Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-08-31
LETTER FROM IOWA.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Aug. 18th, lssl.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN When on the 10Th
of March, 1850, babe careless good bye to a
few NJ my friends around home, and started
for the Northwestern College, expected TO
return the following June More than q year
has passed since then, during which time
have been carried still farther away from the
picturesque scenery Of the Alleghenies.
Our school, being located so near the
metropolis of the great West, enjoys the
advantage of bringing its students in practi-
cal contact with the true spirit of the Ameri-
can age On the meridian we can safely
occupy neutral grounds, and facing the north,
can listen to the political sentiment of the
Eastern manufacturer with the right ear,
while the left receives the earnest appeals of
the western producer, demanding legislation
in his favor. Thus the unbiased mind can
weigh the claims Of each with impartial
view, and gazing across the clear lakes, can
take a look into the political afiairs of foreign
lands.
The British Provences too feel an interest
in American enterprise. They also have their
share of sons lone of whom, Mr. NJ. c. Fry,
from Bright, Ont, is my College chum) in
our educational halls.
Our Summer vacations are eleven weeks
long, which time | spent last year in the
interior of the State of Illinois travelled
over large portion of the State, visiting
many places of interest. Among them was
Peoria, noted for her ,listillerics This city
consumes thirty-five thousand bushels of
corn daily and is said to be only second in
the Union in her revenue contribution.
visited the County house," about eight miles
| from the city. II is q building of large
. a.f1
which is being TILED by the inmates then
! 100 in number under the direction of
| Supervisor. | was officially informed that
the average annual cost to the county for its
paupeTs, after the proceeds of the farm were
deducted, was less than $50 per individual
need not tell you of the immense corn
| fields ,some of them containing more than a
hundred acres) now seen on the old battle
grounds of the Black Hawk war, Many are
titled by the old veterans of that war, while
occasionally you find hoary head who
boasts of being hero under General Scott in
Mexico
Being employed by the Western Publish
ing Company, ! am sent from place to place,
and thus meet an endless variety of men
\ from foreign as well as our own shores. None
are more interesting perhaps, than the emf
/ ElNlAH lANHl Aii' bih MY NN'h' RNAA'f VI
whom have met, and few of whom knew
dozen years ago. This class will take solid
comfort in OBTAINING you with questions per-
tanning to their native home, until nothing
but o plain statement will remind them of
the fact that the hour hand of the dial is
lingering ON the verge Of the midnight
meridian.
Since the latter part of June last ! have
been in Iowa. On my way here visited
some of the principal cities on the Mississippi,
taking advantage of steamboat passage on
the bosom of that clear stream. This river
is noted for its pure, clear waters. At that
time, however, the stream was turbid. Its
banks were overflowing with the largest food
known for eighteen years. Among the points
of interest were the Government buildings on
the island in the river between Davenport
and Rock Island, the fisheries and numbering
! manufactures l had seen number of saw
mills in Illinois for manufacturing oak lum-
Der; but in Muscatine, Iowa, | saw the first
piue logs. Clinton, however, takes the lead
fOf the misunderstanding of pine lumber. She
with her mills leaves John Dubois, with his
mills. quite in the shade in point Of capacity
only. The machinery being quite similar,
but (if can iudge) not rs systematically
Arranged as Mr.. Dubois. Their logs are
brought down the Mississippi in large fleets
by the aid of steamboats, and their lumber is
shipped chiefly west-much of 1t into the
Rocky mountains.
Ny trip to the interior of Iowa has been
full of interest The public roads here, as In
most of the western States, run parallel and
ut right angles. The wild prairies of the
north are gradually being turned into large
and productive wheat-felds, surrounded by
beautiful hedge fences, while around the
dwellings are seen growing fine groves Of
trees, quite tall, giving shelter from the
storms. 10 which this country is subject. All
these things improve the appearance OF the
landscape. The com-belt stretches across the
I centre Of the State, while the south is rich in
coal-beds The coal-beds Of Illinois and
Iowa are much more extensive than those Of
Pennsylvania but the quality not as good
IL does very well for fuel but contains toe
much sulphur for smelling processes. ! have
seen large piles of the slack at the mines
+ ignite by spontaneous combustion and smoul.
, der away, leaving II a pile of ashes
= Tothose Young men who are investing thcil
money in the barren hillsides Of the Ale
phenies, expecting some day, among thos,
stumps and rocks, 10 find beautiful farm and
a quiet home, | would simply say, that only
as far west a. the western part Of the State o
Iowa they can buy land quite as theaI
with less work will make them wealthy, wher
they become old men, while the scanty inoom'
and hardships connected with the cultivation
lof hack bone from the Alleghenies lwitl
half the fields standing on end will alwayi
7, lcircumsribe their means, and after-life will
find them in a farm, crooked as the rainbow
! only not symmetrical. II is my opinion tina
any person with limited means can do bette
west than in eastern States. The origina
settlers here are beginning TO recognize tina
L fact and encourage their sons 10 push still
A farther westward.
Not wishing 10 tax any more Of your tint
and patience for the present, am respectfully
@. W. WEAVER,
-
IAdies are invited 70 70 and sec The ney