The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-04-12
Howard County and Its La nds
..CrescO. it's Businc ~ and
Prospects,.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel !


and fertile in the northern tier of Iowa,
il situated the third county west from
the Mississippi, has an area of 323, 900
acres, population of over 1000, and,
though it is new in all respects, with
scarcely one-twentieth of it's entire sur
face improved, still it has achieved a
position of distinction both as to bust
ness and productions, which figures
hereafter to be given will readily show.
l lay claim to no small acquaintance
with this section of the state, and am
sure that Howard has as good lands,
produces as plentifully, and ispopulated
with as earnest and Industrious people
as any other equal portion of Iowa. The
surface is gently undulating and free
from abrupt bluffs and hills. The Soil
i good and yields an excellent average
Of all the products of the state. 1t is
well watered by the Upper Iowa, the
Turkey, the Wapsipinicon and other
small streams falling into these-all Of
which afford good powers for the pur-
poses of lighter manufacturing, are
largely useful in stoek-raising, and bear
on their margins valuable timber for
fencing and fuel.
Aside from actual knowledge Of the
easy and profitable growing of grain,
it is certain that fruit does well, cspcci-
ally Of the early kinds known in these
parts as the ''iron-clads." OF pears,
the Flemish Beauty and few others,
together with five or six varieties of
grapes-frst among which is the Chase
Seeding, propag gated in this vicinity
there can be no difficulty in raising an
abundance. With anything like proper
culture there need be no want for a
large supply Of all the substantials of
fruitery, while the small fruits are al
ways perfectly at home in this soil. 1t
has often proved difficult to succeed in
raising tame grasses in Iowa on account
Of the yielding nature Of the soil to the
alternate freeze and thaw of the VIM
tiers; but such difficulty has been but
little felt in this &c. zion, especially with
timothy, while numerous farmers have
put fields down to clover, and find it
stands the winters admirably, especially
on land somewhat reduced by cropping.
l speak of these things the more partic-
ularly because this is distinctively q
farming, dairying and stock-raising re-
g;on, aud one that is in no way dcici-
ent III natural advantages for any of
these purposes.
Enterprise and energy are stamped
upon the farming community. They
have an Agricultural Society with
membership Of about 200, and are just
purchasing and fitting up capacious
grounds at Cresco for use at the CON-
ing autumn exhibition, and for perma-
nent use thereafter. The officers of
the Society are: President, George
Morse Vice President, G. F. Webster;
Treasurer, J. f. Borthwick; Secretary
H. D. Noble.
Cresco Grange, Patrons of Husband
.ry. is another organization in the
interest Of farmers, having headquarters
at the same place. This Grange has
membership of about 200, and the mas
ter, Col. \. Il. Smedley, is also the
Weil-known oyeTseer Of the State
Grange. There are eight adjoining
Oranges, and a Council, composed Of
nine counties in the northeastern part
of the state, all having their general
place Of business at Cresco. They hayo
completed plan for what may be call
ed cooperative purchasing in nearly all
Zines Of general trade. and the present
season will, doubtless, test the wisdsm
and efficiency Of it.
Cresco, the county seat of Howard, is
a marked example Of the rapid growth
of Iowa towns. Laid out only about
five years ago, it now has l, 200 inhab-
itants, and stands frs, among the ship
ping points on the line of the Milwau-
kce and St. Paul Railroad in Iowa.
From the railroad company's report for
1870. I gather the facts that no point
on the whole line from St. Paul to
Milwaukee shipped so much wheat
l27S,000 bushels) during that year,
except Middleton, Wisconsin. Butter
shipments for the same year were 103,-
500 pounds; dressed hogs, 100000
pounds; barley, 1900 bushels. The
following statement of the produce
shipped during the year ending Decem-
Der 81, 1871, will tell better story
than can express 10 any reasonable
amount Of words.
Wheat, bushels, go $40
Barley, bushes, 33,csa