New-York daily tribune., 1854-07-18
DELAWARE.
-
e Y. y. Tr.bEne.

For many Pears this beautiful town mas been noted
for its fine uphur springs. the largest Of which is on
the grounds of the Ohio Wesleyan University The
Oentangy the Indians called 1.-THE Milestone, as
dered By alluyal plains of wonderful fertility which
give way 10 gently undulating upands for some dis
lance which gradually sink down into a country too
fat TO be altogether pleasing. Delaware itself was
many years ago the seat Of an Indian town of that
name: and when the first settlers came To- the place
the remains of their encampments distinctly visi
bic the bank of the river and half mile west near
a sulphur spring the charming grounds Of the late
Mr.. Lite, which have been recently purchased for
female seminary by the Methodists and venture to
say that more charming spot cannot be selected III
the State. If the followers Of Wesley will leave those
grounds as they are with their sweet valley richly
shaded by venerable naples, black walnuts, beaches
oaks and buckeyes. taking out only the underbrush,
they will have beautiful retreat as heart can de-
sire. There are two splendid springs near these
grounds a sulphur and the other chaly ybeate The
grounds are capable Of almost indefinite Improvement
in every respect but their primeyal forest trees.
The first settlement of the county was made IN l-Ol,
the year Ohio was admitted into the Union, and the
first cabin put up in Delaware itself seven years
afterWard IL is said that the Indians had several hun
dred acres of cleared land which now are included
within the corporation lnts and that they used it for
raising corn. The field was on tie river bottom on
the east side Of town. In early times the people suf
fered great priyatons from two cause.-the almost
NOIIneffUtsk O1 lDt CohtlHtro
of goods These were brought by wagons to the ONO
River and then shipped to Portsmouth, TO be conveyed
more than hundred miles over such roads as are not
known east of the Alleghenies. II goes beyond Cali
fcrna prices to hear old settler talking of having
paid from to two dollars yard for ordinary cali
Goes and five dollars pound for tea, and perhaps
dollar per pound for coffee. In those days farmer
might take thirty bushels of wheat to Delaware and
not be able to realize enough cash to pay eight or ten
dolars of taxes The opening OF the Ohio Canal pro-
duced great change in these things so that by taking
wheat TO Columbus il would bring from seventy-fve
cents to dollar and quarter for sixty pounds. Since
that time the county has made great advancement in
developing its large agricultural wealth. The town 1t.
self had in former days an Oldlsh appearance, and
was difficult TO say whether it was gaining or not,
and the reason Of il that there OF the
year when it great undertaking to go TO any OF
the commercial ceners of the State on account OF the
roads Sever eight years ago the stage coach, with
four horses attached, required from twelve 10 four
teen hours 10 make the distance from Columbus 10 Del
aware in the winter, distance of only 2 miles. This
isolation kept many away from the town who would
otherwise have been attracted by its pretty stuatl0n
and especially its health-giying waters
This difficulty has also vanished before the march of
tlat giant enterprise which now pervades all the tree
States of the West. The Columbus and Cleveland
Railroad runs Ire air line track within two miles OF
tie town, and has also constructed curve along
which tie accommodation trains pass just upon the
edge of the town. Since that was completed another
railroad has been put in running order from SPRING
field to the town and still another is being built III
an air lire from Xena TO Delaware to connect with
some great eastern thOrOuglfareI believe that from
Sunburv TO Philadelphia The effect OF this has been
marked on the town. The odish look OF the houses
has disappeared and bright thrifty look, is on every
thing Old houses are repaired or pulled down, and
new ones are going up in all parts of the town. Town
lots have doubled and trebed in value aud farming
lands have increased. The merchants OF Delaware
Nrc only thirty hours from NewYOrk City, and can ac.
tuay 20 TO the Metropolis with lees fatigue aud great
er punctuaity than they could formerly make the jour
pey in wihter 10 Columbus Butter, formerly worth
sixpence pound less eggs worth from four cents
10 nothing per Dozen be put III the Newly mar
ket, and the heavier produce Of the cOuntry-pork,
wheat and neat cattle-are in constant demand at re-
muneratiye prices. Seven years, as know by Obser-
walton, has wrought "a wonderful change in the town
and County of Delaware and everything here indicates
how much more productive the energies of free
toilng for themselves than OF slaves working for
Others.
The Ohio Wesleyan University at this place bids fair
TO become the great Methodist College of the West,
and one of the finest among those new institutions
which are starting up in all direction through the
Great Valley. 1he main College building was a
hotel but was purchased with its grounds and pre-
sented TO the Ohio aud North Ohio Conferences and
they are doing good work there. The fine library
building was provoked into existence by the offer
made by Mr. William Sturges of GAINESVILLE, who told
the Trustees that if they would put up Library
bulldog worth ten thousand dollars, he would give
them ten thousand dollars buy books for the nucleus
of library an offer which they had the good TO
ACCEPT.