The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-07-07
OTTUMwh, Iowa. July & 1870,

| VuiJ W low
| DEAR CoyRIER, It will be seen by
the above caption, that "Modestus"
having received anindefnito leave Of
absence, has returned from tho sur
vey of the Ottumwa 4 st. Paul
Railroad, Iloh the party noar Irving.
a small village in Iowa county, some
thirty miles from Waterloo. When
We arrived At Brooklyn the weather
was exceedingly wasm.a and the coun.
try being somewhat broken beyond,
orr progress was comparatively
slow for some eight or ten miles; but
on striking asmall brook which leads
into Walnut Creek, We were agree
ably surprised in two respects, for
wc not only found . great change in
the face Of the country, but were met
by q delegation of citizens from
Belle Plaine, who, we found, not con-
tent only in rendering us service in
Whatsoever capacity they werc able,
but furnished as with lemonade by
the barrel, together with an abund-
ance of ice, the which we enjoyed
exceedingly. When also we arrived
at the Iowa River, they arrested us
in crossing, amid q most rdrenching
rain and wind storm. On this oc-
casion they certainly proved Thorn.
selves courageous, for they turned
their backs to its fury, determined
not to be frightened off tho limo, by
the frowning elements. These Jolly
fellows continued with us three days,
and on tho owe of our departure in
vited us 70 ono Of the principal hotels
of their goodly city, and set before
US an excellent supper. Here it was
fully demonstrated that the race of
Falstaffs were not all extinct, as the
appearance Of the table after partak-
ing, bore ample testimony that there
werc many with unbounded
stomachs."
Meanwhile, a string were await
Ing US on the voranda, and music,
both instrumental and vocal, rendered
the occasion pleasant and one TO be
remembered. We departed for the
north filed With the hope that the
day was not tar distant when we
should moot again but under more
favorable Notwithstanding por-
mitted to give as we'll as receive
Tho further north we went the moro
enthusiastic were the people, and
earnest, IN, their endeavors to secure
ths line meetings having been held
and committees already placed in the
field, to aocure stock. Indeed, we
found the people in thatseotion wide
awake TO the necessity of securing
this line, and determined to do all in
their power to insure its SUCCESS. As
/ said before, l left all the party noar
Irving, which is situated on Salt
Greek.
The valley is delightful for railroad
purposes. / left the company going
up "Sslt River" This assertion,
kind reader, is No metaphor or joke,
but an indisputable truth, as a glance
at the topography, of the country
will convince the most incredulous.
1 had well nigh forgot to say that a
committee from Waltham, TamA
county, met us onsthe morning ofmy
departure, furnishing lemonade, ice,
&C., and thus vielng with sister
towns along the line. )
Z This line when complete will pass
through ono of the best and most
fertile farming regions of Iowa, at,
least the waving fields Of corn and
grain, together With the thousands
Of acres being now turned up by the
pillow, are indicative of such. is5 49,
But another word, and / have
done: Tho party will soon be home,
and in view Of this it = proper for
"Modestus" to lay aside the pen and
not rob them Of ell they may have
to say to- sheir many friends and &C.
quaintances, thus debarring them Of
much pleasure. So adieu!
i5,g sFffs VI MoDEsTUs.