|
GAZETTEER OF
IOWA,
ARRANGED BY
COUNTIES ALPHABETICALLY,
Given an Account
Of Their
LOCATION, BOUNDARY, SURFACE, SOIL,
TIMBER, MINERAL RESOURCES,
STREAMS AND RAILWAYS, TOGETHER WITH THE
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
ORGANIZATION AND ITEMS OF EARLY
HISTORY, AND THE
PRESENT POPULATION, MANUFACTURES, TRADE
AND
GENERAL BUSINESS STATISTICS OF THE
CITIES,
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
------****------
|
|
Page 87
-----***-----
Adair County.
Adair County is situated in the south-western
part of Iowa being the third county east of the Missouri River, and the
third north of the State of Missouri. It is bounded on the north by
Guthrie, on the east by Madison, on the south by Union and Adams, and on
the west by Cass. The Grand Divide, or the high land dividing the waters
of the Missouri from the waters of the Mississippi, passes through the
eastern portion of the county. The land is undulating, and mostly rolling
prairie. The proportion of prairie to timber is about as twenty-five to
one.
TIMBER..--
The timber is well distributed throughout the county, covering most of the
bottom lands. There are three large bodies, one on the east by Madison, on
the south by Union and Adams, and on the west by Cass. The Grand Divide,
or the high land dividing the waters of the Missouri from the waters of
the Mississippi, passes through the eastern portion of the county. The
land is undulating, and mostly rolling prairie. The proportion of prairie
to timber is about as twenty-five to one.
SOIL..--
The soil is chiefly black loam, containing a sprinkling of sand from two
and a half to four feet in thickness, and resting on a bed of clay. It
produces in abundance corn, wheat and all kinds of vegetables that grow in
this latitude. Plums, crab apples and grapes grow spontaneously, in great
abundance, and of an excellent quality. Young orchards of the
different fruits are looking finely, and this promises to be a good
fruit-growing county.
COAL, BUILDING
STONE, ETC..-- No coal has as yet been discovered, but in several
places coal slate is found on the surface near the streams. Limestone is
found in abundance on the banks of Middle River. Good brick clay in small
quantities is found in different localities.
STREAMS,
MILLS, ETC..-- Middle River, running in a southeasterly direction,
enters the county near the centre of the northern boundary, and passes out
near the centre of the eastern boundary. Grand River, rising in the
northern part, runs in a southeasterly direction and passes out near the
southeast corner of the county. The two branches of the Middle Nodaway
River rise in the northwest part and running south, unite near the
southwest corner of the county. The two branches of the Middle Nodaway
River rise in the northwest part and running south, unite near the
southwest corner of the county. These with many smaller streams and fine
durable springs make this one of the best watered counties in the State.
There is some
good water power on the streams, but at present there are only one water
and two steam saw mills in the county.
As the
farmers have to a considerable degree turned their attention to wool
raising, and as the country is well adapted to this purpose, a woolen
factory is much needed at present, and would in the future also be a very
profitable investment.
The county
is divided into eleven townships, viz: Grand Rover, Greenfield, Grove,
Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Richland, Summerset, Walnut,
Washington.
RAILROADS..-- The Mississippi and Missouri River Railroad, and the
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad upon their approach to the Missouri
River, if they do not pass through this county will approach, the former
very near to the north, and the latter very near to the south line, and in
a few years it will have the advantages and benefits arising from a
competition between the two roads
-----***----- |
