Year: 1874




.wlds of the West Prosperity smiles
upon us, and we have no reason to COM
plain of the country or climate, though
here. as in all the northern states east of
the Rocky Mountains, there are extremes
Of heat and cold Notwithstanding this,
Iowa and Minnesota are among the health
lest states in the Union. This is my fourth
wear here, and during the time L have
never lost a day on account of sickness.
Grumblers may be found here as IN other
localities. Those who came here expect
inc to o rich in two or three years have
been disappointed Those who came here
with nothing but their hands and a deter
mination to toll patiently till they could
have place of their own to cali home,
have succeeded


When we remember that this country
(MitchelD was unorganized in 1880, and
now nearly all the land IS under cultiva-
ton. some idea may be formed of the en-
terprise and thrift of those who have emf
grated to this part of the country. Activity
i the Western mans watchword. Not
moment for delay. An Eastern farmer
starts for the house when he sees 4 shower
coming and waits till he is sure Of fair
weather. Not SO in this part of the coun-
try, here fellow must learn to stand the
storm. Is it the custom to stay out and
seet wet and then to continue to work with
out putting on dry clothes? you ask. No,
not exactly that. but rs Western farmer
Is supposed to have only one suit of clothes,
whenever he sees shower approaching
he pulls off his clothes. rolls them up and
puts them under the wagon or covers them
with the wagon seat. and coolly goes to
work again When the rain IS over his
clothes are dry and all ready for use with
out the delay of going home. You may
think this story" but truth is stranger
than fiction.


\ few days since | was stopping at the
house of an Englishman who came to this
country poor. but by hard work and good
management has accumulated considerable
pop .rtv. He has a family exactly to his
liking. Young men who have tried to
coax him TO part with his daughters have
gone away sorely disappointed. But the
idol of his heart Is his only son, Fred.
You ought to have seen his anxiety rs the
thunder~ roared and the rain descended in
torrents upon his darling boy still in the
field; hut, 10, when the storm hal passed
away and the old dinner horn called Fred
home. there was no outward signs of cX-
posurc to the pelting rain. \ few words
of explanation cleared away the mystery
t. e intelligent and Thoughtful boy had
carefully kept his apparel dry in the way
have Just mentioned. This boy. if not
,tunted in his growth. will make his mark
in the world, and be clasSed among the
first inventors Of the age.


Pluck and perseverance will subdue any
country, and will ere long make these
broad prairies bud and blossom As the
rose. New settlers are continually coming
from the older states and from Europe
Land is rising in value every year. New
churches, echool-houses, manufacturing
establishments and dwellings are erected
with surprising rapidity. Should this
activity continue till the close of the pres
ent century nearly all the good land vii
be occupied No need of holding out eX-
ira inducements for people TO come here
Nearly rs much wheat can be raised on NJ
acre in Vermont as here. but five acres
can be cultivated as easily here as one
there. NJ st of the land is level, mellow
and free from stones and other obsruc-
tions 50 common in hilly countries.


On the other hand settlers miss the old
orchard AMI sugar place" Wood mc
lumber cannot be had for the cutting
Coal. abundant in some parts of the state
Is not found here: but is worth So or ST
p.rton when brought by rail, and tol
of Iowa coal is not worth much more 70
heating purposes than Il cord Of hard ma
pie wood. Wild fruits and berries ar'
hardly known. Taxes are high, usual
from three to four per cent. on the valua
ton. though the - valuation =" on the ta2
books Is less than half what the propert.
will bring in market In the north west
crn part of this state grasshoppers hav
DESTROYED everything for several year
and are still ut work. have written thes
few lines to comfort those who may wis
to come here, but are so situated "a t
make it difficult to move.


Summing up the whole matter, niue
more can he said in favor of the West tina
against it. and few who have lived here
few Years could be induced to go back t
rocky New England to engage in farmin
or any other business. Towns there hay
reached their height and some of thel
are declining, while here towns are grow


lur and business is increasing.


| had nearly forgotten that this is III


4ih of July, made famous by one BRAY


act Of our forefathers. While others al


away burning powder, racing horses an


getting drunk, prefer to remain at HON


anu try to keep sober. Horace Creole


used to say 1t was It pity independents


day did not come in the winter, SO as t


cool down the American spirits and con


pei them to celebrate in DOORS Let ever


one follow his own inclinations; but wi


venture the assertion that more weary, III


satisfied disappointed people ale ploddin


Their way homeward tonight than the1


have been or will be any other night


the year


Customs change slowly, and vile tn


nation shall endure we may expect I'll


same noisy, boistcrous demonstrations


celebrate or national anniversary. w.


EcL- ILL.,