The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-05-20
IoWa'S Future,

of Russia, and through the junglcs
of India and China, the joyous ii
dings and tho welcome nows that the
last link has been forged and welded
in the mighty chain bindingthe rock
ribbed coast of New England with
the golden sands Of CALIFORNIA; shore.
The electric pulsations which an
nounccd each blow of the silver
sledge driving the golden spike into
the tie of polished laurel, also told
the nation of it's exaltation, and the
world of Americas greatest triumph.
They told in those few brief moments
of time story of unrivalled inter-
est;-of the enterprise and perscver-
ance and indomitablc energy of the
"Young Giant of the Vest of the
apparently insurmountablo obstacles,
which melted away as the early
SHOWS of Autumn before tho inflcXi-
BILE will of American genius and
skill. And they told tale-a story
that is not a fable-to our own Iowa,
to which she lends a willing ear.
The country through which the
iron trainway leads to the Golden
State is, generally, barren of vegeta-
ton. As Omaha is left in the rear
three hundred miles, and the road
begins its gentle rise to the summit
of the Rocky Mountains, tho plains
become dry and arid, the surface
parched and barren. The storility
increases as we journey westward
up the mountain slopes and across
the divide, through the jurisdiction
of the moral Mormon saints, and
over the alkai plains of Nevada, I'M
til, having labored up the steep as
cent of the Sicrras, we again look
down on green fields, and on flowing
rivulets meandering on their course
to Join the waters of the broad Paci-
fic. This broad expanse Of country
stretching out for over thousand
miles, is poor in vegetable matter
and barren in Agricultural facilities,
and scarcely a square mile of it can
be made available for purposes Of
husbandry without artificial irriga.
tion-the means of which do not
exist. But dame nature, rarely at
fault, has made up for this in another
| way: She has filled the rocky ledg-
es of Colorado, of Wyoming, of Utah
| OF Montana and of Nevada, with
| mineral ores Of the richest quality
an attraction that will draw thithcl
hundreds of thousands Of souls, that
will densely populate the country
dot the plains and valleys with vii
lagos, towns and cities, and cover the
mountain sides with the canvas:
tents of crowding multitude of mi
ners,
| From whence arc these coming
millions to draw their supplies?-
Plainly, from the west-California
from the east-Iowa, Missouri ant
Nebraska. Iowa, with her fou
trunk lines running from the Missis
sippi to the Missouri, will distance
all competitors, will become the gran
ary OF the mining regions. Ever
now, along the lines of road compile
ted to the Missouri, the impetus i
plainly felt. The tide of traffic vii
eventually be turned to the west
our grain and cattle will be shipped
across the plains and exchanged 70,
hard coin, which our farmers will
stir up in their pockets with theil
| fingers ends; tho State will lead thu
van, and her people will grow opu
lent and wealthy. The great enter
prise filing the Golfers of the Eastern
Money Kings, will enrich the people
of Iowa; it will bring her honest
wealth, dug out of her soil; it viii
bring her fortune; it will bring he,
copious plenty. With the Mississip
pi to the south, the lakes and compe
ting railroads to the east, and two OF
more lines of rail to the Pacific
slope, the future high estate Of lows
is assured. Ere she has attained
even the middle age of States she
will have placed herself in tho fore
most rank, and will be looking for
ward to the day-not far distant
when she will become the scat O.
Empire, and when the dome of the
National Capitol will rear it's heac
above the valley of the Mississippi.
A gay Lothario of the moustacht
species of the Sherman variety, has
seduced the daughter Of bonniface
Stout, of the Des Moines House, and
ran away with her ola Newton, Da
venport and St. Louis, at which pla
ces they passed themselves off fol