Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-05-21
Letter From Iowa.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa, May s, 1880.

SPIRIT LAKE, iowa, May 0, iooO.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Tunes:
This is a land where the wheat section of
Minnesota and the North gradually shades
into the corn region of Iowa. 1t is reported
a land of health, and as doctor ! have
found it so. At this place we are at the
highest elevation in Iowa, about l ZOO feet
above the sea. Typhoid fever is occasional
ly seen, but in the nine years | have been
here there has not been in Il section of coun-
try embracing 1000 square miles over
fifty cases. can also say that as TO most
diseases they run light here. There is COM
plant of tendency to rheumatism and Gu
tarrh. | am certain that the latter is no
worse with reasonable care for ones self
than in other regions of country. As to the
former, sod nous s,poor accommodations for
living, etc, etc, will account for such cx-
cess, if there is any, which doubt.
As TO lung diseases, or rather consumption,
Il person with weak lungs will be benefited
in thisclimatc. Any case having passed into
the lucrative stage or the lung commenc-
cd breaking down rapidly becomes worse in
this dry climate, and such persons should re-
main i'll a damper region-at least not come
here expecting benefit AS to society,
throughout this whole country, we have peo-
pie from all the Eastern and Northern States,
and some from various of the European
States, mostly Germans, Norwegians or
Swedes; these, as rule, are industrious
people All denominations of religious wor-
Slippers are found here.
came West with big ideas of getting "A
farm free" After 50 long living here,
can honestly say that taking the average man
willing to work. industrious and frugal
working his brain as well US his muscle il
is better TO stop in such country as this
and buy an improved farm at from SO to
so an acre than to go further out on the
frontier and take homestead or prcemp-
tIon. Mind, do not say better than to take
such II claim here, but chances for claim are
scarce now You will say, WHY"
Society is organized, frontier prices are
not charged, there being too much competi-
ton, and this, mark you, is big item.
Churches and school houses are built, and
roads have been laid out and worked bridges
arc built, and the usual heavy expenses incl
dent to organizing and the first few years
running Of county have been met and
borne, and every year taxes grow lighter.
Good wheat has boon and can be grown
here. Oats are u good crop to grow, also
rye and barley, potatoes. corn, beans and
flax. A better stock country does not exist
east of the Missouri River and, considering re-
sources to the Chicago market, is as good as
any in the country. Hay can Ike stacked at
81 % to the ton covering all cost
Well located and more or less improved
farms can he had for from "a 10 IS an acre.
Farms on lakes or near the rivers cost more
than those more remote Good improved
land can he had at from So to So per acre
on long time. The improved farms are
mostly for cash. Some were mortgaged
some years ago, and for various reasons the
parties fail TO redeem many reasons for this
are to he heard; the fact remains that the
farms are to be had, good ones and cheap, and
to any seeking homes in the West ! would
say, look over this region before making
final choice f. l.. BR0wNELL.