The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-31

DAVENPORT Iowa, March Ii, 1870

4. DAVENPORT Iowa, March Ia, 1871.
A ride Of one hundred and eighty miles
on the Western Pacific Railroad, across
the State of Illinois, will bring the tray
eler from Chicago, ON Lake Michigan, tc
Davenport, ON the Iowa side of the Mis-
sissippi river. The weather is intensely
cold-the thermometer is below zero
and the earth Is crowned with a covering
/ of snow and ice from twelve To fifteen
inches deep. AT Davenport the bed of
the river, which is SPAWNED by a bridge,
is covered entirely with ice and snow, and
presents the appearance of a smooth val
ley hedged in by the surrounding hills
In experiencing the seventies of this in
hospitable climate ON the 18th day of
March, the writer could but contrast the
scene with that which would greet him in
his own delightful climate, where the
flowers have appeared on the earth; the
time of the singing of birds is come, and
the voice of the turtle is heard in our
land"
Davenport has about $4,000 inhabi-
tants-more than half of whom, consist
ing of German and Scandinavian nation
alities. An aged German, who is the
proprietor of the hotel where the families
desiring to emigrate assembled to consider
the propositions which were made to them,
stated to the writer that not many years
ago he landed in this country with one
hundred and fifty dollars in his pocket.
He invested it in lot here, somewhat re-
mote from the centre of business, but
now his small investment has grown into
the proportions of handsome fortune.
At that time, lands were purchased here
at government price, twenty-five cents per
acre. The same cannot now be bought !
for less than from $50 to s75 per acre. =
The tide of emigration from Europe COM
menced to flow in. The region was soon
populated and farms and workshops and /
railroads soon took the places of the wild
scenery which first met his eyes.
Everybody understands that the dill
gent effort which has been made not with
put success in our State to obtain laborers
md settlers from the Northwest the pres
mt season, was temporary expedient to
meet present necessities. To accomplish
he great object of securing abundant
population for the development of our
resources, we,must look to Europe, and
he work cannot be too soon commenced
Tor too vigorously prosecuted when I'M
lertaken. At the same time we must be ;
prepared for formidable competition. Va
ious schemes are in contemplation to
emigration to the almost bound
ess regions of the Northwest. The I
newspapers Of the day have mentioned
ne which is especially vast in its range
nd gigantic in its proportions. The
Northern Pacific Railway company have !
invited ex-Secretary McCulloch Senator
;arl Schurz, and Ex-Governor Marshall,
f California to go to Europe on a mis-
ion to organize and stimulate emigration {
0 the line of the Road for the settlement
f its lands. The company own every
lternate section in a belt forty miles wide
rom the head of Lake Superior to the
'acifc Ocean, equivalent to strip TWEEN 7
Y miles wide, in all between thirty and +,
Drty million acres of land, "a territory
reater in extent than all New England, :
nd capable of sustaining FIVE or six mil S
ons of people. They have already ar
anged with German capitalists for all C
leans necessary to the construction of =
ne road with the Largest force they can !
mploy. They propose to offer to every
migrant in Europe abundant employ i
lent in building the road for the first
ear or two after his arrival.
When he has finished his work for the
ompany, he is to have farm of 40, so,
r 100 acres with neat frame dwelling t
ouse ready erected thereon, on long time
nd low rate of interest. They expect |
4 this manner, to secure an abundant
nd Immediate supply of cheap labor, and {
} Immediately enhance the value of their J
lnds by the rapid settling up of the line
{ their road. .a |
This is but one of the many schemes f
18th which the South will have to COM +
etc. She must look to the activity and q
berality of her intelligent people upon
hose efforts, individual and associated,
er success will depend. If their plans
re properly conceived and energetically 4
they need not fear that the 7
dvantages of her delightful climate, and |
f her soil teeming with the elements of b
ntold wealth will not prevail against the
apital and enterprise of other sections. {
~ s1a- . z. b.. /
A Howl FROM HoLDEN.-The mis- G