Morning journal and courier., 1882-05-09
rgournal xYo Gourier,
Tuesday Morning. May 9. 1882
The eWest.

Iuo w eSCs
 A Few Notes of n Trip by a New Haven
 Man.
 CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, April 90 1882. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Some of your readers inquired of me about this city, and whether it is good place for New Haven man to remove to locate in. An answer to the first inquiry may enable them to answer for themselves the second.
 Cedar Rapids is located in the central part of Linn county, one of the best agricultural districts in the State, on the Cedar river, a stream of clear, beautiful water, about 45O feet wide, 80 miles west of the Mississippi river, and PIG due west from Chicago, on the Northwestern railroad, leading from Chicago to Omaha and San Francisco. Three sub stantial iron bridges, each about 800 feet long, span it from east to west, beside rail road bridges The river affords 8 splendid water power, now only partially utilized, and the city contains about 15, ,OO0 inhabitants.
 In some respects it has features not dis similar to New Haven. It's streets are laid out at right angles with each other, its main ave enne 120 feet wide, the others so and 100, alternating in width and we'll lined with shade trees, The houses are beautiful and expen- sive, built with artistic skill, and with an air of comfort that would adorn the best locali- ties of New Haven.
 It has one of the finest opera houses west of Chicago, and last night Oscar Wilde ad- mired himself here before large andience
 It is great railroad center. The hub of the wheel, letting the spokes represent the different railroads centering here, and you have nine ln the representation, besides their branches and laterals. Over 15O cars day are handled here on an average through the year. Its religious and educational advan- tages are fully equal to, if not superior to most places of similar size in the country. It has 21 churches of all denominations, one hourishing college, high, graded and select schools, public library, one daily and sew eral weekly newspapers, ably edited and well supported, three National banks, be- side private banks and banking firms, two insurance companies, a heavy job ping and retail trade in various lines of merchandise, in which immense stocks of goods are carried, and sold at about Chicago and New York prices with freight added. ! will mention some of the leading industries as rehecting the business energies of the city. One pork packing establishment from No vember 1st, 1881, to March 1st, 1882, slaugh- tered, dressed and packed 152, ,801 hogs 1; from March 1st to April 29 two months. 39,
 l13, with capacity for killing, dressing and packing over 1,5O0 day, or about half 8 million year.
 Three egg packing establishments pack and ship from 800, GOO to 100000 dozen eggs annually.
 Besides it's three tiouring mills there is an | oatmeal mill, grinding 1000 bushels of cats daily into oatmeal for table use, a hnseed mill grinding hundreds of bushels of fax seed daily. One steam baker turns out over | sp bo roIc ofa oak l. | ly.. fruit and vegetable factory puts up l over POO. .0OO cans annually of vegetables, | fruit and berries A carriage factory turns out from ten to fifteen carriages and wagons for market daily. A large factory for the
 manufacture of grain reapers, self binders, and other agricultural implements.
 The above are but few of many represen- tative establishments located in the city, which give the place degree of activity and | business importance that would challenge at | tention anywhere. Large and extensive bus | mess houses of uniform size and appearance extend from street to street, better and more imposing in appearance than any continuous block of equal length in the city of New Ha. ven. l The city is now growing in population and | business importance faster than in any previ- ous year. I notice statements in 8 local paper that ,OOO buildings of all kinds will be erect l ed here this year. Last year about 800 were erected.
 Over 200 telephones are in use and the tel l egraph flashes into the columns of the morn | ing papers the latest news of the day. A l supply of gas and pure city water as good | and cheaply furnished as with you .- ! The following official statement from the postofice may reflect somewhat the commer- l cial importance of the city l From April 1st, 1881, to March 31st, 1882, the business of the office amounted to $34,
 399. 50; sale of stamps, $31, ,64O.20; profits
 to the government, s$3O, PIP 99.
 1 The climate of Iowa is healthful, invigor-
 ating and it's soil productive. The luxuries of the market are here found as early, as | abundant and as cheaply as with you. The l city has total indebtedness of $32, ,0Oo, and 1 the State none. -..
 Iowa was admitted into the Union as a | State from part of Wisconsin Territory Dec. | 2S, 1846, with about 10000 in population. ! At the census of 1850 it numbered l92, 124,
 with two representatives in Congress. Now
 it has population estimated at more than | two millions, with nine Congressmen, and
 under the next apportionment will be in | creased to eleven Congressmen, gaining two,
 and New England States lose two. The State
 is increasing rapidly in population, wealth, political influence and commercial impor- I tance. l.. B. MUNsoN.