The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-07-19
How Iowa Appears.
MoULToN, Iowa, June 80.

thing of our western country and life.
Iowa has rapidly advanced in the last
decade, until she is now one Of the first
States in the Union. We live near the
line in the south west part, and consider
this one of the finest localities in the
State. Living in a depression, if there
can be much of a depression i'll rolling
prairies, we are always provided with an
abundance of rain, and this season have
had SO much wet weather, that farmers
began to get discouraged, and complain
of hard times and prospect of poor
crops. But nevertheless, much corn has
been planted, and good yield is conf
IDENTITY expected Corn is planted year
after year on the same ground, and al
ways produces abundantly. Forty acres
are considered as sufficient for a man to
attend to with one pair of horses. So
farmers hire hands on that scale, a man
for every forty.
Corn is planted with a patent planter,
and very evenly, that it may be plowed
both ways. For instance | can see man
now blowing his corn from east to vest
when he has finished it that way he will
pillow north and south, thus killing up the
corn and removing weeds from both sides
There are about 100 acres in that field,
and it will be a glorious sight in autumn
This prairie is very fertile, and is gen
orally considered us grand scenery But
| do not appreciate its beauties. Born
among the rugged hills Of New England,
this tame level land has no charm for me-
1t is ever the same. The sky comes down
to meet it at the same distance in all di-
rections, and the monotony is not broken
by a single elevation or depression. Rocks
are almost unknown, and no small stones
annoy the farmer in his labor.
A western city is very interesting to
one unaccustomed to the sight Moulton,
containing only one thousand inhabitants,
has city government, and is a thriving
little place. We have three churches, a
WOODEN mill, five hotels. furniture shops,
stores &c. in abundance, and last but not
least a newspaper. The method of con
Quoting newspaper here is quite novel.
The first and fourth pages are ''patent,'
being printed at st. Louis, and thus the
editor knows nothing of what will appear
in that part of his paper. He has only
the second and third pages to bother
with, and if any fault is found, the editor
respectfully refers the grumbler to the
''patent- back" from St. Louis.
1t is very hot here. There is generally
a breeze from the south west, but to-day
there is hardly breath. The "chckens,"
Il western term including all in the hen
family, from the aged Grower to the little
chick just coming from the shell, sit in
the shade and gasp for breath. Every
body is in the shade that can get there,
and heat is supreme. Thunder clouds
roll up in the west and soon we shall have
a refreshing shower.
The town is full of people to-day,
though, and everybody is busy. The
stores, little one story buildings, are full
of farmers, and doing lots of trading.
Groceries and dry goods are kept togeth-
er, in the same store, and one may buy
most anything, from a bit of lace for his
wife, to a string of onions for his dinner,
at the same counter. Provisions are
cheap here, and good living common.
Flour Sl.75 to $500 per sack; eggs 81
cts. per doZ.; sugar 10 to II! cts, &C.,
&c. Butter from 6 to 10 cts, but of poor
quality. Most good butter is sent by the
quantity to st. Louis, and there repacked
for the eastern market. Meats are cheap,
and good beetsteak 10 cents, mutton 5,
ham II, fresh pork 10. But the best part
of western eating is the wild fruit.
Blackberries, gooseberries, Strawberries,
grapes and plums grow wild in abund
ance, and may be had for the picking
But believe | am leaving the subject, 50
will drop fruit for some future letter.
To-day, Saturday, is one of the days
for farmers. Each one bundles his wife
and baby into the farm wagon and comes
to town, bringing butter and eggs, with
such garden stuff as he happens to have.
If he is not proud he comes without coat
or vest, and some, very few though, come
baretOoted. have seen a rough looking,
barefoot man, whose wife wears lnsev
and a faded sun bonnet, come to town
and deposit five hundred dollars in the
bank. OF course all the wealthy ones do
not 90 looking quite as sovenly as they
We're, but the few who buy buggies and
nice clothes are far between and few of
them in a place. A general disregard Of
appearance prevails, and one may dress
like the Wandering jew, if he choose.
The girls like to look fine, and buy bright
ribbons and dresses, but their shoe strings
hang about their feet and that article of
dress 50 necessary to keep their hose in
place is generally omitted. But | do
not wish to convey the idea, that western
people are ignorant and unenlightened.
On the contrary venture the assertion,
and without fear Of successful contradic-
ton, that Iowa, and more particularly
southern Iowa. is far ahead of any other
section of the Union in her educational
work. Every district Of two miles square
contains school house, and each county
Il normal school Her Youth are being
educated in the right direction, and when
they shall arrive at maturity will surely
exert an influence for good. Hospitality
and good nature characterize this people.
A stranger is sure of welcome, because
he is a stranger Western hospitality is
proverbial. Indeed, where nature is so
lavish Of her gifts, how can man do other
u