The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-05-31
RE PORT
OF TuE
Illinois and Michigan Canal,
Made 10 lie Canal BJHd-h0Liers, Mrch /, 1914,
JOHN DAVIS & w. II. SWIFT.

TO WeSsrs. Barring. Brothers. and
Co., and McSsrs. Magniac, Sardinc,
and Co.
CONTINUED.
The principal circumstances which al
lure emigrants are the following:
First, The soil, which is as black as
coal-dnst, is represented by the cultivators
as being generally deep, strong, and high.
ly productive, yielding bountiful crops,
with little iabour, and small expense.
Second, The best Of land may be pur.
chased at very moderate prices. Indeed,
1t is manifest, that the surplus earnings of
an Industrious laborer will make him the
owner Of a large farm.
Thtrd, The vast luxurious praries
except the inconsiderahIe portion, which
is enclosed, are enjoyed as a common
property by all the Inhabitants; AMI yield
grass. both for pasturagc and hay, in IN
limited quantities. The raising and keep
ing Of stock, is consequently attended
with little expense beyond making hay
for winter. and every farmer may multi
ply his horses, cattle, sheep, &C., without
lear OF overstocking this boundless range
OF paslurage, or taxing its powers of pro-
ductlon beyond its capacity. 1t is diff
cult to over-estimate the value Of such a
privilege, or the influence it may have
upon the prosperity of an industrious peo-
pie F.; but we feel assured that in no coun-
try, with which we are acquainted, can
provisions, grain, wool, &c, be produced
with so little labor and expense.
Fourth, The land is ready for the
plough, and can be converted into mel
low field, with as much facility as any
green sward. The farmer may, therefore,
AT once commence profitable cultivation,
without the oppressive and discouraging
toll OF clearing away timber and gradual
ly redeeming his land from the dominion
of s:umps and roots. Nature has planted
in the soil no such obstacles to its cult
walton; and, as she provides him with
the best of pastures, he has no occasion
to enclose more acres than he ,ills. or to
own more than are necessary for this pur-
pose, and for fuel, lumber, and fencing
materials.
Eyth, such farmers as we converscd
with, concur in the opinion, that la
borer of ordinary diligence may cultivate
and secure the crops upon fifty acres of
such land
Srth, While in new countries gener-
ally, the settler is subjected to great ex-
pense, and Inconvenience from the almost
impossible character of the highways
the prairies are ordinarily so smooth and
dry, that with the exception Of a portion
of the frosty season, and occasionally mi
ry places, they afford The best of high
ways, without any working or expense,
and the farmer finds an easy and safe tran
81, to market with his produce.
Such are some of the leading charac-
ierstlcs, not only of the canal lands, but
of very extensive region, and such the
alurementS which invite the agricultMr,t
. to establish himself upon them. We will
now advert 10 some less favourable fea
lures, which may be reckoned among the
discouraging circumstances.
First, There is deficiency of timber
Tor fuel fences, and lumber, which is not as
yet seriously felt; but when more dense
population fills up the vacant territory,
the want of TIMBER will become a serious
Inconvenience, unless special attention is
early bestowed upon its preservation and
cultivation. The fires are now permitted
to sweep annually over the pralrIes, and
to destroy the young growth wherever it
starts, but should it be protected from this
adversary, the rich soil would soon fur
nish forests adequate 10 all reasonable de-
mands.
Second, While we heard little COM
plant Of the want of water, we did not
fail to notice seeming deficiency. In
our excursions, we several times rode
many miles wilhou, meeting with suili
Gent TO water our horses; and it seems
to us, that II running streams were more
numerous, they would add TO the intrinsic
value of the land.
Third, The products of Iabour are sub.
jected to long and expensive transporia-
ton before they reach a market, and con-
sequen'ly commands very moderate pr.
ces. Wheat is estimated at fifty cents
bushel; beef and pork a, about two dol
lars per cwi.; and other agricultural pro-
ducts in the same ratio.
Fourth, The debt, and embarrassed f.
nances of the state, are supposed to have
checked considerably the progress of pop.
ula,ion. by diyerIing The current Of emf.