The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-05-04
Correspondence of Tie Herald.
PENCILINGS I'M OHIO.
BY THE EDITOR.
MAssILos. goth APRIL ls47,


visited the Trumbull county Phalanx, an
association formed upon the Fourier plan.
They number about 300; men, women,
and children; have 1000 acres OF land,
the II half improved, and this year 500
acres in wheat. They have also a grist
mill, two saw mills, a tannery, &c., and
are about erecting a woollen factory
This association was formed some four
years ago, and last year came nigh burst
ing, and was saved only by an act oil in
corporation by the Legislature; thus pro-
wing that the Community System, how
ever plausible in theory, must ever fail
when it is attempted TO carry it into prac-
tIce. While again speaking of the Re-
serve, [ may here mention, that in so far
as my opportunities enabled me to Judge,
the people of that district, taken as a
body, are frugal, industrious and enterpri-
zing, and have a peculiar mack for "turn-
ing a penny to good account" Their
buildings are neat, and their farms in good
order. The schoolmasier has been a.
mongst them, and nearly all are well in
formed. In a word, the Reserve is, 10
all inients and purposes, New YANKEE
LAND, where the people follow pretty
much in the footsteps OF their ancestors
and brethren OF Connecticut and other
New England States. What is m
what remarkable, is, that you do not see
a single Yankee that is anything of a
horscman, for all ride with short stirrups,
their legs bent, and their bodies inclining
forward. Thus seated on their ponies,
they cut rather a sorry figure; but give
one of them a span OF cattle and a 'gad,'
and you perceive at once by the manner
in which he uses the latter upon the for
mer, That with them this branch Of their
pursuit has been reduced to a science.
| passed through Portage county on
my way hither. In the northern parts
there are some good lands and fine farms;
but as a whole, | think it a poor region.
I have traversed a considerable portion
Of Stark county, which is said 10 be the
best wheat-growing county in the State.
1t was originally settled by Pennsylsani-
ans, and the neat dwellings and large bank
barns which You see on most farms re-
mind YOU forcibly Of old Lancaster
Wheat is the great staple Of this region,
and always finds a ready market at Mas
silon, 8 miles west of Canton. La places,
considerable quantities Of corn are raised,
and very little or either rye or oats. The
town Of Canton is beautifully situated and
has a population of 5000. have been
to the village of Osnaburg, Harrisburg and
Louisville. The population of the latter
is almost entirely French, and in the vi
entity are a grea. many European Ger
mans. For the first time in my life, |
here saw wooden shoes in actual use
They are WON by persons Of both sexes,
and are if not a NATURAL curiosity, a curl
osity neYeylheless,-and | have no don5t
it would be an interesting sight 10 see
these people, when thus shod, trying their
speed of locomotion in a foot race, or
stripping the fantastic toe" in a German
waltz or French cotillion. The French
language is much spoken here, especially
by business men.
Massilon has a population of2,590 and
is a place Of immense business. Nearly
all the wheat and flour from the surrond-
inc country is brought here and shipped
by the canal, either to Portsmouth or
Cleveland. To give some idea of the
extent OF this business, | will just men,
ton that there are here some Is wareheu-
ses, and that at a single one of them there
was received last Saturday four thousand
bushels of wheat. When | came into
the town this morning, the streets were
crowded with wagons and vehicles of ey-
cry description, reminding me of market
street in Philadelphia on a throng day.
There are three Touring mills here, one
in the town, and the other two within
mile. The Boston Company has an ex'
~tensive manufacturing establishment al
the lower end Of the town, where they
manufacture steam engines, boilers, &c.
and threshing machines, ploughs, ane
window sash. This company owns alst
many valuable lands in this county
,pb;cb understand are now for sale.-