Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-09-09
Correspondence.
"ReYOnd the Mississippi"

IOWA: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, AND PoLITIcs-II
In extent, Iowa is three hundred mile
in length from east to west, and in breadth
from north to south il is trihe over two
hundred miles. The region Of country
bounded by the Alleghanies on the east
the Rockies on the west, the cotton-grow'
ing State on the south. and British Amer
lea on the north, has been denominatec
"tho granery of the world" Almost il
the exact centre of this immense and fer
tile region, bounded on the east and wes'
by the two greatest rivers OF the North
American Continent, lies the State oil
Iowa. These latter limits embrace So, 045
square miles, 1928, 600 acres, FIVE and
onc-half times as great as the Green Noun.
tain State, almost as large as England and
twice as largo as Scotland. There are no
ranges of mountains or hills, or other bar
ZEN surfaces; Consequently, it is estimated
that at least ninety-fve per cent. Of the
surface is level or fiat, rather it is Of o
rolling nat urc, presenting series of clcva-
tion and depressions. Thus it is supplied
with q perfect system of drainage, aud
certainly no country is moro healthfu.
The general altitude Is about 1000 feet
above the level of the sea. The proper
authorities at the State University state
that the average rainfall is nearly the
same as'that in Massachusetts and Con.
nccticut, but the snow-fal is much less.
1t has been noticed that if the springs are
late, invariably the autumns US protract.
ed even till December, thus giving ample
time for tho maturing of crops. Tic river
system of Iowa is quite extensive. About
one.half of the area Of the State is drained
by streams flowing eastw ard into the Mis-
sissippi; while the western half is we'll
watered with streams emptying into the
Missouri and Big Sioux. The valleys
have deep, rich soil, but scarcely less
30 is the soil on the divides" The prin.
cipaI rivers are the DesMoines, Iowa,
Wapsipinicon, Turkey, Red Cedar, Ma
quoketa, Little Sioux, Boyer and Nishua-
botny. The DesMoiaes is the most i'm
portant, it being about $50 miles in length.
Some of these and other streams have
slope of eight and one-half feet per mile,
and furnish excellent water power,
Iowa is well supplied with lakes and
ponds, one Of these. Storm Lake, will be
described hereafter. They are all small,
the largest, Sterlt containing about twelve
square miles. Okoboji is nearly as large,
and Storm, Clear, Wall and others are
generally from two to five miles in length
and width. The characteristics attending
ono usually attend each of the others.
They are well Stocked with excellent fish
and waterfowl, while nearly all of late
have received some attention from the
State Fish Commissioners. In each there
has been, or will be, deposited several
thousand salmon, bass, etc. On their
borders are many fine sites for residences Il
their waters are clear; the shores gravelly
and clean.
Skirting each stream gu either side is
found timber often in belts Of half a mile
in width. There are also many groves of
timber standing on the prairie, like islands
in the sea. The principal varieties are
oak Of different kinds, black walnut, hick.
cry, locust, cottonwood. cedar. maple eto.
On tue bluffs some piue is found. With
cultivation any variety of timber will
thrive. Any settler has only to give lit.
tie attention and few years time to en-
sure the growth of all the timber he may
need for fuel or fencing. 1t has been
practically settled that crop of forest
trees can be grown just as successfully as
crop OF corn. By FIRST planting these
varieties which grow most rapidly, to be
followed by those of slower growth and
greater denst Of wood. One not acquaint.
ed with the matter would be surprised to
see how soon supply might be obtained
and future stock established. The tall.
est "treo" within radius of FIVE miles Of
this point was set out mere shrub Of four
or i've feet 3years ago. We have secnsit
instanccd that riding-stick Of cottonwood
was stuck into the praire soil twelve years
ago, that now measures, a foot above the
ground, between twelve and fourteen inch.
es in diameter. The State Geologist is
our authority. Iowa is naturally a tim
bered country. If, fifty years ago, the
prairie fires could'have been prevented,
to-day this would have been timbered
instead Of prairie State. But Of the OBJ.
vious advantages Of its being just as it is
ave will speak ut another time.