North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-06-02
Western Prosperity,

People complain of the dullness of
the times, and doubtless it is dull in
many branches of business. The de-
cline in wheat has operated to prevent
its being put upon the market where
farmers have been able by any shift to
hold it, and because they have been
unable to pay cash for goods required
by them, and in some cases have been
compelled to do without goods which
they would have purchased had they
sold their grain, all classes of trade have
felt the influence of the decline in
wheat in reduced sales and difficult col
lections. Particularly at the west has
this been felt, where there is never an
excess of currency-where the money
paid to the farmer for produce today,
must tomorrow be paid to the merchant
or mechanic.
But Notwithstanding the legitimate
dullness Of the times, in some respects
not less than the memorable times of
SO and 81, there is an activity in the
sale of lands, and hustle caused by a
large immigration, which show that the
west was never in a more healthy con-
dition. The large crops of last year
gave an encouragement which the low
prices following the harvest scarcely
affected. From all parts of the world
the immigrants are coming to us, but
the great majority are from the older
states Of this country. Nor do they
come empty handed. A gentleman
who has recently traversed the northern
part of Iowa, from the Mississippi to
the Missouri, buying and selling wild
lands, says that never before have the
emigrants to the west taken with them
such good outfits in stock and farming
implements, or had SO much money, as
now. They are mostly farmers who
were well-to-do in their old homes, have
sold out for good sums, and are there
fore prepared to make immediate and
substantial improvements on the prairies
to which they are removing. 1t is also
said that many of those who are taking
advantage of the homestead lands, do
not do SO because unable to purchase
farms nearer the settlements, but prefer
to pre-empt their eighty acres of gov
eminent land and invest their money
in the purchase of the balance of the
section at the government price. Very
few of the immigrants coming to Iowa
this season can be called poor men. In
improving our wild lands they add to
the productive wealth of the state.
| while at the same time they have
abundant means in money and valuable
stock.
The times cannot remain dull with
this immigration. The producers are
increased and money is flowing into the
state. The temporary tightness Of
money is really benefit to the west,
for it will prevent REPETITION of the
investment in western land by speula-
tors which from 1850 to 1856 proved
SO great curse to the west There is
some speculation in wild lands now, but
the bulk Of the transfers are to actual
settlers and not to spectators The
west is growing to wealth; and trade
must be prosperous. The promise OF
this years crops is even better than
that Of last year, and though price:
should not increase the profits will
aggregate much more than in any pre-
yious year. The present temporary
embarrassment will be followed by pros
porous business in every department.
| Dubuque Daily Herald.