The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-10-17
WESTWARD. NO. 2.
From 0rinnsll to Des Noines-
What 10 Seen and How il Looks
Tho Eden Of lows Discovered.

y ~
Tho Eden Of lows Discovered.
Mr.. Editor LIN our FIRST letter We
gave sketches Of our Journey from
Upton 10 where we ca,nped over
Sunday, pear Malcolm station, about
FIVE mics West Of Brooklyn. Monday
morning we were up and on our
journey towards Grinnell before the
morning sun had caused the frost to
disappear, or warmed the air, which
met Us ON the way and made our ride
rather cool for few hours. A ride
of about ten miles thruugh The most
beautiful county we have yet passed
brought US to Grinneh.! Through
this section may be found excellent
and beautiful buildings, surrounded
by groves Of maple, walnut, gray
willow, cotton wood, &c. Crops
good and water plenty.
Grinnell is thriving and beautiful
city of about 1900 inhabitants. The
public school building Of this city is
one Of which the inhabitants need not
be ashamed; it is situated on Fourth
Avenue. The Congregational College
is located in the north eastern part Of
town. The building now standing is
handsome brick A beautiful stone
edifice is now in process of erection
to supply the place of the one lately
burned, and is destined to be the
finest specimen Of architecture in the
city Of Grinnell, and she may well be
proud Of euch an institution. Grin.
nell is situsted At the crossing Of the
G., r. l. 4 p. and Central railroads.
Passing out Of town on the west side,
1T distance Of ! mile is situated the
vineyard Of Mr.. Timerman, containing
81 acres (2,30O vines). Vines three
wears old, this season; produced over
six tons Of grapes. The vines are
Of the Concord variety. Adjoining
Mr.. Timerman On the west will be
found the extensive nursery Of VIM.
Willard, containing about 80 acres.
This nursery not only contains al the
choice varieties of fruit trees, but
also forest trees, cvergeens, orna-
mental shrubs, plants, small fruits,
SC.
From about one mile west Of Grin
lell to within = short distance of
Newton, Jasper co., the country is
considerably broken, quite similar to
that between Rochester and SPRING
dale, Notwithstanding the country
is fertile, well cultivated, and many
tasty homes may be seen by the way.
Artificial groves are numerous in this
section, water plenty and crops good.
Newton, the county seat Of Jasper
county, is pleasantly situated on the
c., r. l. & P. r. r., contains about
1000 inhabitants, publishes three pa
pers, two Grant and Wilson and one
Liberal-poor Greeley. Newton is
wake to her educational interests.
This fact is demonstrated by the erec-
ton Of public school building last
year at cost of $40, 900. The school
has eight departments. Albert
Loughridge Of the Iowa State Uni
versity, Principal.
The country from Newton through
to the west line Of Jasper is what we
call rough. In the extreme western
part Of Jasper, and eastern part OF
Polk counties will be found consider
able sand, gravel and boulders. We
have passed through more timber in
Jasper county than in all The other
counties together since we left Cedar.
The timber west of the Iowa river is
principally soft wood.
AT q distance nf four or FIVE miles
from the east line of Polk county, we
came to little town called Mitchell
ville-population about hl0-sifuAfed
in the midst of . beautiful and fertile
prsirie, on the c., r. /. & r railway,
has one steam grain elevator, steam
Touring mill, two churches, one Of
which is Universalist and the other
Campbellite. The Universalists are
erecting Seminary in tho southern
part OF the town, which will cost,
when completed, about $40 900.
The next station west Of Mitchell
vile is Altoona. Br referring to the
State map you will see that from this
point to Valley Junction, in western
Polk, the c., r. l. & P. and the D. v.
railroads run side by side.
From Mitchellville to Des Moines,
\ distance Of sixteen miles we know
not how to describe the country to do
it justice. 1t is superbly beautiful;
has the best crops we have seen thus
far. Numerous young orchards, arti-
fetal groves Of willow, walnut, maple,
chestnut, poplar and cottonwood,
decorating the Eden of Central Iowa.
The best districts through which we
have passed from Upton to Des
Moincs, are the Quaker settlement,
the Iowa county Colonies, northern
part o. Poweshiek county and middle
and western parts Of Polk county.
As we stated above, in these districts
we have found good buildings, good
crops, good water, orchards, artificial
groves and excellent roads. The
people appear to be industrious, en-
terprising and hospitable.
Our trip thus far has been very
pleasant. Weather fine, roads good,
all well and jolly as crickets. Coffee
is our staple drink, crackers our
bread and beefstcak, quails, squirrils,
&C., our meat.
In our next we will give sketches
from Des Moines to Plattsmouth, Ne
braska, but will leave the city of Des
Moines for separate letter 40 we re-
turn. ]. II. NJ. f.
Dies MONIES, Oct. LIST, 1872.
At late meeting Of the Britisb
Association Sir John Bowring stated
that another great stride has been