Smyrna times., 1854-12-27
Communications.
Correspondence Of he Smyrna Times.
Letter from Indiana.

LAFAYETTE, Ia, Dec. IA, 1854.
DEAR BROTHER II am indebted to the Times
"A letter, according to promise. which was due a
fortnight since, but unavoidable circumstances
prevented punctualty. Since my last letter
the signs of the times" have greatly changed,
and with them have changed my residence.
During the elapsed time, business matters
value and trade generally in fcvcrish condi-
tion-more especially is this true in regard to
the southern part of the State, where crops
have greatly fallen short Of their average yield
so much go that farmers were compelled to
ship their hogs to Northern parts 20 be fatted.
This panic effects all classes of business, the
merchant and the mechanic alike feel the stu.
pendous pressure of our monetary affairs-the
gold and silver is locked up in the vaults of the
saddle-bag Banks and in lieu thereof their
base shinplasters are forced upon the people as
currency, when in reality they are not worth,
nor would they bring in the brokers' office more
than eighty-fve OF ninety cents in the dollar
But this state Of affairs is gradually changing
the Banks are Withdrawing their circulation at
a speedy rate, and out of seven and half mil.
lions, now only about four are remaining unre-
deemed AS it regards the cause of this, some
) have placed it on the shoulders of the poor bro
r kers, many of whom have felt the piercing
sting to their hearts discomfort, when they
would find themselves possessed of large
amounts, some of them on their way to present
ltI.. c.. anI tha da7h Inc
tire Of the yellow rounds flashing across thu
T.. eye of their minds, when, by telegraphic an
y nouncement, they were just too late to accom-
plish their object. But if the charge be true
it is no matter that such results should follow
The depreciation in the value of real estat
= would have had this or a similar effect, it tn
brokers were not the first cause of it. But, t
. obviate this, it is thought the Legislature wi
add ten per cent to the security which wi
make itscurrent both at home and abroad.
This crisis, which had its birthplace in Ii
diana, by its conta gious effects, has found j
way into our sister States all around. Oh
and Illineis are now about where we were 81
months ago. New York is catching it also, al
thus will the paralysis go on, from all report
l.. until it will have embraced the entire East al
ed South. rtf#
at Lafayette is place of considerable busine
Importance, situated on the Wabash at the he
" of steam navigation, has ten thousand inha
- tants, and is accessible by railroad to all moi
BILE places in the State. Through it passes I
-. canal leading from the Lakes to Evansville
rev the Ohio river; on either side is vast sea
l54 prairie, whose wealthy soil insures almost
ila- rennel yerdure, and whose vernal odors {
anu diversity of ford grandeur is one of natul
Ort- ',I m Z 81
'urs richest gifts. ..--...-.z,-..-,, s...s.s-..
dur Seven miles North, on the railroad, is
'urs battle ground of Tippecanoe, which is fen
lneI in very neatly, and is the object Of many vi
Sad and source Of patriotic emotions to Amer
tent Boosting sons. Il was this victory which C
With PEELED the Indians to sue for peace and se'
sell distant land West and east of Lafayette, Il
..u are considerable bodies of timber land, and
boasts of being Situated in the circle Of or
the finest agricultural districts in the Stat
iada' In the centre OF the town there is a p'
- square in which the county seat is sltu
~ which is built on the most modern style ant
LARD an ample town clock.
. by The streets are mecadamized but part
,his except in the business portion, and arrangen
are nearly complete to have our windows
.7l& R3hii "f5 T"tta4tfs AZ 4E.tFs Pc