The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-04-01
AN ENTERPRlSING CITY.
The Mstr opolis Of Western Iowa.
Its surroundings and Prospects
Wonderful Increase in Population and
Business.

Sioux City, the metropolis of Western
Iowa, which, on account OF its rapid
growth, is at present attracting wide
spread attention. is situated on the
Missouri River, about 500 miles west
of Chicago. Behind it are the fertile
rolling prairies, 90, 200 square miles in ex-
tent, whose great cornfelds are the wonder
of the world, and whose rapidly growing
population is as intelligent, energetic, and
thrifty as any race of men the world ever
produced. West and south, Nebraska
stretches AGO miles away to the roman
tic valleys and foothills of the Rocky
Mountains. Commencing within three
miles of the city, the great and luxuriant
rolling praiIies of Dakota, stretching hun
dreds of miles toward the Pacific Slope, are
rapidly developing into a great empire OF
wealth and population that exceeds the
widest dreams of human speculation
Here, what was once supposed ia be great
desert of sand, sage brush and bad lands is
being made to bloom and blossom
as the rose" the richest country
that the sun shines on. Dakotas 3O,-
DOC, 900 of acres are covered with luxurl-
ant cornfelds, inexhaustible pasturage,
pine forests, ranges of rich mineral noun
tains. with a net work of great rivers and
railroads, immense wheat fields, great herds
of cattle, and n population as Wonderful in
enterprise, thrift and intelligence as ii is in
rapid growth. Then to the north, less
than 100 miles distant, lies Minnesota,
whose wheat fields have long been the pre-
eminent wheat regions of the world.
Besides being located on the Missouri
River, where ii first touches our western
border. and is navigable for large sized
steamboats, for n distance of 300 miles
above, it is located near the mouth of two
of its large tributaries. The Big Sioux,
which forms about seventy miles of the
western boundary of Iowa, emptie5 into the
Missouri River about two miles above the
city. 1t drains and waters 1000 square
miles of Iowa territory, and its valleys are
wonderfully rich and productive. just be-
low, and forming the eastern boundary of
the city, the Floyd River empties into
the Missouri. 1t is a small stream, but flows
through rich and beautiful valley. 1t is
about 100 miles long and drains about SEQ
square miles of territory. There are many
mills erected on its banks, and its water
power is valuable. Perry Greek, which
: also drains lovely territory, and whose
through the city and eInpties into the Mis-
souri,.
Less than generation ago the land upon
which Sioux City is located. and the terri
tory for hundreds of miles north, south,
east and west, lay in its. primeval beauty,
with no sign of civilization. The red man
of the prairie was unmolested in his rich
hunting grounds. The buffalo roamed at
will over the beautiful natural lawns of
tiful plateaus and lovely valleys. The rich
carpet of nature made his home beautiful.
and fcrnished him with an easy, luxuriant
living. The solemn stiffness was broken
only by the war-whoop of the Indian, the
lowing of the buffalo, and the hungry cry
of the wolf
The population Of Sioux City in 1876
was 5000; in 1880. 7,30S; in 1853, 14,000;
in June, 1886, 10. 074; in January, 1886, 49,
3S2-a gain of 4,30S from June, 1856, to
January, 1886.
Probably no city of its size in the country
shows more activity in building operations
than does this bright little Western metrop-
oils at the present day. Buildings of all
classes are being erected as fast as men
and material can put them in shape, and
the demand seems TO exceed the supply.
There are no vacant stores In the city, and
owners of residence property have no diff
Guilty in finding tenants as soon as houses.
are ready for occupancy, that are willing to
pay good rents. Among the building inn
provements that are now under way are
several large blocks of stores, q S200,00
hotel, several. factories and scores of resi-
dences varying in size and style, from the
quiet little cottage to the stately mansion.
The demand for carpenters, bricklayers.
and other mechanics is much greater than
the supply, and all find work at good wages
as soon as they reach the city. 1t is re-
ported that number of contractors have
been delayed upon their work quite seri-
ously on account of the scarcity of good
help. One reason for this scarcity is the
demand made by outside towns for assist
ance. When mechanics of any kind are
needed in the small towns (of which there
are many lying in the vicinity of Sioux
City they send there for them, and, as
consequence, every one that desires work
can have it. a good mechanic has no rea-
son TO be idle there.
Few cities of its size in this or any other
country can boast of better Improvements,
better manufactures, larger wholesale
houses, or more energetic people. The
city has u perfect police, fire, water, and
sewerage system, under the Engagement OF
competent directors and superintendent.
and before another winter sets in several
miles of the best pavement that can be in
vented will cover some of its most promi-
nent thoroughfares. :.
Several of the most important railroads
in the West center there, and more will soon
seek admission TO its limits. II is expected
that large Union Passenger Depot will be
erected at this season for the accommoda-
ton of business of the Chicago and North
western, Sioux City and Pacific, Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul, Illinois Central
and Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Omaha Railroads, all of which run trains
to and from Sioux City daily at the present
time.
AK unrepealed law of New Jersey, passed