The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-06-16
The Surveyors.
CAMP Locus, :
Poweshiek County,
Juno 18th. 1870.

Since my last letter, We
have been steadily moving north.
ward. After getting out of the
Skunk River country-which was q
task almost as difficult as the labors
Of Alcides,--we struck high and
beautiful prairie, apparently extend
ing from horizon to horizon, dotted
here and there with shady groves,
fields OF waving grain, and meander-
ing streams. In view of such pros
pect, which indeed seemed boundless,
We flattered ourselves that we had
found the past to be the worst, and
consoled each other that tho future
would be comparatively easy.
In this, however, we were doomed
to disappointment, for scarcely two
days had elapsed, when this condi-
ton of the country suddenly termi-
mated, and, where day or two ago
the land was seemingly level and
boundless, it is now the reverse
nothing but high hills and deep "a.
vines intersecting each other and ex-
tending in every direction. How
long we shall have to contend against
them l am as yet unable 10 say. 1t
perhaps continues broken from here
to Victor.
We are now about two milos in
Poweshiek county. It is not so we'll
adapted to agriculture, and conse.
quently is not in such high state of
cultivation as the last county thro'
which wo passed, or our own Wapel.
To-; great dearth of timber and
running water being everywhere OBJ
servable.
On our line hither, we ran directly
through the village of Indianapolis.
This little place is pleasantly and
beautifully situated, has an excellent
public school house, a tavern, three
or four stores, and several churches
of various denominations. The in
habitants of that locality are enthu-
siastic and highly elated over the
prospect of railroad connection with
all parts of the country. It would
indeed be of great service to them,
and especially 80 to the inhabitants
of this county.
The weather is very cool for this
season, and we have had hail for the
last three or four days, lean hardly
say that the forthcoming crop is
looking fine; corn, however, is in
need Of rain and warm weather.
This is the time of year when
nature assumes her most lovely as
pect and is luxuriantly prodigal in
tho display of her wealth; here bends
tho modest lily, there the fragrant
rose, and while herprofusion is broad
cast and infinite, any thoughtful OBJ.
server cannot but realize the truth
and feel with the poet, that
MANY flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its fragrance on the desert green
Last Saturday our whilom and
jovial friend, J. w. Dixon, called on
us, having boon north on business
connected with the line, but now be-
ing fatigued with travel, was, with
little persuasion, induced to stay for
dinner, tho which ho enjoyed exceed
ingly, and departed well satisfied. In
conclusion, allow me to say, that our
worthy chaplain, O. w. Lyman, who
was also special OF the Copper Head,
under tho non de plume of Corn Cob,
having become disgusted with the
n,odus operaadi Of affairs, left his
charge "to the mercies of a rude
stream" (namely tho Skunk and
started for home Tuesday last, since
which time the corps has been lost,
and almost out of spirits. Aside from
jest, however, the company has lost
one Of its best and most efficient
members. Moro anon.
MoDEsTUs.