Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-02-12
ATTICA.

ATTlCA.
Situated on high, rolling
land. stopping for q moment at the
Attica House, 4. ID. Norris steps out
ready to accommodate US; declining
10 yet out OF the buggy, we ask him
some questions about the town, and
are informed that there are 200 In
babitaDts; two nice meeting houses,
the NJ. i. and Methodist; that the
membership was $50; we notice a
GOOD sehool-honse, and can count
four stores and three shops. Two
doctors furnish the cemetery with
subjects. Again taking fight in
north least course, we wind around
through the rich township OF Clay,
thickly settled, and with fine houses
and barns visible in every direct
Jon. Changing our course to west
direction, we spin along the Oskaloo-
sa road, past the fine house OF our
worthy Grange Representative elect,
sam'I Breckenridge, then on over
the hills and through the hollows,
crossing the grade of the A. X. d ID.
II. r., past great black holes in the
earth where coal is rolling out. then
connecting with the Pella road, we
slacken speed as we pass team after
team loaded with goods for Knox
vile, we again pass under the a. X.
Il ID. II. II. grade, and find ourselves
entering Knoxville from the east
side, and driving up Main street, we
arrive mt the place OF embarkation,
/. e., the Central Iowa Land Office.
Having had our ride around the
county, we hope you are able to form
some idea of its wealth, advantages,
and vast resources. The half has not
been told; it would be impossible In
an article like this, and with only a
few days to prepare it in, to give
even fair estimate Of the many adj
vantages we possess over almost ey-
cry other county in the State.
SOIL.
The soil Of sold Marion" can not
be beat. II you SOW you are bound
to reap, and that abundantly. 1t Is
a black mould of vegetable fOrma-
ton, from one TO 3 feet in depth, and
in some places as deep as B feet. The
county has never imported but al
ways exported cereals. We have all
the varieties in lay of land, from the
beautiful, high, rolling prairie, to
the rich, level bottom lands, all
productive "hard-pan."
And there liz probably not to exceed
one-tenth Of the land unfit for culti-
walton. Probably not to exceed one
half Of the land is now grain produc-
ing, but new fields are opened out
every year, as the county rapidly
settles up.
RAILROADS.
Here's the rub" We have
plenty Of room for atleast six paying
roads, but owing to adverse winds"
the roads are not built yet. The Des
Moines Valley II. II. runs through
the three northeast townships OF the
county, on the north side Of the riv-
er, passing through Pella and Otley,
in this county. These are our only
f." seaport" towns. Both are thriv-
ing, as will be seen by reference to
the description of both. Knoxville
is unfortunately left ont in the cold
so far us railroad facilities are con-
cerDed. We are on the line, land
likely to stay there, of the proposed
Abba, Knoxville & Des Moines II.
r., and about thirteen miles of this
road are graded, running east from
This track could be
used for an cast and west road from
Chicago to Council Bluffs, than
which no road in the state would pay
better, as the coal trade alone would
be immense, and the road would
pass through the best tier of counties
in the state.
PELLA.
This goodly city of $500 inhabitants
has two newspapers, the Blade and
Heehbidd, to speak for it; hence two
columns which its importance de-
serves we must condense TO n few
lines, for lack Of space. 1t is located
in the northeast part of the county,
and on the Keokuk a. Des Moines
X. r.. Its population is com
posed largely Of Hollanders. 1t has
excellent public schools, attended by
600 pupils, and employing ii teach
ers. Its church buildings number
IL. 1t has two National Banks.
Here the Central Iowa University is
located, being a fine brick building
44x66 aud three stories high. The
estimated value of grounds and
building is $4,000. II is under the
management OF the Baptist denomi-
nation, and has an endowment Of