Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-12-14
Our Oxford Letter.
LIFE \ DEATH.

would not be undressing 10 thc
readers Of the REPUBLICANS to know
the extent of the mortality OF vii
lagos III this locality. The whole
sale slaughter is ascribe1 to the rail
road-To say that the rail road can
kill, and make alive, would be att12.
utlng an attribute that alone belongs
to Omnipotence-But it does seem
that rail roads possess the power OF
killing some towns and making
others alive. A very marked exem-
plifica:ion OF this power can be seen
2fter attaining an cmincnce bstween
Oxford and East Legrand. Here is
the line between Marshall and lama
county; by a semi-turn upon the heel,
you can discover five towns and all
save one detanct. The nearest one
you see in a northwest direction Is
denominated East Lcgrand, to dis
tinguish it from Legrand proper
This is where the rail road wanted
the Station and would have it there
and old Legrand fought heroiciy
1t was a fight for lite or death and 1T
resulted in the latter. a couple of
years ago, a very respectable citizen
and a ma Of means and well known
in the county, Judge Salisbury, re-
solved that things should not exist
in such a deplorablc condition, made
a SERIOUS effort by erecting several
business houses and using his inilu-
ence TO induce the business portion
| Of West Lcgrand to come ont and
| unite and build a town on the road.
X part of them came and the residue
made a contest and it resulted in the
return to the place Of commencing;
and the project proved an abortion.
During this broil, there sprang up
right in their midst ortwo and i halt
miles from them another rival ira
ding point, denominatel Garry to
devlde the trade with them, and an
instrument used by the rail road for
dissolution and only a question OF
time, in regard to its W ultimate
extinction. West Legrand still lives
but vitality runs low, on account OF
the rail road being off so far, that it
cannot in.usc that life that those feel
that are contiguous notwithstM ling
il has had insurmountable difficulties
TO contend with. The citizens slrug-
gle with a spirit Of public enterprise
u,hrecedented. They have recently
erected a couple o%fschool houses and
busin css block of a prominent char.
ac;er, highly creditable TO the place.
They have a productive undulating
country surrounding the place.
Well settled, rich, healthy, famous
and a large element of Qaahers,
proverbial for their honesty aad IN
,egrity. But tor all tins, l have
some misglvmgs in reference to their
future prosperity on the account
the rail road does not impart that
animation which is SO essential TO
produce a normal condition.
I~NpIANTowN.
In casting the eye to the north east
you can discern a portion of indian
torn. But a few years ago | am cred
ibiy informed that it bid fair for q pop
ulous city. But, in its infancy, pros
peri,y and j%nvenility. the rail road
laid its paralizing and ruthless hand
upon it, and it was Immediately emu
mcrated in the category OF the de-
iunct. But with the lime and ooiite
factories they can furnish building
material sufficient to build all the
State Capi,ols that eve will be want
ed west of Oxford. All that is re-
CURED is sufficient monetary ability
adequate to the unfolding of her bo-
som and these will be found inya'u-
able, and mcxhaustib;e treasures.
oRFoRD
South Of Inaiantown one mile and
one halt is Oxford, a town Of five
hundred inhabitants and room tor
more deriving all the benefits that
can be bestowed by any rail roa!
running through at lightning speed.
Oxford is twelve miles from Mar
shal!town, AMI seven from lama City.
It is destined to be prominently the
leading town between lama and
Marshalltown. Possessing in a high
degree al the natural advantages and
facilities for building purposes
sach as wood, water, lime and rock
all abundant and convenient, and
a largo fertile and productive coun
try OIL the west and south. and not
requiring such vast amount of labor
and expenditure OF money to make
good and passable roads tor the in.
gress an egress of the people. But
a failure upon this matter would act
very prejullcial TO their best inter
ests. Oxford this last summer met
with some revcrses, but it has about
recovered and made some prominent
substantial improvements.
FIRE.
On Monday evening Dec. 4th the