Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-02-21
For the Kenosha Telegraph.
KANE COUNTY VILLAGES,

MR. EDITOR: Ten miles south of Eloin is
its rival, St. Charles. This place is also increa-
sing in population, and already contains some
1000 inhabitants. The main Rail Road from
the garden city, to the city in the rarine pass
es by st. Charles "on the other side" but by the
enterprise OF her citizens branch road has been
constructed to the village, and the project of
continuing it to Rock Island is now being agita-
ted. The Rail Road depot was built on the ex-
IRENE eastern verge of st. Charles, but like
magnet has been drawing the village around it,
and, in consequence, parts of one or two farms
adjacent have been divided into village lots and
exposed for sale The water powers at ST. Charles
is one Of the best on the river, and the machine
ny of two Touring mills and large paper mill is
propelled by it.
Although this village has kept pace with Ell
cir with respect to growth and business, it has
fallen behind it with respect to churches and
school houses While Elgin has five churches,
St. Charles has but three; while Elgin has
good school-house on each side of the river, st.
Charles has none on either, and the schools find
temporary accommodations as tenants at will
An increased interest is however now being
manifested in the subject of education. Some
OF the citizens feel little mortified that village
of the age and size Of ST Charles should exist
without a single school house; and good one
on each side q. the river will probably soon be
erected Two vouttg Ladies, under the patron
age of the National Board of Popular Education,
have already commenced teaching here, altho
they are compelled to occupy rooms unsuitable
for the purpose.
By the way, the citizens OF the Badger State
will always have the advantage of the illinolans
in supporting their common schools. The pro-
ceeds of the school lands in Illinois do not con-
stitute a common fund as in Wisconsin, but each
township has its own. The school lands being
disposed of at an early day brought but little
more than the government price, and the interest
On the small fund this produced will go but lit
tie way in defraying the expense of sustaining
schools The State ind was tempered With
by unwise Legislators in the early years of the
States existence, and consequently but tritlc
for each town is realized from this source. The
plan of taxing property for the support of schools
is no, adopted, and these things all conspire to
render their school system less effective than
yours.
Two miles from St. Charles is Geneva, the
county seat of Kane county, but the smallest o..
the Fox river villages within its limits. AS Ge-
neva has good water power, and the advantage
of being the capital of the county. it is somewhat
surprising that it should have been outgrown by
all its sister villages. 1t is said, however in
other places, in explanation OF this, that the vii
lage has not the right kind of men to push it for
ward In two respects it is on an equal footing
with st. Charles, both having paper mills and
village newspapers. The ST. Charles branch Of
the Rail Road terminates at this place, and at
fords facilities for the transportation OF the large
The court house IS a modest looking stone bull
ding on the west side Of the river.
/ Only two miles south of Geneva is still ano-
/ Their village OF about 500 inhabitants, called Ba-
tavia, making three within a distance of four
miles. The presence of the mill pond immedi
d
supposed to be prejudice, TO health and fevers
and ague are rather common. In the vicinity Of
this place is an excellent stone quarry, from
which the materials for the walls of several good
buildings have been obtained. The splendid
residence of Mr.. Van Nortwick, built Of stone
from this quarry, would be an ornament to any
place. The Aurora branch of the Chicago and
Gaena Rail Road passes through East Batavia,
and affords communication with The former ci-
ty twice every day.
Aurora, the last of the villages which we are
to notice. is seven miles south Of Batavia. 1t
already contains about 500 inhabitants, and, OF
course, has its village newspaper. large a.
mount of machinery is moved BY the water pow
er at this place, among which is that of two ex-
cellent Touring mills.
The Aurora branch Rail Road, instead ofrun-