The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-04-15
BELvIpERE, Boone Co, Ill. March l6, 1916.

BELvIDERE, Boone Co, Ill. March l6, 1876
Illinois What brought me here-Ks Soil, Climate,
agriculture a~d Commeree-Raii,cays, Canals
and Riues-The Population that ,oas, is, and
DM bells Birds, Beasts and Fishes.
In the fall Of 1874, when about to sail for Europe,
you kindly furnished me with a few back numbers
ofthe Herald which constituted, during the voyage,
the chief portion of my literary food. On a sea
voyage ! am strongly opposed TO the use Of in
dgesbls materials Of any Sort but those furnished In
the columns Of the Herald, quite up to my mark,
racy and Understanding in variety. | eagerly de-
auraries had thu, supplied mo. BY SAhan5. AMY Of
now End myself located the summit OF most beaut
full prairie just twelve miles east Of Rock River, and
shout threo minutss walk from the monumental mound
where until within ew months past, sat in state. sup.
ported by few rude piles the mortal remains Of Dig
Thunder" celebrated Indian chief the whole Of whose
bones, big and o, have been pifsred, to grace Il
cabinets Of in divers parts Of thess
through the columns q the H.r1id read Very In,s
resting letter from llnos giving such fascinating de-
turn from Europe, hastsnsd onward to visit country
the reading Of which delighted and excited Thus
The precise spot being more clearly indicated by refs
renee to the address Of this letter = .ilF ie
Countries whose names have more magic about them
than that Of stale illinois, have laery ado such large
demands upon your space that fear this fashion fallen
country will be considered to possess but slender
Sa a.s SrSo ssco c%s
and California. WILL out Of pure poeness. for once
stand asids and allow ILLINOIS to show her noses not
you sir will perhsps be good enough to jam US in scme
how for fear arc forgotten BY al the world except
tho Illinois State bondholdsrs. gsass. ss..I, .s-
alluded was rich 10 Ms description Of this country but
he was NO less true On the of fertility Of SOIL
every new country presents its prominent claims but
u that sPect The soil light, deep, and Of frase
Or slightly sandy character; and once broken suscep
e. y .
Northern atituds both as TO quality and quantity, at
tain perfection ana in country in the universe does
Dor. and where, canddly believe, is the required
amount Of labor less. Asto climate have spent sum
ner isl and winter here withont any interruption Of
a country. do not think II can be excsled. Al
though II unhealthy localities be looked for dare say
hovsvsf good grand. Or great may b. s general IL.
tures A. respects health It may be truly said, without
reference tG eiimsts that our health 4 more Or less
ticn 70 the trials TO- which Il may bs subjected Tho
squirrel and the rabbit almost the only animals
ara injuriously abundant in many instances twhen
snow u on the ground) they eat OF the bark OF young
fruit trees and thu: destroy hsm The wolf is not yet
quite extinct, but 10 become almost to be
considered novelty The quail and prairie hen still
plsntul these the only the eathsred
tribe to attract the attention Of the sportsman except
may he, along the water the occasional visit Of
few ducks geese. Peaches flourish here as would
the apple and other fruit trees but country has
been too recently settled to allow experiment TO pro-
ducs practical results OF apple trees, however have
scsa several hundreds In fne condition. but too young
one 81 bic trees last seasons bat they were
destroyed By his children before attaining full growth
MY pfsveus observations are just as appicablsto Wis
oonsn 10 Nerthern illinois, and with respect to both
may say, that the emily serious obstacle 10 the settle
msns Of them 10 the scarcity Of timber for fue fencing
to BE- met vita TIE lumber. or timber used for build
Ing, has to be shipped from Green Bay to Chicago and
thence carried By the return wheat teams distance OF
sometimes, 100 milss and over. Notwithstanding this
grs.t drawback this western sountry Is fast aDG up
and predict that in Less than Ave years from
pied il those vast .son. for no, only are the hordss Of
smigrants from Europe flowing IN upon us but the old
settled countries East fas contributing to swell our
curs,s idss upon his subject would state that the po
pulaon Of IL Northern counties in is40ws s. 700 The
present populai In the counties 10 And
az to produce the amount Of wheat rassd in eleven
Northern counties, in ist0 was o4o bushels, while
the ssmount raised in the same counties In ls4o, was
q, ,O00)two millions sevsnhundred thousand bushels
and to conclude this subject the total value OF tho sx
ports from Chicago Che great shipping port Of Northern
amounted to above - 600 There ano her great
staple article Of production which ought to notice that
Of Iced Of tn. article there has been shipped from Gale
yearly increase of population has been grestf the
multiplication Of products has been vast and surpr
sipgthat increase and that multiplication furnish but
msagre data whereupon 10 found calculation Of the
suit of the BeHt I've years IT, regards the past,
have accomplished much while merely Jogging along
10 tho old and spsde and shovel fashion, what
may we not expect when railroad shall bring market
10 DOORS and when without toll and anxiety
have lumber and fuel deposited almost upon the spot
where they TO be usedi To this delightful m
nation fastening. Two grand points Of conmu.
ncston about to bs opened between the lskss and
Missssippi-ons by railway between Chicsgo and
0alena the other BY the Illinois and Michigan Canal
The latter 10 now IN progress and cenAsyraby adypn
csd, while, with respect to The fomsf sIch measves
have been taken as leave dosnf Of It's carly com
msncement and rapid and snccessful completion. AT
Chicago Gslena, and In each county along tn inteDde
line Of railway, large amounts Of stock have bcen sub
scrbed for, while such the vcnbls character u the