The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-06
Letter from Iowa.
Correspondence ofthe Democratic Advocate.
PANoRA, GUTHRIE COUNTY, Iowa, |
Eahrttarv spond .geG

PANoRA GUTHRIE COUNTY. Iowa.
February 22nd. 1886.
MrssRs EpfToRs Thinking that letter from off
the praries of Iowa might not be uninteresting to
the readers of the ADVOCATE, many of whom have
friends in Iowa. and particularly in Guthrie county
and that IL NAV be Interest to them to hear
news from the Hawkeye State through the columns
of your paper, have concluded to write you a
short letter. Many changes have taken place
since wrote letter TO you some three years ago.
Then everything was booming in Iowa; then rail
roads were being built; then emigrants were flock
could be seen tearing up the rich SOIL and neat
farm houses could be seen going up on our broad
praires But now how different There seems 10
be general stagnation i'll all kinds of business No
railroads being constructed, no new towns being
built up, and but seldom we see the white capped
prairie schooner of the sturdy emigrant passing
through our town. This is not because Iowa is not
good state for feel safe in saying without fear
of contradiction. that Iowa is as good state as
there is in the Union. Iowa possesses many natural
advantages, such as rich soil good healthy eli
mate and as good water as can be found among the
hills of Old Maryland. But Iowa is an agricultural
state and since the products of the farm have be-
come so low in price times have become hard win
of business. Many of our business men are selling
out and going west Of the Missouri alve dan
injure the interests of the people OF Iowa than 1t has
to benefit them; / shall not discuss the question
here; but Prohibition is a faiurei in Iowa. A high
license as proposed by the Democratic party means
q good revenue to the state, and will do much to
advance the cause of temperance and morality
while Prohibition as it now is means lots of saloons
free whiskey, no revenue TO the state ana largely
increased state debt Boot leg saloons are as penti
We had beautiful weather until January LIST; VIZ
ter then set in very severe
Panora is on the Des Moines Northwestern Rail
road Trains passed over the road on the evening
of January 3D. then we had no more trains until
February 1st were completely showed IN ior
overland to u.s. We did not suffer any at this point
for want of fuel or food, as we have several coal
banks and some timber along the river near our
town. We also have two large flour mills, which
supplied the country with -four; but in many por,,
lions of the country north of the people passed
through untold suffering, many being compelled TO
burn corn and hay and live upon corn. On Feb. 10
Gov Larabee ordered the railroad ON. oneais TO open
ing people. who had petitioned him for aid. We
shall do justice to the railroad companies by saying
that they made many efforts to open their rnads
during the month of January, but the snow drifted
in as fast as it could be thrown out and do not
believe that Gov Larabee's order could have been
obeyed had it not began to warm up on February
LIST so that the hands could work. Mercury ranged
from 10 to 81 degrees below zero all through Jann-
that it did not storm. In many places the snow was
drfted twenty feet deep. The month of February so
far has been rather pleasant and but little snow re-
mains on the ground at this time.
The farmers are expecting good crops TINS year a;
as some of the old farmers we always have good
crops after winter of big SHOWS.
The price of grain is very low here now: Corn
&c. wheat 45c., oats 2Oc rye 4Oc, haxseed sue per
bushel. Cattle end hogs are also low in price Eat
cattle $500 per hundred live hogs S35 per hundred
| Land is much cheaper than it was five years ago.
Good land. improved, can now be bought for 5000
per acre which five years ago sold for $50 per acre
Now little upon the political question Iowa,
ority of 5000 is now classed as doubtful state.
A few more years and you can count upon Iowa as
being Democratic state We, as Democrats nave
gallant fight of it for years. prominent Republic
can speaker said last fall had the Republican party
| been compelled to contend with such difficulties,
and been defeated as often as the Democratic party
of Iowa have they would now be scattered TO the
, Tears aao gave Republican majority Of 1000 last
! November elected two Democrats TO the most I'M
portant Offices When first came to Guthrie county
| and as a burlesque upon us the Republicans used
to say the Democrats held convention in the Court
| House. and the keeper locked the door and iwent
| House But at our last county convention we num-
bered one hundred and fifty delegates, and about
getting there in good shape. But President Cleve-
lands administration is not helping us much as a
administration in the way of appointment of Dem
ocrats to the various offices. Wherever Democrat
has been appointed to position I. II mas cost aeS
the protest of one Republican has more weight with
| those in authority than the petition of hundred
in this county. They all excellent men, good,
| sound Democrats, and men OF good moral standing,
and they were endorsed by nearly all of the Demo-
Gratis. also receiving the endorsement of Kinne,
! Whiting McHenry, sykes and Murphy, and other
prominent Democrats Of Iowa; also many kepuo ol
face of all this but one "a mail agent has received
a commission. In every case the Republicans sent
| IN protest. Oue hdulcAl tNepuDlcaii WAS upPolut-
ed to a fat Office in THE Pension Department. The
Greenbackers, Mugwumps and Republicans get the
spells. If we had an Arthur P. German in Iowa
| this would not be the case. The name of German
is not only known in Maryland but is as familiar to
the Democrats west of the Mississippi river as the
! name of old Sammie Tilden. hope the time is not
| far distant in the future when the name of A. p.
German, of Maryland, will have place upon the
Presidential ticket.
| But fear have written you too lengthy letter,
so 1 shall soon close. receive the ADVOCATE on
Tuesday evening and it is always looked for and
most welcome visitor in my family, and is appre-
ciated by some of my Democratic friends almost as
! much as by myself We often wish we had paper
| in Guthrie county like the ADVOCATE And now
stop by wishing the DEMOCRATIC ADVOCATE all the
success thatsuch an ably edited journal is deserving
! of W. NJ. SIMPSON.