Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-12
ALetter from Iowa.

Tbirty-three years ago the site now oc-
cupied by the city Of Clinton was honor
ed by the high sounding title OF New
York, city as grand and important in
the Imagination of one Joseph Bartlett as
the metropolis of the Western continent.
This was before Iowa became State or
even had an existence as territory, the
whole country west being peopled by
savages, and the denizens of the forests
and prairies.
This location, after remaining several
years without a settler, was devoted to
agriculture, and SO remained until the
year 1856, when the Iowa Land Company
laid off the original plat of Clinton, and
gave to it its present name, in honor OF
the county sthat claims this city as its
brightest gun. -
January 90, 1857, Clinton became a
city, and the Chicago and Northwestern
Railroad renewed life in the new town,
and strangers arrived daily to settle per-
manently in the city, and from that time
to the present it has continued to grow
with striking rapidity, and is now one OF
the most important of the twelve Iowa
cities on the west bank of the Mississippi
river.
The streets of Clinton are laid out with
the course. of the river, .. e. running
North and South, and numbered from
| ~ F.-Ltx vida ana civ
hundred apart. Running west from the
river are broad avenues one hundred feet
in width at intervals of three hundred
feet. These streets and avenues are well
supplied with shade trees, and presen
with the tastefully laid out grounds a
beautiful appearance.
In January 1866 the first train passed
over the bridge from the Illinois side to
Clinton. This bridge runs across Little
Rock Island, and is about 1000 feet long,
having draw turning on point in the
center, and, when open, leaves two clear
passage ways, each 1870 feet wide, making
one of the finest bridges on the Mississippi
River
The Midland Railroad, running north
west from this point and the projected
Southwestern Railroad, each crossing all
the Western Railroads through the State
in diagonal direction will give to Gin
ton railroad facilities unequalled by any
town in the State.
There is an excellent Horse Railroad
running to Lyons, two miles north, indi'
eating the consolidation of these two
cities at no distant day.
The Clinton Gas Light Company fur.
nish an abundant supply of that material
so essential to the beauty and comfort OF
any large town.
} The founders of Clinton foresaw that
the town was destined to become large
place, and accordingly made preparations
for beautiful one as well, by laying of
J broad streets and avenues, and large and
commodious Parks.
The lumber trade started here in 1860
} has grown until the lumber trade Of
! Clinton has reached colossal proportions
and is now the largest manufacturing
point on the Mississippi and second to but
one in the world. Numerous other
manufactures are in active operation
and the day is not far distant when near
ly every branch of industry will be repre-.
scented. Having to-day a population OF
over 10000 inhabitants, and joined with
Lyons would make altogether about 49,
coo live, energetic reerIn MOSTLY of New
England and New York origin.
Truly the march of the empire is west.
ward. e. L. G.
Clinton, Iowa, Jan. 4, 1870.