Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-11-02
Letter from Kansas.
MINNEAPoLIs, OTTAWA Co., !
October 10Th, 1871.

MINNEAPoLIs, OTTAWA Co.,
October 10Th, 1871.
| Editor Voter:-As you perceive, l
am now in the far-famed State Of
Kansas. Born and reared amidst
revolution, strife and carnage, in all
the shifting scenes of her history
the star of her destiny and purpose
never fiickered or grew dim. Wheth-
er amid the throes of border strife,
when herpowers were comparatively
undevelOped, or when time had
given some degree of strength and
endurance to her muscles, during the
late Rebellion and Quantrel raids,
she has steadily and persistentIy
moved forward to the goal of her
great destiny, in the galaxy of Amer
ican States. The time is not far dis
tant when she will take rank, in
material and moral resources, with
the most prosperous and refined of
lit OldttS, ulu NbSli ttI iuiilod''S,
cities, and institutions Of learning
will be as familiar rs household
words, throughout the civilized
world.
] have located in the embryo city
Of Minneapolis, the county-seat Of
Ottawa County, situated on the
northern branch Of the Solomon
riveE twenty-five miles northwest
af solomon City, on the Kansas Pa
cifc r.. II. The town is beautifully
located on the magnificent prairie
land, gradually sloping back from
the river, and at present contains
some forty houses. Among these are
two dry goods and hardware stores,
one grocery and one drug store, two
blacksmith and one gunsnith shop,
one boot and shoe store, two hotels,
one newspaper Office, conducted by
DIR. Wharton, and the Land and In
surance Office Of Messrs. Steel &
Wooden; one grist and saw mill,
propelled by the water Of the Solo
mon.
The progress Of the town has been
rapid. One year ago there were but
few houses here, and but little bust
ness done; now Minneapolis presents
the material development Of many
of her seniors; and in a very few
years her business status will equal
that of any other city in the Solomon
Valley. Her beautiful and COM
manding site cannot be surpassed in
the State; and the magnificent coun-
try in the midst Of which she is situ-
ated, stretching out in every direction
as far rs the eye can reach, will ever
attract the notice and meet the desires
of our enterprising people.
Our citizens are high. minded, lib
eral and energetic, and are always
ready to afford every facility to those
who desire to become settlers In the
country. The river In this place
affords abundant water power for all
kinds Of machinery, and Mr.. Mark
ley, for the purpose OF developing
the same, is cutting u tunnel one
thousand feet in length, through
which to direct portion OF the wa
ter of the river, for manufacturing
purposes expressly. Mr.. Markley'sl
saw and grist mill is thus using wa
ter tunneled, and is doing very
prosperous business. Parties desir-
ous of going into any kind OF manu-
featuring business could find no place
in the State better adapted for that
kind Of enterprise.
The land of this country for beauty
and fertility cannot be surpassed in
the West producing abundant crops OF
corn, and the best grades OF wheat.
This averages, as general thing, 30
bushels to the acre, and sometimes as
high as 40. The climate Is mild, and
will undoubtedly be good for all
kinds Of fruit. Peaches can be pro- |
duced here to any extent desired.
The Lawrence and Solomon Valley
r. r. will no doubt be built In a
short time. The Counties through
which It Is to pass are meeting all
the requirements OF the Company IN
the way of bonds to assist init con-I