Iowa News

The following is a copy of a letter addressed to the agents of this paper in the Secretary of the Philadelphia Land Company, excited by an advertisement for from 40 to 640 acres of land for 100 percent, with the intention of procuring locations.

Dubuque, W.T., Sept. 9, 1837.

Sir:

I have just noticed your advertisement in the "Saturday Evening Post," relative to the purchase of a large body of land and hoping my writing you with a view to directing your attention to Wisconsin, previously to buying elsewhere, may not be deemed impertinent. I shall, without further apology, proceed to give you some information respecting this favored country, which I trust will at all events, prove of some interest, to one who takes so much, as I know you do, in every thing relating to the advancement of her prosperity.

Having no clue to the precise objects of your company, farther than the advertisement referred to, I am of course unprepared to give you such details as you might be most desirous to obtain, but be they what they may, it strikes me most forcibly that the probability of your realizing your wishes in some part of our Territory, is greater than it would be anywhere else I know of.

The price you propose giving for land is stated. You of course next desire that it shall be of the best quality (provided such can be had on your terms). You want a healthy climate, pure water, a situation easy of access; in short, you doubtless desire a location combining the greatest possible number of advantages....and this spot, I will venture to affirm, without fear of contradiction, will be found within the limits of Wisconsin.

You can obtain any quantity of as fine land here as the sun ever shone upon for $1.25 per acre...fine for agricultural purposes, and also (which you perhaps will scarcely credit) containing immense bodies of Lead and Copper.

Nature has not either fenced or ploughed our fields; but she has done very little short of this; having scattered groves of timber at convenient intervals over the bosom of the smoothly undulating prairie, leaving nothing for the husbandman to do but make and lay his rails before he proceeds at once to break up the soil. No "clearing" whatever, nor "grubbing" as in Pennsylvania and other places, being prerequisite; and as to the abundance and purity of our springs, and streams affording motive power, and the salubrity of the climate...I do not believe any part of the Union can surpass, if equal, them.

You are doubtless aware of the fact that steamboats not only land all along our eastern boundary, but that they also ascend the Mississippi without any difficulty to the Falls of St. Anthony, besides running up the Wisconsin river to Ft. Winnebago, whence by a slight improvement, they will shortly be enabled to pass down the Fox to Green Bay; and it follows that our facilities of intercommunication with the seaboard, secure advantages too apparent to need indication.

I shall take much pleasure in answering any (post paid) letters of enquiry you may choose to favor me with; and I shall further do myself the honor of forwarding to your address some of our newspapers, as being calculated to afford you some faint idea of the condition and resources of the country.

Should you deem any of my remarks or statements worthy of publication, you will oblige me by making that use of them, over my name, as I am particularly desirous for our own sake, as well as those of emigrants generally, that more should be known of the character of Wisconsin at the east, than is at present the case.

I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.