The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-23
Special Contributors.
A WEEK IN IOWA.
BY REV. J. W. HANSON, D. D.
(ChicagO.)


One familiar with the great and
beautiful State of Iowa-fOr the word
Iowa signifies in the aboriginal ''How
beautiful cannot revisit it, especially
in June, without pleasurable zest.
No sooner is the Father of Waters
crossed than the ide-stretching undu-
lations of emerald vegetation begin to
unroll like a panorama as one flies
across the land. and he seems to be al
ways in the midst of an illimitable
realm of fertility. We have long
rated this State as first, even in the
Northwest, in pleasing diversity of sur
face, excellence of climate, fertility of
soil, character of people, and pOssibili-
ties for the future. If in any one of these
respects either of the sisterhOod of
commonwealths surpasses her, Iowa
certainly leads in the combination of
characteristics. And we never turn to-
ward this embryo of an empire without
a sense of satisfaction.
This time, after a longer absence than
ever before, since, twenty three years
ago, we first saw the State, every thing
conspired to make the journey pleas
ant. May had poured her stimulating
showers and the sunshine of June lay
on the land. Already the early grass
and grain gave that tenderest tint of
green that no other season retains,
and the promise of bounty was all
along the route, in blossoming fruit
trees, springing grass, grain and corn,
and the genial sky, like an inverted
vase of l0pjS lazotli, seemed to have been
placed over the realm as if to screen it
from harm and insure prosperous sea-
son.
The first half of the journey was
very familiar one, along that great ave-
nue. of traffic, the Chicago and North
western, which controls more miles of
railway than any other line in the
world. Many time ard oft have we
known the luxuries of IFS cars to
Omaha, st. Paul, Dakota, and the
principal places between. But since
our last ride, a new branch, leaving the
main line at Tama City, traverses a
new route, crossing the Illinois Central
at Webster City, and pushes for the
Missouri river, in the extreme north
western portion of the State. Here
most of the country was new to us, and
new to the eye. Unfenced fertility,
new buildings, little villages starting
up like mushrooms gave testimony of
the wonderful growth of this State,
whose census in 1890 will startle those
unfamiliar with the progress it is max
ing. And its beauty is uniform with
that of the older portions of the State.
We are frequently asked, How does the
with that of the older and more cele-
brated countries of Europe? Our re-
ply would be that there is no land in
Europe, not even the lovely landscapes
of England, that can compare with
what Iowa will be when the hand of
man shall have supplemented the work
of nature, as has been done in the old
world. When these rich swells shall
be crowned with orchards and groves,
and these lovely wales shall be adorned
with such foliage as this soil can / re-
duee, and these roadsides shall be lined
with hedges and shade trees, and city,
village and farmstead shall be adorned
with useful and ornamental grOwths,
no land in Europe will compete with
Iowa in that quiet loyeliness of land
scape that makes parts of England so
attractive. 1t is only a question of
time. All along the line from Tama
City to our pOiIt of destination, POO
miles, the soil is rich, the crops abun-
dant, and all the natural qualities of
the country are we'll up to the average
of the rest of the State.
Sutherland, O'Brien county, is 4j9
miles northwest from Chicago. Six
years ago the open prairie strt tched far
as the eye could travel, with only here
and there the cabin of the settler. Now
a little village of five or six hundred |
people occupies the site, with other
villages in all directions in the near
vicinage. Two churches, Methodist |
and Disciple, large and commodious
schoolhouse, well-flled stores, and an
air of general thrift and enterprise |
strikes the stranger on his arrival, and a |
weeks acquaintance informs him that |
he is among an intelligent, cultivated |
people, from all parts of our own cour-