Iowa News from across the Country
- 1833 -

Adams Sentinel
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
May 20, 1833

Lead Mines. The Galenian contains an account of recent discoveries of lead ore on the east bend of the Mississippi river, between the Platte and Grant rivers, in Iowa county, Michigan Territory. The first discovery was made in March 1832, by Lucious Lyon, Esq. surveyor of Public Land, and upon further examination that section of country bids fair to become one of the most valuable mineral regions known in the United States. The ore is said to be of the best quality, and found in large bodies over an ectensive tract of country. From a single cave, 400,000 pounds of lead ore have been taken with little labor, and the operation is still continuing. A town was recently laid off at that place, and called Van Buren.

[transcribed by S.F., March 2005]

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Huron Reflector
Norwalk, Ohio
September 17, 1833

From the Galenian -- The Great West.
Who, being asked to point out the limits of the "Far West", possesses an imagination sufficiently fleet to keep within his scope the almost magic strides of emigration to the western world, and answer a question upon a subject so changeable? But a few years ago, Ohio and Kentucky had the appellation of the 'far west.' A period of much more recent date, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan, were considered the 'far west.' And until the first day of last June, the country west of lake Michigan, whose western border washed by the great Mississippi, was known as the 'far west.' But where is it not? It has crossed the Father of Rivers, and swiftly glided onward towards the Rocky Mountains. The country which, until the first of June last, was only known as the hunting ground of the untamed savage, now teems with a numerous, enterprising and respectable population. The purchase of that country from our vanquished foe, the Sac and Fox Indians, was made last fall, and retified last June. Since that time, the country called "Dubuque's Lead Mines," has been, and continues to be filling up more rapidly, we hesitate not to say, than any country equally extensive, since the foundation of our government. Tthe inhabitants have spread over an extent of perhaps twenty miles square; and large villages have sprung up like mushrooms which are the growth of a night. The village of Dubuque, situated on the west bank of the Mississippi, contains upwards of 50 houses, and about 30 of which are stores. It contains, according to the best calculations we can make, about 400 inhabitants. Building is still progressing in geometrical ratio. The emigration to the village and adjacent country is unparalleled. Two daily lines of stages, in which the United States' Mail is carried, besides many extra carriages, run from Galena, to Dubuque; and scarcely ever do they go without a full load. The village of Peru, which has emerged from a state of embryo, is situated on the river Maquakota, about five miles (by land) from Dubuque, and about two miles from the Mississippi. The Maquakota, is navigable for steamboats up to Peru. This village was commenced about one month ago, and is rapidly improving. It contains several well built houses, and a respectable population. The miners are doing well and the country promises a liberal reward to the industrious laborer. Now the 'far west' is the Dubuque country, but where it will have gone by the time that another twelve month shall roll over us, is beyond the reach of the most lively and inventive imagination. We are already beginning to point to yonder Rocky Mountains as a resting place, but we cannot stop here. The genius of the American people will never rest till the Pacific ocean shall echo to the Atlantic, the sound of the 'Far West.'

[transcribed by S.F., March 2005]



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