Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1870 — Letter from Iowa. [ARTICLE]

Letter from Iowa.

Mr. S. L. Alter, of North-Liberty, lowa, writes us that he is living in the midst of a good farming eoun- ; try eight miles northwest of lowa | city. “The land is a rich rolling 1 prairie similar to that northwest of I Rensselaer, with a deep black soil 1 splendid for farming purposes.— i Along the lowa river is a good supply of timber, mostly white and red oak.*’' The country is settled principally by Pennsylvania Dutch, with | here and there a community of Bohemians. Generally speaking the people -are energetic, well-to-do farmers, who look well not only to their own interest but also to the good of the public. Agricultural societies, churches, public schools and the like are liberally supported, and they have good roads and public buildings. The State is entirely out of debt. Public schools are numerous and well conducted.— The law provides for six months school 4h every district. The old State House in lowa City is now being used as a State University and is a well conducted , institution with 300 or 400 pupils in constantattendance. Many of lowa’s ablest ministers, physicians, attorneys, engineers and teachers were educated in this University. j “I can notice but little difference ! between the climate here and Indi- : ana, except that it does not entirely * th’aw out here in the winter. Durj ing the past winter the thermometer did not fall but 9° beljow o. The severe storm extending all over the northern part of the United States visited us on the 15th day of March at which time the snow fell some ten inches in depth.’’ A petition is being circulated in Pulaski county asking the Board of Connty Commissioners to ordef an election for a tax to aid the Fort Wayne and Pacific Railroad Company.