Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-03
Letter From Iowa.
RED OAK, Iowa. Sent. "a. 1881

Thinking that some af our old tim
, friends in Vermont might like to hea
| from this part of Iowa, will pen few
, lines for their perusal. In the spring of 1877
we left our native state (Vermont,) 10 seel
home in the far west among the prairies
We found one in Red Oak, town of bu
few inhabitants at that time; the city con
tanned several hundred, but the surround
ing country was mostly prairie, and looke'
like one vast meadow stretching out as
far as the eyec oull reach. But in one
short year this mostly disappeared, and
instead of those lovely green appearances
and its millions of beautiful fl ,wers, it
was. by the powman's hand, made nearly
black rs night, then followed the laying
out and fencing into farms and highways.
until all was enclosed, and to-, day it is one
OF the finest farming countries on the con-
linent; and by the way, is becoming quite
arisiocra,ic. The farmers are getting well
o do and building very fine mansion Xix,
residences, which adds to the beauty of the
place very much. The city OF Red Oak is
last improving and is destined to become
ne OF great Importance. The locomotiv,
now leaves the city for the east, west, north
md south, all under the supervision of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad
company, and other roads now are being
quilt. the Atlantic & Kansas City road /.
being pushed, and Rcd o k has Just voted
tax of five per cent to aid in its cons,ruc
ion. O.her railroads are on their VIA,
Trough here. The city built last year,
system of water works, street cars, gas
works, and a telephone exchange connect
Ing the city with many of the neighboring
towns including Council Buff, and Omaha
The schools are in Il fourishng condition,
well equipped with the very best of teach
ers.
Tho season here was very wet at the
line and just after corn planting. it held
;old and very much of the seed planted
CITED in the ground, making it neces sary
o replant which OF course makes the crop
tther late; bu. the weather all through |
he last half of July and August has been
good for the corn crop, and in Montgom
ny county, with the exception Of Il narrow |
rip on the ets side, the crop will be one |
t the best for several years. In Kansas |
nd Nebr ska the crop is generally good,
1T there are certain portions of each state
here the corn is not worth harvesting,
nd II, for wheat, there is not enough
aised here to supply the home consump-
on. Oats, hay and potatoes are good
enerallv.
The farmers Of south western Iowa are
st turning their attention to the raising
nd iatening of beef. Many have already
id down their lands to timothy and GLOW.
:, and are well stocked with steers for
'ef. Cattle are well up now, and have
zen for year or two, COWS are worth |
ON 80 to 60 dollars, calves fetch from IL
20 dollars at weaving time, and other
ock in proportion, while corn is selling
Red Oak Qor shipment to Chicago ~
cents per busheI, wheat for about Is
nts, oats IL cents, rye 30 to 81, and pota A
rs are way down. But beer and pork ,
VS. very much better.
A word with regard to the storms of
wa. 1t is said Iowa is in the track O n
: great storm center |; may be SO, tina Y
mains TO be determined by future appear
ces; to be sure the people of Iowa -,
, afraid OF the terrible cyclone, as wei II
many in other sta es, but thus far W 4
W rec ived no more or greater mi IT
N have certain parS of other states
| if the cause is 81 rem ).e, AS clam n
! being from the sun, why should tn ii
turbance4 be confined to any p.rticular 1t
tlity. y herwise the storms Of low. ),
no worse than other places. II
G. +. LANDoN. r