The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-09-12
THE KALIDA VENTURE.
SCRAPS OF NOTICE INA TRIP WEsTWlRD.
KALIDA. OHIO.

SCRAPS OF NOTICE INA TRIP westward
CONTINUED.
g On our arrival at Kenosha, we at once
proceeded into the country. and the con
trast Of the sudden change from our fores
home here in Ohio 10 the broad prairie:
of southern Wisconsin,. was such as car
only be correctly conceived by those who
have experienced it, Though not m,
first visit 10 this part Of Wisconsin, th'
scenery was nevertheless new TO me, a
on my previous tour, the Ague-a lonl
and far too familiar associate, (ike al
ill-maunered acquaintance who always
comes and stays with you when leas
wanted) was with me and engrossed m,
attention. AT such time the flower
starred expanse Of apparently limitles'
verdure, which now gazed on with de
light had no charms for me. The sens
Of beauty is the gift Of God, and give
happiness even to the humblcst. | d'
not envy those who have the spirit Vol
taire attributed TO the quakers, who he
said would have made the world ali O
one color, and that drob-who would shu
out the nse Of beauty, because it does
not, like the useful, Immediately ministe
Ia the worship of the only Deity Of thou
sands---,ne "A'mighty Dollar" We be
lieve that il is subordinate 10 the sense
Of perfecti0n, tha our rise as race from
the cohrseness Of savage life 10 the ener-
gy Of the prosecution Of wealth 3
luxury, is in good part due. But in The
meantime we are getting over our shor'
prairie ride. My Impressions, though
very vivid were mono;onous-thongh
there is innumerable little clumps Of
trees which break the uniformity, yei
there is not sufficient Of variety 20 excite
remark. email clear lakes are not un-
fequent-one of which was within a
couple of miles from our friends resi-
dence, and looked lovely even at that
distance.
During the short time we spent in
Wisconsin ] made as careful enquiry as |
could in relation to the general state of
business, agriculture, &c., and the re-
suit was not very fattcring. Wisconsin
has all the drawbacks TO prosperity pecu.
liar 10 new country. She imports more
than she exports. Money is very scarce.
There is no established rate of legal in.
terest here. IL per cent is commonly
demanded for money, and am told
many loans are made at even highsr
rates than that, The farmers are
mostly deeply indebted 10 the mecha.
MICS, merchants, &c, of the towns
and villages. II is common for SET
tiers TO invest every dollar they possess
in the purchase Of land, and get along by
borrowing for the balance OF what farm
requires, thus anticipating the labor Of
years ahead; and the partial failure Of
The wheat crop, in the sectionI was, and
believe extensively over the State, has
caused considerable difficulty and is
forcing matters to crisis with hundreds.
Much Of the difficulty in relation 10 the
raising Of wheat--winter wheat is seldom
raised herc-is in consequence of in
adequate farming, consequent upon the
effort made by every one to raise more
wheat than he can possibly attend to
we'll. Wisconsin wheat, whether owing
10 its quality. or TO the carelessness Of
buyers in mixing superior and inferior
qualities together, or bo,h, does not fetch
IS good price as that o. Ohio, and costs
about double 10 get i to market, though |
hink that longer and better cultivation
Df the soil will prove Wisconsin 10 be
,ne Of the best wheat Stales in the
Union. Indiana corn is NOT there very
crop generally; il is too far
north, and the weather owing 10 The vicin-
,y Of the great lakes is loo variable. The
'oil Is very rich on the prairies, but per
iaps loo light At present FOR any crop ID
be very successful, but grass.