Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-04-16
LETTER FROM THE WEST.

Perry is situated thirty-fo miles in a
northwestrrly direction from Dcs Moines, the
capital of the State of Iowa. The Des
Moines Valley r. r. running from Keokuk,
on the Mississippi river, to Des Moines, thence
to Fort Dodge where they quarry material
for the manufacture of Cardiff giants, thence
| to connect with road from Minnesota, passes
through this place. This road was opened
from Des Moines during the past season. Its
general course is from southeast to north
west. crossing the Chicago, Rock Island and
the Pacific Road few miles this side of Des
Moines, and crossing the Chicago and North
! Western running from Chicago to Council
Bluffs. sixteen miles northwest of this place
at Grand Junction.
The two Great Western roads above named
| run nearly parallel across the State from east
to west. This village of Perry is situated
about mid way between the two Great North
Western Roads, few miles nearer the North
Western than the Rock Island. The belt of
the country lying between the two great thor
oughfares running from the east to the west,
is a beautiful section of country, and the soil
of the very best quality for agricultural pur-
suits, and owing to its location, climate,
abundance of coal, good and pure streams
of water, is fast settling up and must, in a
few short years, become densely settled. This
town is built on the prairie between two
streams, one the Coon river. which has its
source in the northwest part of the State and
NJ ~. ~ -.
of the city. think nearly the size of the
Sandy river, at this place. The other stream
called Beaver Creek, runs nearly parallel with
the Coon at this place, some three miles dis
tant, and unites with the Des Moines river,
north of the city. ...s
These streams are both bordered with tim
Der, from half to two miles wide, consisting
of white and black oak, black walnut, hick-
ory. elm, ash, sycamore, hard and soft maple,
coffee tree, blackberry, &C., &c. No ever
greens Of any kind or description whatever
This timber stretching away in the distance
as far as the eye can reach, gives p beautiful
expression to the landscape, which otherwise
would be like looking out on the boundless
ocean, so to speak. In other words it gives
one relief that cannot be found in looking off
on these great everlasting praires. The face
of the country here is more rolling than fur
ther south in Illinois, and Missouri, so far as
have seen those States, but do not infer from
this that it hilly, far from this. Large, gen.
tie swels of moderate elevation, with the ex-
ception of the BUNS on the streams is the
general character OF the surface. The soil is
generally black vegetable mould from one
to ten feet deep on the prairies. The bluffs
are made up of different soil, not SO fertile,
but said to be fine for fruit
Speaking of the bluffs reminds me of the
coal mines. 1t is believed there is an endless
supply of coal in the immediate vicinity OF
this place, both on the Coon and Beaver,
which will be OF more value than can readily
be estimated to the surrounding country.
Several banks have already been opened with
in three miles of this place, where coal Of
good quality can be had for three dollars per
ton, delivered at the banks. / visited two OF
the banks few days since, for the purpose OF
| examining the localities, mode of mining, &c.
! They select bluff near the river, and drift
in, as the miners call it, near the base of the
bluff, and in going few feet they strike the
coal. The tunnel is large enough to give
room for the use of picks, which are used to
break it up or down, as the case may be; il
is then loaded on small boxes and run out on
tracks laid for that purpose. AT one of the
mines they had taken out several small bould-
ers from fifteen to twenty inches in diameter
they lay upon the coal on bed of fine clay,
some two feet in thickness. These boulders
are full of small shells, some of fair size, say
as large as your thumb nail, just as perfect al
they ever were to all appearances, but i'm
beded in solid stone. They are evidently sea
shells. Wish | could send you specimen
for your inspection. As have said the val
| ne of this coal cannot be over-estimated,
word in relation to the business and fu
ture prospects of Perry. Last March, les
than one year since, there was but one lol
house where the village now stands. TIL,
whole place was a corn field. The countr,
around was thinly settled, although the lane
on the borders of the streams had been taker
up and improved several years since on ac
count, presume, of securing the timber OF
| the streams, in connection with the pr airie ad
joining the same.
As soon as the Des Moines Valley Il. r
was opened new impetus was given to i'm
igration, the soil being of the very best quail
ty for agricultural operations, and large mum
Der of farms have been secured, which will b
] put under scultivarion the coming spring
/ The village has had rapid and healthy growth
not having run ahead of the growth of tn
surrounding country. In other words, tn
demand is equal to the supply.
Within i few days We have had aserioush Are
but some Of the parties are already in bust
ness, and the others are making preparation
TO commence soon. Previous to the fire w
had three dry goods and grocery stores, fille'
with large assortment of goods, two hard
ware. stores, one tin manufactory, two drul
i