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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]