Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-20
MISSOURI CORRESPONDENTS.

L nv ittob lCltCt lOlC 10 ~ tNW Aih~o NJ 49,
of Des Moines, spending a Sabbath
among the friends as the Quakers call
themselves.
We found about Des Moines the CAPT
tai of Iowa, a fine farming country.
The undulated surface and rich soil, will
make it fine agricultural region when
time shall have developed it. The city
itself is thriving place, and with the
street car whirling by and the buzz of
machinery in the shop and mill, one is
reminded Of the more eastern cities.
From Des Moines to the south line OF
the state, the surface is more rough
hills more abrupt, with plenty of timber
called good for this country, and very
rich soil. Railroads seem to be their
chief want here, and if one half is ever
realized in this line that the people now
gossep about, the country will be well
supplied. Almost every farmer that we
talked with, expected soon 10 have rail-
road on his line or right across his land,
and thus, he be in or near town. A few
years will reveal to them that railroad on
the brain does not always mature into
road an old terre .Jfrma; and yet, there
is but little doubt that soon from south
ward roads will open this large tract of
country.
Near the south line of Iowa we found
some good chances for the man of limit
ed means, as well as for the capitalist.
As good prairie lands as we ever saw
can be bought for FIVE dollars per acre,
with timber near, for from ten to twenty
five dollars per acre. These chances
however will not continue long, az the
wave of emigration is rolling back some
what from /" out west" and men are
seeking homes in these parts.
In this state and in southern Iowa the
corn crop will be very poor, not enough
for home consumption, caused from the
extremely wet weather when the crop
should have been worked. What is but
little if any over half crop, from the
scab that made its appearance shortly
before harvest. The wheat crop is now
mostly thrashed and for a couple of
weeks we Lave been eating bread from
new wheat. Oats and all kinds of gar.
den vegetables are in abundance:
AT present we have moored our craft
in Cameron, brisk railroad station on
the Hannable and st. Joseph railroad.
Two years ago this place was but small
village of some twenty houses, now it
has become quite city with fine pros
pect for the future.
Here it is, more than in any other
PLACE that have found that we have
compound Of society made up Of ind
yiduals from the different parts of the
country, with their provincialisms of Ian
guage, and peculiarities of custom. "Two
bits" six bits" &C., is the common
way of reckoning monies less than dol
lar. To other things too, as well in
money reckoning, will you find the ''bit."
Such a one has RICH. smart bit" of
this, that, or the other. so that among all
the bits one must look closely that he
doesn't get bit himself.
Men are here to make money, ard
many are doing it fast. Property is
is changing hands very frequently, with
price increasing. Hardly a man can be
found with piece of land but what he
would sell it, at least for accommodation
sake, if the person to be accommodated
will give him four or FIVE times what the
property cost but few months ago. 1t
is somewhat amusing amid this squabble
for earthly gain to observe the old pio-
neer Missourian look on, for by this time
he has learned not to be too confding at
first. He knows what the Yank has
come for, and already he can deal about
as shrewdely as any of thom, and will
do so if needfu to keep up. But let the
stranger 90 to his home, talk with him
in plain and open way, listen while
to his narrative of early life, or adven.
lures it may be of the last war; and he
will soon find that be has met friend to
humanity, be his exterior what it may.
III. CHADEAYNE.
Tuo friands takinor n wall on a turn