The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-08-12
WESTERN IOWA,
As Seen by a Lady Cores
pOndent.

| AS 000u ny n Lady COTroS'
u pondent.
i CROMWELL, UNION Co., Iowa, I
Il July, Both, 1869. I
y DEAR COURIER:
Al We left Ottumwa, July Goth, or
| the cars Of the B. & M. r. Railroad
bound for the western part of the
State. The scenery through which
we travelled is rather interesting, as
the railroad passes through the val.
ley, much of the finest parts of the
country is not in sight.
just west Of Abba, we crossed the
bridge that spans Coal Creek, where
a few days previous, an engine and
seven cars, were precipitated into the
bed of the stream.
i BY this accident three children
lwho were asleep in one of the cars,
were drowned. The r. r. Co. had
laid side track around to the
opposite side of the creek, and were
engaged in raising the submerged
engine, by means of ropes attached
| to it, connecting it with another en-.
| CINE upon the side track. The foun.
dations Of the bridge were under
mined by the high water, hence the
accident.
| We stop for the night at Charlton.
Tuesday, July 9th, we resumed our
Tourney after breakfasting at P. G..
Ballingall's eating house. Here we
found good and we'll cooked food, at
tentively served.
As we travelled west, the country
improves. The land in Clarke Co.,
is better and less broken than in Luz
cas-. The eastern portion of Union
Co., is also somewhat broken, but
the western part is fine. Along the
line ofthe road, many new towns are
springing up, which are fast settling
with busy population. In some Of
the towns noticed families living
in tents, the Railroad Co., not being
able to supply lumber for building
purposes, as fast as it is needed. In
most of the towns, the buildings are
ola better character than are often
seen, in such new settlements. In
travelling east and west in Iowa,
much ofthe timber is out of sight; as
it grows in the valleys, following the
water courses, so that a stranger to
the State, is often mis-led, as to the
amount of timber the State contains,
thinking it much less than 1T really
is. We made the trip from Charlton
to Alton in less than a day, putting
up at the Deling House, kept by MI.
Richards, formerly of Ottumwa.-
We had pleasant room, and good
accommodations. Leaving Alton on
a way car, after the exercise of due
patience, we arrived at length at
Cromwell. This is new town, on
the south side OF the Railroad, near
the dividing line of the counties of
| Union and Adams. 1t contains
about 40 houses and a population of
perhaps from 200 to 300. 1t is Is
miles west of Alton. l noticed here,
a public park, planted with shade
trees, and neatly enclosed. Here we
took the stage to Queen City, Is
miles distant. There were only ten
inside passengers. On our way we
passed through the Tcarian settle
ment, there we saw some women
dressed in the American costume, we
noticed fine young orchard belong
ing to them. Since we left Lucas
CO, we have observed but few Or
chards, though the thrifty appear
ance of the trees whore set out, indi.
Gates that they will well repay the
labor, bestowed in their cultivation.
Icaria, originally settlement of
French commonists, now numbers
some 60 persons, hero they own g.
| 900 acres of land, and whatever
may be their religious tenets, evil
dences of their material prosperity
abound on every side.
| We arrived at Queen City at noon.
This now but small place, but l am
told aspires to be the County seat of
| Adams County. We made here the
acquaintance Of Mr.. Sherman, who is
engaged in publishing a paper here,
entitled the Queen City Leader.
i This town is q Getty that is sat
upon hill" From this place to
Corning ESQ named in honor OF Eras-
| tus Corning,) is but two miles.
| Here we found a pleasant hostess
and good accommodations at the
Corning House, kept by Mr.. Turner.
Though laid out some 13 years
ago, it seems to have received fresh
impetus since the completion of the
B. & M. r. r. r. to this point. 1t
now contains population of about
300, with flourishing day and Sab.
bath School.
! The buildings are of good size,
better than is often seen in so new q
iplace. Nature has been lavish in
her gifts here. The winding banks
OF the Nodaway, fringed with trees
on either side, mark the course OF
the stream, while back from the riv.
or, the prairie rises in easy slopes
Here on each side of the Railroad
track, are laid out the lots compris-
ing the town.
| The buildings are at the present
confined to the northern slope
Groves of young trees dot the hill
| oANSo, NAu III cOAAO RlttCCb CIOWH ClclT
submits, one of which has been reg.
ularly laid out, and is soon to be
fenced as public park. Here with
in this shaded vale, the Indian dwelt,
long years before the pale faces came.
i 1t was here he speared the fish, or
drew the bow with deadly aim, as
the wild deer came to lave in thy
waters, O beautiful Nodaway.
i Now, in place OF the shrill war
whoop, or the prairie VOLTS cry, are
heard the sounds of axe and saw, as
the work OF building goes steadily
on. As l passed house in process
of erection, / noticed them using a
KIND OF paper as Inning, before put
ting on the weatherboards. This
seemed a good and cheap way of
shutting out the wintery winds, that
Other wise will find their way into
our dwellings,.
/ One objection made however, it's
apparent inf1ammability. One of
the workmen assured me that it
would not burn at all. l picked up
a scrap and resolved to test it. On
arriving at my Hotel l applied a
lighted match, when Lo the noncom-
bustable paper was in ashes. I was
sorry to see it burn, but truth CON-