Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-12-05
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
EnoM THE PALMYRA tx. ~ REGISTER.

EhoM THE PALMYRA *. ~ REGISTER.
Llin0is.-We received the following
interesting description Of this new, but
ilourshing state, in a letter from the
Rev. Jesse 1'ogsn8end, who moved there
last spring from this village. AS most
OF our readers are personally acquainted
with the writer, it is unnecessary for us
to say that what he has here stated may
be depended on as simple, sober fact.
Township No. Z, Range 4 West, ,
Bond county, state ofIllinois, Aug. %, 1929. $
Much RESPECTED Friend,
Knowing that you, and many other
friends IN the country, wish to obtain COR
rect information concerning the state
of Illinois, in an agricultural, CONNER
cial, and moral view, write this for
| your and their benefit.
Some parts, especially in the south
part CT the state, in the east part, on the
Wabash river, On the American bottoms,
bordering on the Mississippi, and on the
bottom lands which lie Oh other rivers,
are not considered to be favorable to
health. Other parts of the state, be-
licvc, are as we'll adapted 10 health as is
the county of Ontario, in your stale. AS
lar as | have seen in this state, and have
been able to obtain Information, | am
pleased with the country north of the
road which passes from Vinccnncs to
ST. Louis. | have never seen any part
OF the United States SO we'll adapted to
agricultural pursuits as this. This part
of the state consists OF extensive prairies,
some small, others large, interspersed
with groves of timber. These consist
of several different kinds of oak, ASH
hickory, black walnut, butternut, black
mulberry, cotton wood, hack berry, some
sugar maple, sassafras, lynn, sycamore,
honey locust, which grows very large,
white and red elm, crab apples, wild
plums, and an abundance of grape vines,
with several other kinds of timber too
numerous TO mention. The timber in
this country is found mostly on each side
of the streams Of water. Some solitary
trees are however scattered up and down
the prairies, with here and there knot
Of timber, or beautiful grove, peculiarly
adapted for elegant seats for building
The prairies are not dead level, but
nave many swells, with lower parts, to
conduct off the surplus water from the
prairies to the creeks. The appearance
Of the prairics is beyond description
grand. The soil is generally black
vegetable mould, apparently alluvial, of
kind we'll suited for corn, wheat, cot
ton, hemp, and fax. No country can be
better for corn, wheat, pompions, water
melons, and all other kinds of vines.-
Potatoes do well, especially the sweet
potatoc. Pompions are much sweeter
than at the north. Upland rice does
well in this state. Apple and peach
trees come forward soon and do well.--
l am full in the belief that pears, cher
ries, ounces, and all other kinds offruit
trees, and fruit plants, that cheer and
comfort life in the northern states, may
be cultivated in this state to great adj
vantage. Thousands Of cattle can be
sustained in this country. No country
can be better for large herds. l have
never seen better cattle than have seen
here. Thousands, and even tens of
thousands, can range these prairies with
an overlooking abundance of the best of
pasture, nearly all the year before them.
From Christmas onward six weeks,
some fodder will be needed for mich
COWS and team horses and oxen. Swine
are raised in great numbers, and do pc
culiarly well, summer and winter, on
the spacious rich bottom lands of Shoal
Greek. There is no need of feeding
any corn to them. The pork is, how
ever, better when corn is fed to them for
few weeks before they are butchered.
Sheep do well in this country where
they can be preserved from wolves and
bears. Wolves are now troublesome,
but of these we may soon hope to be
rid-our sharp shooters we hope, will
soon despatch them.
This country cannot, at large, be said
to be we'll timbered, nor we'll watered.
There is, however, suificiency ofwood
for all timber purposes. There is gene
rally sufiiciency of water, almost in all
parts of the state, for the use of cattle
and horses. In our part, springs of good
water and small streams abound. Good
we'll water is easily obtained by digging.
This part of the state is suited to receive
and support well, dense population
Mill seats are scarce. Horse, wind, and
steam mills must be in general use. In
some parts of the state, coal can be easily
obtained. Providence has beyond
doubt designed that this shall be coun-