| 183 and report a place in Iowa Territory, (if any could be found) suitable for establishing and building up a stake or branch of the church, of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Submit the following report.
We left the head of the Rapids on the west bank of the Mississippi river opposite Nauvoo, on the 22nd day of this Inst . we explored the county North of the Desmoine [Des Moines] river, in Lee county and part of Van Buren county. The surface is neither hilly nor level, but may be termed undulating, having near equal portions of timber and prairie: the timber prevailing on the Desmoine [Des Moines] and its tributaries, and on the sources of the Skunk river, and on the minor tributaries of the Mississippi river.-The soil is generally very fertile, especially on the Desmoine [Des Moines] river. The bottom land or valley of this river average about one mile in width, soil dry and exuberently [exuberantly] fertile, with abundant good springs on the river margins, but elsewhere springs scarcely ever occur, though abundant stock water is found on all the small streams, and excellent well water may be obtained in any place by digging from 12 to 30 feet, stone abounds on all (or near all) the streams suitable for building and other purposes.
We examined the Desmoine [Des Moines] river from near its junction with the Mississippi river, up to the Sauk village, a distance of near 90 miles, it averaging 600 feet wide, gliding over a smooth lime stone bed, or bottom for the greater portion of the distance, only a few instances of a thin coating or stratta [strata] of gravel. The depth of this river is uniform, and at the stage of water we made the examination about 18 inches deep, finding no place but you might drive a loaded waggon [wagon], or ride on horse back along the channel. Steam boats ply a portion of every Spring and Fall to the Sauk village, and could run much higher was there business, say to the Raccoon forks; a distance of 200 miles. Small keel boats can ply any time unless obstructed by ice. The prevailing timber, Oak, shell bark Hickory, Walnut, Sugar Maple, Hackberry, Buckeye, Mulberry, Elm,. and some other varieties; under growth Paupau, Hazle, &c.
We have seen the principal rivers of the States, and say without hesitancy, that the river now under consideration is the most pleasant and beautiful known to us.
There was offered unto us a mill seat with chartered privileges, (on the Desmoine [Des Moines] river,) together with a donation of about $700 if we could go on to improve the same: this offer will be taken in a few days by one of our brethren.
We now proceed to take into consideration the country south of the Desmoine [Des Moines], to the Mississippi boundary line, (on the north,) and east of the Indian boundary line. Its form is that of a right angle triangle, having the Desmoine [Des Moines] river for the hypotenuse, covering a surface of about 356 square miles, equal to 217840 acres-near half of this is not surveyed and subject to settlement and pre-emption, being that portion from the Desmoine [Des Moines] river along the Indian boundary line South, to the North boundary line of Missouri, averaging 9 miles wide and 22 miles long, from north to south: about 90,000 acres of this tract is not settled or claimed: we therefore, deem this the best location that can be made in Iowa Territory to build up a Stake. This district is watered by the Desmoine [Des Moines] river, and a creek called Chequest, [signifying in the Indian tongue, thunder and ligtning [lightening],] there is however, small tributaries to both the above streams, watering the surface now under consideration. It may be described as a timbered county consisting of timber, brush, openings, and a small portion of prairie, surface rather broken, though nearly all susceptible of cultivation; and mostly in the highest degree fertile, and may be more densly [densely] populated than any other portion we have examined. Stone, and other crude building materials abound, with a sufficiency of water power on the Desmoine [Des Moines] river and Chequest creek, that can be easily improve. This region has many other advantages and resourced [resources] not adverted to in this description.-Submitted, July, 29th, 1840.
GEORGE MILLER. JOHN A. MIKESELL.
(page 183) |
