Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-02-20
HOMES In WISCONSIN,.

Region, some oil which we insert Tor
the purpose of answering for the infor-
nation of others:
How does the climate compare with
the same latitude in New York
1t is of the same general character
with that of New York and New Eng
land. The average annual temperature
of Wisconsin, is however, not SO low as
that of the same parallels on the Allan
tic border. Our atmosphere is dryer,
more parent and saubrious, so that
our State is remarkably free from those
causes of endemic diseases SO common in
most of New ork, and which have been
the fatal scourges of your State and Mi
chigan. We are not troubled with those
piercing northwest lake winds, that
Gampen the energies and strike into the
ytals like death harpoons. We seldom
have east winds from some unaccounta-
bic cause, so that the pestiferous lakes
do not influence our climate materi lily.
We think it is conceded that Wisconsin
is the healthiest of the western States !;
if it is not so conceded, il ought to be,
for the census reports of 1850 show
smaller proportion of deaths for our State
than for any other in the Union. Our
summers are adapted, in temperature
and duration, to perfect all the products
natural to the latitude. Our autumns
are proverbially delightful. The win
tiers are uniform, we have fewer chan
ges, and transitions from cold to warm
and warm to cold, occupy days and hours,
instead Of hours, minutes and seconds,
as in eastern longitudes. We like to
dwell upon our climate, for we consider
it the most delightful, salubrious and
healthful that any portion Of Gods crea-
lures breathe under; we have wintered
in three other latitudes, and profess some
capabilities for judging.
What sort of provisions have you for
public schools? cannot take my chill
dren into a country where there are not
good schools, for that would be doing
them injustice.
You are parent then, and your chill
dTen occupy your first thoughts. We
are glad of that, for such men make the
TYI M =
school fund, to be distributed in March
next, TO the various school districts, is
near $4,000. There are perhaps 100,-
600 children in the State, entitled to the
benefits Of that money, and it helps a.
mazingly to keep up Our schools. We
shall have an immense school revenue
in a few years, derived chiefly from the
sales of our school lands. Some esti-
mate it at .$6,0oo,0O0, the interest of
which, at Z per cent, is to apply to
schools. Most of our teachers are from
your own and the New England States
Some of them, though we'll educated,
were horribly green when they first ar
rived in Wisconsin, but we gave them a
few lessons in civilization and good sense,
and very soon they become as smart, and
as serviceable as the rest Of us. We
were teacher at first, and can speak
from knowledge. Most every district
has a school house. The law is such
that the citizens of any district may meet
and levy tax enough upon the lands
thereof to build a school house. Popu-
lation and settlements gather in all round
and are formed near the school house,
and land property of the district soon re-
covers more value than was sunk in the
tax Tor building the school house. You
see it is matter of gain for every land
holder to get his lands taxed to build
school houses. Land spectators some
sines oppose such taxes, but it's beca us c
they want sense. Yes sir, we have the
best provisions for schools of any other
Western State.
Now tell me in that sincerity of pur-
pose and heart, which you are so we'll
known TO possess ARE the settlers and
people generally moral, orderly, sober
and do they attend church and send their
children to Sabbath schools !?
You may count on finding every viii
lase and settlement, of twenty families,
provided with school, Sabbath school
and church. Where there is not meet
ing house, the school room answers in
place of one. If you take our Sabbath
school reports, you will find that nearly
three-fourths of all the children attend-
ing district schools, also are Sabbath
school scholars. Of course such chill
dren have orderly parents, who are as
moral accordingly, as the children are,
Ito judge of the character of parents
x.a,, must ol,.,,vs 1oot. a. III ~L.iS