The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-04-12

VANS Va Viz pioeS' ~ ID lue puTpOSc
to make Of this one of the most complete
graded schools in Northern Iowa.
Conveniences for, and expense of,
building here are not dissimilar to other
towns Of the vicinity. Business lots
cost all the way from $3.50 to 5000;
residence, from 500 to $50. Water
of excellent quality is reached at vari-
Gus depths, from IA feet to 60 feet,
stone, lime and sand are all convenient.
Plenty of good lumber, common and
fencing, costs $21; flooring, $2S to
$40; siding, $25 to $50; clear, $50 to
$40. The item of fuel compares IA
vorably with the rest of this tier of
counties, though Howard is somewhat
sparcely timbered. Good wood costs
about IS cord, and coal 81 ton.
Upon this item the advent of the Daven-
port and St. Paul Railroad, confidently
expected at this place during the sum-
mer, will certainly work a most adyan-
tageous change. This road will cross
the Milwaukee and St. Paul most prob
ably at Cresco, as large and liberal as
sistance has been given it by the people.
The road is thoroughly go-ahead one.
The first iron was laid on the main line
about the first of October last, and it
now has seventy-eight miles in opera
ton, with fifty miles more ready for the
iron. Its branch line is now in opera
ton to Maquoketa, about forty-fve
miles north of Davenport, and will
probably be pushed on to. Dubuque.
The main line will reach the crossing Of
the Milwaukee and St. Paul Road
about October next. When completed
the road will prove rich send to the
citizens Of Howard county, and will lay
down cheaper fuel and lumber to all
the region of Iowa through which it
passes, besides affording competition in
freights.
Consider the newness of Cresco, and
add to what have already said, the
subjoined estimate of trade in the differ
ent lines, and you will have a picture of
a prosperous place. The annual drug
trade may be fairly set down at $685.
900; hardware, $4,000; dry goods,
boots, shoes and general stocks, $780,
900; agricultural implements, 500, 600;
groceries, fruits, and provision, $751;
900.
For local newspapers Cresco has no
lack, W. R. and F. J. Mead publish
the PLAIN DEALER, a Democratic
sheet, and from the same office an en-
terprising little sheet, the Northwestern
Farmer, is issued by W. b. Morey.
The Howard County Times, recently
owned by W. N. Burdick, has just
passed into the hands of two young
gentlemen, Fogo and White. It is
Republican in politics.
Business stands on a good basis, and
is managed by substantial firms. l
mention only part for lack of space.
The banking house Of Kimball and
Farnsworth represents capital of $780,
900, does discount and deposit bust
ness comparing favorably with that of
the National Banks in the interior Of
the state, issues its own sight drafts on
all the principal business places in the
United States, and has acquired a
charter for a National Bank, under
which it will be organized before long.
The drug trade is represented by Price
& Lowry, and j. J. Clemmer, the lat
ter of whom is extensively engaged in
the same line at Austin and Leroy,
Mimi, and at New Hampton, Iowa; dry
goods, groceries and general retail stocks,
by W. D. Kip, Samson 81 simonds,
Plat & O'Malley, John MILF, j. b.
Caward, G. l. & W. White and Bones
& Niles. This latter firm also has a
stock in store at Howard, in the south
west portion Of the county; and, by the
way, the senior member is an old Wis
consin soldier and former citizen of
Racine. B. Chaplin, Hanchett &
Tomas and Doan & Barker are chief in
the hardware trade, which figures al
ready given show to be good. Ole
Swenson has the jewclry trade mainly
to himself, aud does not fail to do credit
to the situation. -Four neat establish
ments count up the dealers in groceries,
fruits, cenfectioneries, etc, viz: W. b.
Webster, G. Weaver, d. Grier and 9.
E. Tuttle. Lumber dealers are r.
Phelan and J. Il. Peck; grain, Beadle
& Slice, G. NJ. Harris, P. Meighan, l.
Gregory, G. V. Jacobs, B. Hunting;
in agricultural imnlcments Strother r.