DAVENPORT TO DES MOINES. 421 



Iowa County, and contains a population of nearly two 

 thousand. 



The State of Powa, taken as a whole, is one of the 

 most fertile in the United States. The native prairies 

 are fields almost ready-made for the farmers' hands ; 

 their rich black soil returning him reward for his labor 

 a hundred fold. 



Skinner House, 

 Brooklyn, Iowa 

 October Tenth, 



My ride to-day from Marengo has been over fin^ 

 prairie land with occasionally a farm in the distance 

 like an oasis in the desert. Brooklyn is one hundred 

 miles from Davenport and, as some evidence of its 

 prosperous condition, has four hotels. I was fortunate 

 in selecting the Skinner House, the proprietor of which 

 knows how to make his guests comfortable. Paul 

 also seemed happy to-night when I shut him in a 

 clean and well-appointed stable with his supper. 



Brooklyn is a village of over twelve hundred in- 

 habitants, and wears the impress of success. There 

 are several grain elevators, foundries, flour mills and 

 business houses of all kinds; also graded schools, banks, 

 and daily and weekly papers. The streets are clean and 

 well paved, which is more than can be said for its 

 Eastern namesake. The surrounding farms are large 

 and well cultivated, and the country presents a most 

 attractive appearance. 



