Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-02-27
BELLEvILLE, DEC. %, 1888.

lion. Lavid Reynolds,
Sir, your letter of Oct. 5lst, came
TO hand in due time.
You epq,ire, "what part of the State
would be ttr most preferable to locate
two or three young families to pursue
the business of griculture what time
the best landi will most likely be in mar.
ket; and what part Of the State will
combine the greatest prospective adyau.
tages."
In State Of such extent, richness oil
sol salrhr;ty of climate, facilities to
inherent and distant markets, and the
case with which the comforts Of agricul-
tural life may be obtained in every
county, ii is dflicu,to draw comparisons
and decide preferences.
For many particulars, which it is i'm
possible 10 embody in a single commune
cation, | must refer you to such public
accounts as may be within your reach.
Amongst these is 81 Guide for Emf
grants" written by one of my fellow
citizens, Rev. John NJ. Peck, in 1881.
suppose this work may be had in Phil
adeiphia, and probably In other places
in your State. Mr.. Peck has been a
resident of this State for many years.
has travelled into every part, and has
made the various fac S pertaining to the
agriculture Of this State, a prominent
topic in his book. He has prepared
and will shortly publish complete Ga
.zeteer of Illinois, Which have nc. doutt,
will contain an accurate description of
every spot within The State.
Other writers have noticed our State
and many interesting facts have gone
abroad in the public papers.
But as you request something fol the
putlic eye, | will endeayor TO threw to-
gether some general remarks, upon
which you may rely for correctness.
In selecting Il residence for farming
purposes, emigrants usually regard the
following particulars.
/. Good soil, At low price, with facili'
lies Of improvement.
2. Good water, combined with health.
3. Good society and neighhorhood
advantages.
a. Facilities for market, and such pri-
ccs as will afford reasonable compensa-
ton for the capital and labor employed.
s. Prospective advantages in gener-
III.
In determining the claims of Ilinoi.
in general aud many Of its counties in
particulars, have no hesitation in urgipg|
its superior advantages for DIN agricultur.
al people.
First Our soil, with scarcely an ex-
cepsio,,, is abundant!y rich. In the
surveys OF government, the land is divi'
ded into first, second and third rates. But
these divisions are often quite arbitrary,
and apply merely to the appearance of
the surface, OF the quantity. supply, OF
destiiution Of timber.
Many millions of acres ofpub'ic land,
now for sale, wer they in your State,
would be regarded as OF the very best
quality. The soil is an argillaceous, or
Il silicious loan, as clay or sand happens
10 predominant in lis formation, usually
from one to three feet deep, and prodnc-
ing, for successive seasons, from 80 10
70 bushels OF corn, or from % to 80
bushels of wheat per acre.
Icould tell of4O bushels of wheat and
100 bushels of corn as the average pro
duet of All acre in large fields, but in
all my statements aim at medium.
1t is moi the want of a fertile soil, hut
other supposed advantages, that induce
cmigrants to choose different and opPo'
site districts of the State.
The surface is generally undulating.
Evea those extensive praires, winch TO
the unpractised eye seem to be a mere
plain, upon closer inspection, are found
sufficiently sloping to drain the water
with facility.
Formerly it was supposed the want
Of timber would be IA great inconven
fence to large portions of our State, but
experience has taught US that this was
an error. Not only arc means for ienc-
ing, fuel and building, in the earth itself,
but it is now universally admitted by
our best Informed citizens, and men Of
practical observation, that there is a
much greater amount of timber now ex
listing, and that much greater extent
OF prairie land can DE made into farms.
and leave timber enough for all future
supplies, than the most sanguine imagin-
ed few years since. Besides, turf fen.
ces are now constructed for 25 cents pei