The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-04-08
Written for the Spirit.
Letter from Iowa.
LERoYvILLE, AUDUBON Co Iowa !
March % 1874 {

1000 \ {
Mr.. EDITOR: Atthe request of many
If the good citizens of .sOld Monroe"
We now proceed, with your permission, to
give, through the columns of the SPIRIT,
of description of this (Au
iubon) County, Iowa.
Audubon County is situated in the
fourth tier of counies north from the |
line, and thirl east from the |
River. 1t is bounded on the
north by Carroll, east,by Guthrie; south,
by Cass AMI west by Shelby. 1t lies
midway between the Chicago, Rock Is
land and Pacific Railroad on the south
and the Chicago and Northwestern on the
north Itis composed of high rolling
prairie, principally, and drained by nu-
merous tributaries of the East Nishna
Ratina Rivera stream traversing the
county d;agonallv from northeast to
southwest through its entire length =
Along the stream in the southern part Of
the county are continuous groves Of as
good timber es can be found in Western
Iowa also, along Troublesome Creek, a
tributary to the Nishna, in the southeast
corner of the county, are also groves OF
good timber The soil consists, chitfy,
of a black. (an0 along the streams, some
what sandy loan of from Is inches to 5
or six feet in depth. The soil is very pro-
duciive- yielding from fifteen to thirty
Ave bushels Of wheat per acre, according
to the soil and cultivation, worth from SOC
to 81 40 per bushel, according to the de-
mands of the market. Itis worth about
81 Is at this time. The yield of oats was
about fifty bushels per acre, at l5c per
bushel. Corn, rather light crop; yiel-
ded about 40 bushels, at 15c. In conse.
Quence of its cheapness, many farmers
considering it much cheaper as fuel than
either wood or coal, have used itpretty
generally for fuel during the past very
severe winter. Potatoes and other tubers
grow abundantly and almost without cul-
tivation.
The chief advantages consist Of the
almost unending facilities for stock rails
ing. The prairies are covered with q
luxuriant growth of rich herbage which,
together with an unfailing supply of pure
running water, renders stock growing
one Of the chief einployments of the
husbandman. Feeding cattle and hogs
EN- ploys much of the time and means o.
those of our farmers in easiest circum
stances, IAN idea of which may be gathered
| from the following stssement: One maj
4 is feeding eight hundred head, anothe
flour hundred, another three hundred DC.
down to the teens, every farmer having
some
i We have about twenty head on ou
farm, which we turned out at the middle
of A pril last, since which time we have
not pretended to feed them any grain
they obtaining sufficient supply during
winter from the stalks in the cornfelds tt
Ebring them out fat and sleek this sprins
as any of the grain fed stock in "Ol'
Monroe" They have add ition of a goo'
straw shed to stand in at nights. Hog
require more care, attention and grain
feed, than cattle; they require to b
lpenned through the summer and fall, all
the confinement resulting too frequentl.
in disease but with care,a good lot to ru1
in, aud plenty Of running water, a goot
lot of Swine may be brought through
profilably. Since coming here year ago
we have marketed about $400 worth o
swine, besides the home consumption
J., We say this merely to show the stock
growing facilities of this region.
The greatest drawback, as well as tht
greatest expense, is fen,ing This, in
: deed, is not much needed so long as pop
ulation remains SO sparse as at the pres
/, ent time, which is not likely, as may b,
seen from the following The census @
1870 reported a population of 1,2l2 Th
registration Of voters at the election i
November last showed voting popula
ton of over 500. indicating $500 Of
population, doubling in little over tw'
years. 70
Another evidence: Two years ago on
civil township was formed, with singl
school sub district and house; last yea
another one was built; this yeart tw
more, with appropriations for four NOR
next year The public school systei
is good one ; the law authorizing a lev
of SIS for every child Of school age, 70
teachers fund, which is amply suficier
: to prolong schools six months in eac
year. All taxes mist be voted by a mi
iority OF voters beiare the levy can
made by the township Board. The soc
ely is not so good as in older neighbo
hoods, and churches are comparative
I scarce. -
e We are situated in the heart of tho:
lands which were, by Act of Congress
quieted to the c., r d P. R. R. Co., la
winter, which they now hold for sale
0 rates from SIS TO Sl0peracre, givin
deeds of general warranty therefor. Fe
two years last past inducements had bee
made by interested attorneys for settl
ment as homesteads on these lands, an
!. many settlers during the last year stake
h off their claims, built houses thereon, ian
q moved into them, and stayed during tt
' winter, intending to open up farms tn
q season, which operation has been CT
v short by the passage of the act befol
!, mentioned, In the meantime the railros
! company propose to build a branch roa
!. from some eligible point on the main lin
:. running northwesterly through thes
/? lands, SO as to open communication wit
and force the sale of them, passing som
:. where near US. There is plenty of spe
n ulators' lands for sale, generally at low
a rates, and as good quality as the rairos
d lands, Prices range from So upwards.
?? The climate is exceedingly healthfu
: Tile water easily obtainable, and of fir
o rate quality, and never falling quantity.
al We could write much more in the san
n strain, but are admonished of the nece
Il sity of stopping before the patience
isl your numerous intelligent readers is e
!, tirely exhausted. Yours with respee
II S. "A GRAHAM.
= Murdered by the Indians.
III LEAyENwoRTH. March 3l-The Cor
- ,uarcial has iutpliiuenre from Driva