he cen hardly Do out Of sight Of a. many At
any point on the journey Nearly al of
the country 10 settled up and improved
And such crops never were seen. The corn
is nearly all out Ia tassle, much Of IL in
silk" and saw one big field with ears
we'll enough ,natured for 'hot corn" Mad.
ison Is one Of our counties ravagtd by the
grasshoppers, SO called, (of which in an
other letter. and observed ON the route
between Des Moines and this place, thirty
nvs miles, three fields Of oats ard two oil
| wheat entirely destroyed, anb many other
fields of small grain less or more Injured
But corn has not been touches, and the re
ports Of the ravagss Of these pestiferous
and multitudinous insects have been great.
ly exaggsratsd. They have been about -
bad in Madison county q anywhere, I be-
lisve, but mm very sure thst seven lights
Notwithstanding the burden Of the grass
hopper, there will be moro grain produced
this year than last, | verify believe.
know there will. il rain. needed by the
corn. shall visit the county within week
or so.
The population Of Madison county, &C.
| cording TO the last State census. was little
less than 10000. It's nov supposed u be
about II 900, perhaps moro. Tho popula-
ton has been largely increased last year.
and this By immigration. Il never Inn
proved more rapidly. TIE prairiss between
The Three Rivers, and between the other
small streams, in the county, are rolling.
rich and beautiful. Some twelve or four
teen miles from here, the road runs along
"the divide" between the North and Mid
die rivers. The prospect is uncommonly
| line AID extensive. On one side you see
the valley Of the North river, whose waters
You may now and then catch q glimpse Of
through the foliage, and beyond = magni6
cent stretch Of undu!ating prairie, dotted
here and thsrs with groves. To the south
| tho Wow 10 similar, but the timber Of the
Middle river il more extensive, and the pra
lris beyond seemingly moro elevated.
There arc not many finer landscapes in oil
he fne Northwest But tho rivers are
bordered not only with timber, but the
bluffs, as well as the bluils Of the smaller
streams Of this county, arc filed chock iull
Of rock, which are quarred with great ease
and chcapnsss. and being easily worked,
also, arc invaluable for building purposes.
Thus, therefore, when We consider the fine
streams, the rich soil, tho ncaatiful scenery,
the abundant timber, and the cxhaustiess
building stone Of Madison county, We may
not dispute that it certainly Is among the
best, II not the very best, county in all
Iowa. Though the county is no, vet SO
denssly populated ss several other counties
81 Central Iowa, and is naturally much
behind "lhe big counties" on the Misss-
Nppi river, ito productiveness Is shown BY
the fact that two years ago there were pro-
duced more than loo, 900 bushels of wheat,
nbout 100000 bushels Of oats, nearly
,ooo, 900 bushels Of corn, with considsra-
bic rye and barley, and some Is 900 tons
of hay. Unusual attention Is given to
sheep, and there were nearly Al, 600 in the
county in 1867. In other respects tho
county stands A No. !.
wINfRRsRr.
Quite number Of years ago, commits
sioncrs came to whore this fine town now
Is. to locate and name the county seat The
weasher was uncommonly cold, and one OF
the commissioners uncommonly drunk and
retcent. Among the many names propos.
ed was Somerset, when out spoks thu
sprung commissioner. and said ~
thtnk we'd better = darned sight call her
Winter (hic) set" And Wintersst il has
been called ever since, tho only county .eat
In the county The population 10 now
from sixteen 10 eighteen hundred. There
are many fine dwellings, and business
houses built Of the rock OF which have
spoken. OF which there are dozen quar-
RES near the town, and one within the cor
poraticn limits It would he impossible 10
lind more beautiful or enduring houses
than these
There is now building Of this material.
and nearly done, q very large school house.
the cost Of which will be something more
than $4,000. IL is two stories in height.
having ten rooms. and will ACC On modate
600 puppies. Tho school will begin in the
early fail, with principal aud six teachers.
Of,h same material there ia also building
magnificent court house. When complst-
cd It will very much resemble tho court
house in Chicago. which 10 indeed the mod
81 OF thus nov constructing At Wintersst.
1t will be IN the form Of Q Greek cross.
each arm 80 feet wide, and 100 feet deep.
a flight Of steps the width Of each front
forms the way Of entrance % the main floor.
The basement will be feet above ground.
the office story IL feet high. courtroom IS
feet, while the jail, heavily lined and called
With boilsriron, will occupy the fourth
story. The court room will b 46 By so
feet. From the ground to top Of the dome
will be 1875 feet. Mr.. q. P. Randall. arehi.
tsct. Of Chicago, planned the building.
Tho total cost. including bell and clsck. |
viii b $4,000, aud il 10 understood that |
the contractors will probably lose money on |
their bid. However that may b, il IL Ger
tain that the Madison county Court House |
At Wintsrsst 10 going to b the finest build |
ing know Of the Strife, except The Lunatic |
and Blind Asylums. Il will greatly surpass
any building Of the State Univsrsity. and |
Be ~ far ahead Of The present tumbled. |
down concern OF Stans Capitol q 81. Pet. |
srs - ahead Of . shrnty.
The business Of Wintersst i lively. - |
The business men prosperous. Hsretofor.
goods have been hruled by team from Dep'
MONIES. but the Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific road. nov going ahead rapidly. and
WI soon have trains rum M regularly to |
De Soto. about fourteen miles north Of this |
place, whence goods for wintsrss. viii be
shipped. There 10. near tswn an usually
fine WOODEN factory Madison Wooden
Mills. owned and worked By Messrs. J. I.
White Go. They have been in operation
about two years, aud are great success.
But the citizens Of this good town are NOT