Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-04-08

der OF two white men, Rabbit and Jonesoi DuliihS
ton, and the wounding Of another named Buckhal-
ter, by the Indians on the Neutral Ground. we
marked the article for insertion in our paper but by
some means it was mslaid, and no mention was
made Of the matter The same paper OF Saturday
last contains the following additional! particulars:
sThe statement made in our paper of week before
last relative to the murder oftwo citizens OF our town
/ -NIcssrs BABBIT and JoNEs-is confirmed. MI
j. w. LowREY, formerly Of this place, but now re-
siding on English river, in Washington county, ar
rived here yesterday from whom we derived Tue io
| lowing additional particulars:
| The occurrence took place on the Neutral
Greund.' and the number Of whites in company was
twelve. They were fred upon by the Indians while
engaged in preparing breakfast, and FIVE killed IN
stead of Two as stated originally. 1t was not known
whether the Indians were Sioux or Winncbagoes-
pobably the latter as their home for the present is
upon the Neutral Ground The whites VINO esca-
ped unhurt, together with Buckhacr, badly wounds
ed, fled in the direction of the settlements, leaving
their fus behind them but our informant states that
they have returned in quest Of their peltres the In
dams having also fed after firing. Jones and Bah
t were among the killed, hut The names of the 9TH
or three were not stated Buckhalter is on English
river slowly recovering from his wound, and may
be expected in in a few days. Such is the purport
of the information broughtby Mir. Lowrey who says
he has it from one of the party now attending on
Buckhalter. It may be relied upon iii the main.
nS Some three or four weeks ago, we saw it sta
ted in the Miners Express, printed at Dubuque, that
Gen. James Wilson, Surveyor General of Iowa and
Wisconsin, was on visit to his old friends in New
Hampshire, that he had accepted an invitation to de-
liver a lecture before lyceum in some village, and
chosen for his subject the present condition, resources
and prospects of Iowa. We have heard much said
about his extraordinary talents and supposed him TO
be amply qualified to investigate any matter he I'M
dertakes, but we were doubtful as TO his abilities to
do justice to Territory, in many respects because
of the narrow limits to which his observations have
been confined. Our doubts have been confirmed by
reading the following, found in late number of the
st. Louis Evening Gazette:
'THE WEsr-Gen. Wilson, who has lately re-
turned from Iowa to New Hampshire, says that Me-
chanics are wanted more than farmers at the West
The supply of az icultural products is greater than
| the demand. In late address at Nashau, the Gen
era is reported, by the Nashau Telegraph, to have
said if he had the skill of hammerng iron, he could
make more money than any member of Congress
pair of horses was five dollars and it took load Of
corn, for these horses, to pay it. This the re-
suit of absence of competition in the mechanical trade
and too great competition in agricultural pursuits
or rather, to the amount OF agricultural products
beyond what was required for the support of the
population
With all due Difference to the superior knowledge
of the learned gentleman, we beg leave to dissent
from his statement of facts and from the conclusions
an imperfect knowledge Of what he was talking about
has led him to come to.
In our view of the matter, Mechanics are not more
wanted than farmers; but on the other hand, good,
Industrious, enterrrising farmers more needed
than of any other profession occupation and, in
deed, all that is wanting to place Iowa on the
road to greatness at very distant day. It is true
that the supply of agricultural products is greater
tan the demand, but that is not the result of an ill
proportioned community but the pressure of the
times, in money matters and want Of foresight in
directing their industry. Too many of our farmers
have based their hopes of acquiring wealth upon the
production of articles the least sacabc in times such
the present In the early settlement of the couIl-
try, corn and pork met with ready sale, at high
prices but now, owing TO the quantity laised and
the want of river market, they have become un-
saleable articles and therefore, improbable to the
farmer. 1t is also true that the prices of Mechanics
labor are high, when compared with prices in old
settled countries, (perhaps out of proportion with
agricultural producs,) but this is not produced by
lack Of competition. The decrease in the price of
agricultural products has not been followed by cor
responding decrease in the price of articles required
by Mechanics, so they have to maintain a higher |
price or suffer for the reduction. Even with high |
prices for labor industrious Mechanics have not been
able to acquire wealth faster than the farmer, or out
ofpropostion with the community.
The present season of distress TO the farmer. can
last no longer than the Banks arc permitted to re.
main IN suspension, and the people have awaken
ed to their interest in this matter, and taken it
III hand we may look for prosperous times in
few years. even before the farmer who enters upon
wild lands can open farm and erect his buildings,
by his labor, preparatory to engaging in the bu-
siness to the extent of his force AS we have a coun
try possessing advantages both in soil and channels
OF commerce second to no part of the entire West,
we see nothing in our condition to discourage the
farmer. 1t may be said that we have not market
for our surplus produce yet it is in the power Of the
farmer to raise and cultivate such articles as will at
all times find ready sale at good prices, in cash.
1t may be that, where Gen. Wilson resides prices
are higher than any other part of the Territory, and
case OF extortion may have occurred as stated but
mat does not warrant the assertion that five dollars
is the price for such services. Il is far above tho
prices charged in this place.
we think the remarks made by Gen. Wilson cal |