The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-17

Sparta, RANDOLPH Co, Ill, Sept 2, 1850.

Sparta, RANDOLPH Co. Ill, Sp 2, 1880.
| To ne Editor of NE National Era:
| DEAR Sm Although this section Of country
| is hut little known anu consequently ATTRACTS Ia,
little attention abroad, yet it is somewhat import
ant in nm anti-slavery point of view being the
most southern part of the State where there il
any anti-slavery organization or indeed, any
antslavery feeling in that respect, almost like an
Oasis in the desert. 1t was partially settled near
thirty years ago by emigrants mostly Of the
Associate Reformed Presbyterian, and Reformed
/ Presbyterian denominations frem Newbery, Fair
field and Chester districts South Carolina, who
| fled from the prison house of Southern bondage
to escape the evils Of slavery This population
| has been augmented from time to time by Access
sons from New England, New York, Pennsyl-
| vana Ohio, and "A few from some of the other
States, and Of late years n very respectable and
steadily increasing emigration from Scotland.
True TO the old proverb " birds OF feather flock
together large majority are still aDt-slavery
the free.soiers polling double the number of votes
of all others in this precinct For intelligence,
morality, and religion this vicinity will compare
favoraby with any portion Of the country East or
West Within n circle of Twelve fourteen
miles each way from this place there are no less
than sixteen churches, one or two in progress Of
erection, mostly large, valuable brick edifces,
the most OF them belonging TO the different Pres
and l5aptists.
by n statement in the rule Of three your
readers will be able TO tell, or mt least 10 come
near enough to the number Of school-houses in
the same bounds as believe they will generally
be found to be in proportion to each other. South
ern Illinois is sometimes called Egypt the name
a. we are told by some originating in the fact of
the far. famed American bottom being 80 produc-
tive Of corn, and for many years furnishing the
more northern parts of the State, in times Of
scarcity, with that very necessary article-by
others, originating from the intellectual darkness
and rather benighted state of the inhabitants
We have no objection to the name, from whatever
it may have arisen but you will recollect there
was "A Goshen in Egypt and we would suggest
whether this be not the place Sparta is In the
Northeastern part of the country forty-fve
miles from st. Louis, and sixteen miles from
Chester, on the Mississippi to which "a turnpike
rond is contemplated, il surrounded by fertile
and fourshing country, many good farms with
substantial and comfortable houses and barns
goody number of fine orchards; some of the finest
peaches in the United States are raised In this
vicinity. Two newspapers are published here,
one free soil the Sparia Freeman, edited and pub
lished by J. N. Coleman Is ably and tastefully
conducted and is exercising healthful influence
the literary, moral, and antislavery sentiments
of the community. A large number OF newspa-
pers and periodicals from distance are taken
here-among newspapers The National Era and
So'urd0y V,suey come in for large share.
The village, by the census just taken, numbers
AIS inhabitants has six stores, two apothecaries,
and no groceries. There Is more business done
here than in any place of its size have ever been
acquainted with East or West. There are n con-
siderable number of mechanics, of which, how
ever, there is great lack in most branches There
are two churches in the place one A. X. Presby
terian, and one Methodist, with others nj no in
convenient distance steam saw and Touring
mill and an additional one projected to be Of
large capacity.
An excellent steam. power-loom woollen' factory
has gone into operation this season. Persons
from Steubenville and Dayton, Ohio, who have
visited this place, consider it good location for
manufacturing, from the abundance and cheap
ness OF coal, which is supplied ut present from
pits mile and half distant. They are some
twenty-five feet deep the coal seven feet in thick
ness 1t l. raised to the surface by horse power,
and is Of excellent quality. Some Of the best
judges are Of opinion that taking into considera-
ton the cost Of DAMS the loss of time by freezing,
by high and low water, that where fuel il 30 cheaP
M here, that steam is on the whole more profit
able power than water. The cheapness of provi-
sions, the low price Of wood and the opportunity
which the surrounding country presents for dis
posing of goods Of the heavier kinds 1t is thought
will be favorable to this place as manufacturing
point The health il az good here as in most
parts of the West. The use Of bituminous coal
is thought by medical men to be in some measure
nm antidote 10 fevers and other diseases TO which
portions of the West are subject. Last winter,
some 500 900 lbs of pork, worth 50 per 100 lbs,
were salted here, and 10000 gallons Of castor oil,
made worth $3.50 per gallon, The castor bean
is more extensively raised in this vicinity than
In any other part of the country; it Is easy of
production not more difficult than corn, and is
cultivated much after the same manner II gen
orally pays the producer well, the average yield