Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-05-25
MAUMEE CITY EXPRESS.
SATURDAY, MAY 25. 1889.

OUR LOCAL SITUATIoN.--'Wna nat Deau-
tiful country you have here" we often
hear remarked by strangers visiting this
place. "The situation of the town most
delightful! High, commanding, dry, built
on fine sweep Of the river, presen-
ting with its lofty banks one of the most
graceful natural amphitheatres in the world;
it is beautiful, beautiful indeed"
"True," We answer, "we have said this
great many times, and in great variety
of modes, and yet, no one appears to be-
lieve, until he is convinced with his own
eyes, and then, like you, he is astonished."
"Well, admit that am surprised; had
been taught to believe that the whole Maui
NEE country was one low sunken hole, un-
fit for the residence of civilized man, where
the poor inhabitants dragged out misera-
Bile life with one end sunk in bottumless
marsh, and the other shaking with the ague,
till death--the only welcome vster he ev-
er received, came and kindly relieved him
of his sutferings. had picture, as every
man has, OF a country he has never seen, and
my mental drawing of this was, con-
fess, any thing but pleasant. Indeed,
would not have come here could / have
avoided it, and, so strong were my prejudi-
ces, that it is very doubtful if l could have
believed, had not been overpowered with
an irresistible weight ofevidence."
Such are the most commonly received ideas
of this section of country. A stranger who
comes here has his eyes continually open to
find something to strengthen his precon-
ceved notions. He comes into the harbor;
the land appears low, and sunken island
or two attract his attention. "Ah" says
he, "here Is the fountain Of Miasma, and
the home of fever and ague. Here the
pale bilious Demon holds his court, and
from hence sends out his frosty edicts to
shake the people of the country" A little
further, and he is surprised to find the land
a good deal higher than the water, and to
appearance dry. This astonishes him, but
he stiles his wonder with the wholesome
recollection, that his eyes probably deceive
him. He visits Toledo and Manhattan
and at both those places he finds mot so bad
as he expected, it is true) some appearance
of low ground and Stagnant water. Ant
now, having seen, as he supposes, the whole
Maumee country, he is ready to pass judg
ment, at once upon it, and declare that it ii
! the lowest, vilest, most horrld country tina
ever poor Devil got sent to, to die in.
But send him up this way. Let him leave
Toledo, round Eagle point and set his face
for the foot ofthe rapids. The land rises
rapidly-lofty bold bluffs hang their tower
ing trees high over the water-a change
has taken place IN the whole scenery-higl
banks rise on either side--the river look
= clean and the water sparkles behind thu
wheels, bright as the surges of the lake
he rounds the point below the town, and
scene, bright as an eastern vision bursts up
= on his view.
After having seen all this, our vislter
generally become sensible men, and los'
their foolish notions about death in the
breeze and malaria floating like green CO
verlet on the water, and having found tina
they did not know it all, are willing to learr
something; so we will talk more with them
, But, you say, you have some sickness
! here?"
"Certalnly; we don't deny it."
"What makes it' l can't for life see tn
! reason. At Toledo, it is true, l could SEE
stagnated water and low ground enough
! and don't much wonder at their beinl
{ some sickness there; but why is 1t 8
. hereW ..
n "Spendan hour or two with us in tn
: woods that environ us so closely on all sides
!, How thickly grow the trees, shutting ou
r the air and almost the light of heaven
: how closely rises the underground, spring
ing from soil of unparalleled fertility, an
D fourishing in almost tropical luxurlance-
. see the heavy MOSES that hang from tn
trees, nourished by the dampness of a cor
= fined atmosphere--breathe the air, steepe
: as it is in the effiuvia Of decaying, sweltel
! ing vegetation, that lies frequently foe
Q in thickness upon the soil. See all thest
s and then you need not ask what is the caus
= ofthe diseases under which we suffer-
"You have answered, and the caus
n seems sufficient; but is not your countr
e very level?"
"The land is flat, but not level; it has
:, descent of sixty feet in 1S miles, or NOR
than three feet to the mle--suficient, on
would suppose, to drain it, if the wate
courses were kept free from fallen timber.
"Then you hope the health Of your plac
will improve"
"Certainly we do, and with reason
: When these intrusive forests shall be Gu