Iowa Old Press

The Gazette
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 1, 1856

GAZETTE CORRESPONDENCE
Travel to Fort Dodge-The Cold Weather-Game-Public Lands-Fort Dodge-Present and Future.
FORT DODGE, IOWA, Jan. 17, 1856

     MR. EDITOR- We left your city on the 1st day of this year, to go by the way of Dubuque, to this place, and we have faithfully performed the journey in 16 days. If we are to rely on the testimony of all the people we have chanced to meet, this has been probably as cold as the people of the U.S. ever have to suffer. In our travels hither, we have heard of at least 20 deaths by freezing. This number, great as it is, gives but a meagre view of the suffering from the extreme cold. While we are writing, there is a young man lying within three feet of us, whose feet and hands were frozen a few days ago, and at least half of them will have to be amputated.
    On Tuesday, the 8th inst., as if to celebrate the great National Democratic Jubilee day, the mercury this morning was found down at 28 degs. below zero; at 11 A.M. it was at 24 below, and at nine at night it was 32 below. The highest the mercury rose during the day was 24 below - notwithstanding the sun shone bright all day.- And this was the cause of so much mischief. The day was so bright that it betrayed many a sufferer, and before evening but few escaped with whole ears, noses or cheeks.  But for the last week it has been beautiful winter weather, with the finest sleighing. The snow here is about 10 inches deep-calm and clear over head.
    The rush for lands at this point has somewhat abated during this cold weather and there is about as much to do as can be comfortably transacted. This calm will probably continue until about the middle of April, when the tides will rise higher than ever, until all the Iowa lands will be taken. It is evident that this rush for land is an insane mania. Land in this region, without any of the advantages of comfortable living for the next seven years, and with doubtful prospects for even the distant future, is higher than in the neighborhood of your beautiful city.. Two or three miles from Fort Dodge, out in the wild prairie, and that of the 2d quality, land is $100 per acre, and lots are selling at $20 per foot.
    More than half of the houses in the place are the old government buildings heretofore used for barracks. We believe they are now private property, belonging to Col. Williams & Co. In making a grant to the Des Moines River Company, Congress carelessly granted them this fort with all its buildings, and the present owners bought of that Company. There are, however, some doubts about the title to the property. There are probably, all told, 40 houses here with a population of 250.
    This is truly the frontier. West and North is all a dreary waste. No venturous travelers go beyond this point, except in pursuit of game, which is plenty at this season. Deer and elk are abundant, and venison is hawked about the streets at 2 1/2 cents per lb. At every house, as we pass, we see deer frozen and standing up against the houses. And at one house we passed in Hardin co., the occupant had 27 wolves which he had killed standing silent sentinels around his premises. They reminded us of the images with which Lord Timothy Dexter, of Newburyport, used to ornament his residence.
    At this point they have stone coal in abundance, as well as building stone. The river winds round the town in a deep, narrow gorge, some 125 feet deep, and difficult in many cases of access. They have a saw mill here, but like most other new locations it is a poor concern. Lumber is $3 per 100 feet, but it is very poor lumber and very scarce at that. Timber is scarce and we cannot se how a city is ever to be built here without a railroad is built first. Land carriage is $3,00 per cwt from Mississippi. Cornmeal is $1,00 per bushel and the nearest corn mill is about 45 miles.
    No man should think of coming here for some years, either to make a fortune or to live comfortably. Property is already four times as high as it should be, which will prevent improvements, and there is nothing to improve with, and no farms as yet to sustain a town. Yet the tide will rush on, and next season this will be a scene of much fun for the looker-on. The land is gone at Dubuque, nearly so at Decorah, while at Iowa City, Des Moines, Fairfield and Chariton there is little to attract attention. But the mass will come here.

BROKE JAIL - Teal, the man who robbed the mail, in Marion, last summer, broke out of the Iowa City jail on the night of the 19th ult. The Marion Register says Teal, in company with his son, at breakfast on the next Sunday morning at the house of his brother-in-law, near Mt. Vernon, Linn county.

SAD CASUALTY - On the 16th ult. the coal mine near Mt. Pleasant, Henry co., Iowa, caved in, burying Messrs. E. Still and J.E. Fenn in the ruins. They survived but a short time after their rescue.