The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-06-18
Letter from Iowa.
CreMo-Is Remarkable Grcwth-The
Patch on the Prair,e-Bus,ncss re.

Patch on the Prair,e-Bus,ncss re.
From the c correspondence ofthe Evening Wisconsin
CREsco, Iowa, June 7, 1862
Cresco means Il grow and no
more appropriate name could be
given to the village from which /
write. On the completion of the
Iowa and Minnesota Division of the
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
to this point in November, 1866,
less than three years since, only
one building was standing, and that
a farm house. Now Cresco has a
population of something less than
1000, a regularly organized city
government, three very neatly
finished churches, two excellent
schools, and the usual amount of
mercantile business is transacted,
while in 1868 the railro ad business
of this station exceeded that u any
other on the line between McGreg-
or and St. Paul. a distance of 2l2
miles. Two hundred and FIVE thous-
and bushels of wheat were shipped
from here last year, nearly all to
Milwaukee, while the amount for
the year ending August 1st, 1869,
will exceed $50, 900 bushels, ac-
cording to the figures Of this season
thus far as compared with last year.
Mr.. l.. T. Woodcock, the efficient
Station Agent. has done much to
build up the business of the road at
this point. Cresco is finely located
upon the prairie. and is a natural
center for q wide stretch ofcountry.
1t is the best market and only i'm
portant one within q radius of
twenty miles, and a very large por.
tionDf it's trade comes from q dis
lance of over thirty miles. A num-
Der Of the mercantile establishments
purchase largely in Milwaukee, but
If sufficient inducements were Offer
ed far more extensive trade might
be carried on here. It is essential
ly q live town, and is destined to
become point of no inconsiderable
Importance. A large amount Of
manufacturing will be done here
within the next two years, several
establishments being in course Of
erection.
Cresco maintains two very good
local newspapers, the Cresco Times,
edited by I. A. Hoxie, formerly Of
Evansville, Wisconsin, and the
Leader, (Plain Dealer, } published
for the past ten years by W. R..
Mead. Both papers are conducted
with ability, and are crelitable to
the place. They should receive the
encouragement Of the people, and
1 believe are we'll sustained.
One of the most noted and i'm
portant institutions Of the place,
and one which has done much to
give to Cresco its name and repu-
tation, is tho Mansfield House,
conducted by Col. j. II. Mansfield.
Col. Mansfield is former resident
of sconsin, was u. s. Consul to
Tabasco, Mexico. appointed by
President Lincoln. aid -de-ca mp and
assistant adjutant general to Gov.
Alex. w. Randall, saw some con-
siderable service in connection with
the Army of the Potomac, is one Of
Natures queer productions, CAPT
tai landlord, and keeps one of the
best hotels to be found in town Of
this size in the West. "Clean
beads, square meal, and no brown
sugar" A visit to the Colonel will
result in an Unlimited amount OF
good feeling and satisfaction gener-
ally.
Many improvements are contem'
plated for the coming season. and it,
people intend that the unusual
growth Of the place thus far shall
be equaled in thc future.
Yours. on the wing, 0. N. I.
!