The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-20

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Sept Is, 1889.
This IL one OF the historic towns OF the Far West.
Not over half century ago the red man OF the prai-
RE held high carnival here, and like Robinson Cru
soc, was master OF all he surveyed. The Pottawatto-
mics and the Iowas held council here and discussed
the affairs Of State with more gravity and wisdom
than do the white sagcs Of to-day who congregate
In the halls made sacred by the giants OF O!den
times-the Jacksons and the Bentons and that class
OF STERLING men. Council Bluffs has received its
name in memory OF the Indian councils held here,
and 1t Ii strange that while the white man delights
In plotting his red brethren out OF existence
he does what he can to perpetuate ana give to
Immortality the names OF places once dear and
sacred to the heart Of the Indian warrior. Az early
1927 the zeal OF the French Catholic missionaries
brought them far ss this point where they locat
ed and established little chapel the site Of which
modern civilization mas not yet buried In oblivion.
In Ss8 and ls47 another Sect not less jealous In the
propagation Of their faith, arrived here namely, the
Mormops, who heeine from persecution in the
states OF New York. Missouri and Illinois. wended
their way westward to these then wild solitudes.
Here they established little village, which they
named Kanesvie, In honor, 1t Ia SAID, of the great
Arctic explorer. Why they should have 80 honored
the distinguished explorer we know not, unless
because, like themselves ne was seeking new world
In ls4S weekly paper, called the Frontier Guardian,
Apostles in the Mormon Church. Yet the real
growth Of Council BluGs dates no farther back than
fifteen years ago, and for several years afterwards 1t
had struggling existence. AS soon as 1t was dis
covered that 1t must eventually become railroad
centre local capitalists began to take more interest
in the development Of the city and Its Immediate
| vicinity.
| At the present time OF writing no less than
| nine railroads have their initial terminating
| points at Council BIufs-the Union Pacific,
the Chicago and Northwestern, the Chicago
| Rock Island and Pacific; the Council Bluffs aud st.
Joseph, the Council Bluffs and Sioux CITY the Bur
| llngton and Missouri River, the st. Louis Chill.
cothe and Council Bluffs the American Central, and
| the MuscatiDe, Oskaloosa and Council Bluns Rail-
roads. The Chicago ana Northwestern and the chi.
through trains daily. and have lively competition
Tue American Central Will connect with Fort WaNne
Ind there Y form ana INK wn s
| managers OF these lines are making every enors to
have the route the cheapest and shortest OF all others
| directly connected with New York. They Will nave
however, as energetic competitors the Chicago and
Northwestern and the Lake Shore route to New
YORK; also the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific road.
Railroad men West are keeny alive to the fact that
New York city Is to be the hive whence must
the far West. This glance at the railroads viii show
at the rapid strides the great West Ia making IN
pd 4 On
here the traveller had to endure nearly 500 miles
staging unless he ca, came BY me Missouri ySsr
staging between Omaha and Council Buns, or rice
both OF these towns have improved and built up
rapidly In other respects, the stage route between
barIan villages situated on either SIDE Of ia an almost
bottomlesa swamp. The distance from the Court
House ct Council BUNS to the Court House at Omaha
the omnibuses Of the Transfer Company
from one and half hours to three hours to make
the trip. II the weather u bad-that IL, there
have been heavy rains-Heaven only knows when one
can get through; for the stages are pelng dragged
along half the time In decidedly muddy sloughs,
where the water sometimes pours into the stage.
II the enthusiastic denizens Of the two young Cut
Cages adjoining the unromantic borders OF the
.Blg Muddy" IN this Immediate vicinity would have
strangers think well OF them they had better 60 to
| work and make tho road connecting rher cities
something else than shame. little more shovel.
ling and little less advertlsng-or as your genuine
IN rs S II e Is
old and close student OF men and things says thai
can @ the and Of peoDs
Of Council Bluffs and Omaha do not look at it thai
light We hope, however. that when they read the
While mere we called at the Land once to get some
ment Of homesteada and farms ana learned that
every acre OF land belonging to the government had
Of 1000 acres In distant county. The different
railroads, however, hold grants Of between 900
market. The Burlington and Missouri River Rail
road is Just commencing to open up Its lands for
|
on time from railroad companies are generally poor
speculations. They have to give mortgages III not
PAYING money t dowrs ana heavy interest keeps
OF DEBT. The experience Of farmers VINO have had
anything to do with railroads throughout the West
the East and emigrants seek cheap farms in the
West they nad better go TO some section aud settle
has had q great deal Of experience in
such matters, and knows whereof he writes. There
are millions Of acres In the West and far west yet
| owned by the government and with plenty OF en-
no sn Se
with good hOnest farmer than any merchant prince
or railroad king that walks tho EARTH Indeed, the
more We see OF life the more we are convinced that
unless the farmers Of the republic retain their
physical moral and primitive features we shall
money changers, with blood as cold a. vipers and
hearts like bhakspeare's Jew. Now our heart Is
again Improved farms IN this counsy avs
rage oil the way from fifteen dollars TO forty
reader win not understand that we mean beautiful
orchard, lower garden, splendid barns, beshives.
| out the sun in summer and the snow IN winter, a
barn partly Sheltered with pig pen underneath,
hen rest above the hay loft, aud sort OF sued
| worked In at one end under the hay NOW.
The Western reader will recognize this style OF
barn when he reads the brief, unsavory description.
Yet there are several weil-to-do farmers who live III
good style aud are getting rich In the world the
| phrase goes. Wild farms are worth from ten to
Business lots cost from $3.50 to 49, 500 Residence
lots from 500 TO $4,000. Mechanics can purchase
lots OF from $3.50 to $500, on time, by commencing
! to build on them and make residence. Such lots
would not be very available ut present, as in wet
weather the owner would have to 10 stilts aud in
dry he would have to be yelled as close the Cir
eassian beauty OF some Turkish Dabob, not because
! his beauty might smite some fair maiden but be-
cause bis eyes might be clogged With dust. But
when Council Bluffs has twenty or thirty or one
hundred miles OF street railroad then things Will DE
changed and such lots, ike certain politicians,
might be made available.
Let us now glance at the social and religious fea-
lures OF this metropolis. There are eight churches
some OF which are elegant and others ileiegant ac-
cording to the dollars and cents the respective
gregatiOns can bring INTO the field. Men becom-
Ing civilized and ChristiaaZcd that they DO not
worship in the groves, ike the "hoy men Of ancient
tmes;" neither do they congregate as f1shermca,
but rather as mionnares wealthy shoddyitea aud
owners OF valuable corner lets ana last norscs.