Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-03-13
HOMES m WISCONSIN.

HOMES aN w kS1ONSANs
We have recently received many letters
of inquiry, whereof the folloiog is sam
pie:
Dedham, Mass, Feb. l3, 1854.
ss# We are young mechanics, cabi-
net-makers, of limited means, say 81
900 or whereabouts. We wish to invest
this amount in some profitable business
in the West, thinking there would not
be so much competition in capital and
trade as here. We rather incline to
Wisconsin, in Madison or that neighbor-
hood but wish to ask for information as
ito the facilities for hiring water or 9TH
Ter power in that vicinity, or any other
Iplace'to which you may think fit to di-
rect us. We have thought it best for
one of us to take trip out there this
spring or summer, and would wish to
know the best and cheapest route from
Boston. We wish to ask your opinion
about locating land warrants out there,
in case they can be procured. Ii con-
venient, your early reply will oblige
yours, respectfully,
c. W. M. & J. b.
We can assure these friends that
water power is abundant throughout
Wisconsin. We consider that very ia
vorable location for young mechanics, il
they be good ones. A hundred villages
in Wisconsin, proffer favorable openings
Ito good, steady mechanics. And the We
Try fact which may discourage the emf
Igration westward Of farmers should i'm
|pel that of mechanics. Provisions are,
'apd long must be, relatively cheap there ;
$50 that the shoemaker who must here
make two pairs of Boots for barrel of
flour may there obtain barrel for one
pair and SO with carpenters, black
smiths, cabinet-makers, sc. A farmer
may possibly blunder in migrating West,
but we can hardly see how mechanic
could lose by it. He can buy or build
there for less money there is work e.
nough to be done and he can always
buy his bread cheaper there than IN this
quarter. And he is under no necessity
of wandering away from schools and
churches, nor Of locating where he must
drink prairie bilge-w water.
The cheapest route from Boston, for
emigrants, is probably by Albany to Buff
falo by railroad thence by steamboat a
round to Chicago, as may be nearest
your destination. 1t nsay be quite as
cheap to come to this City, as the great
focus OF inland migration, and here make
bargain for through passage. Mind
whom you buy Of, and see that your tick
ct aecords fully with your contract, lea
wing nothing 10 verbal understanding.
AS to Land Warrants, we consider
them good property for honest men to
let alone. They will serve in locating
public lands but there is not a chance
IN hundred that good mechanics will
ever want to settle in the dense wilder
ness or lonely prairie, where alone Co
vefnment land is to be found Money
is about as good property as you can
take West; and it will buy anything that
is for sale there which Land Warrants
will not. The issue of these pestilent
contrivances for enriching SPECTATORS on
the expense of the Laboring Poor has
already crowded back the eastern boun-
Diary Of our public Lands at lerst days
Journey and largely enhanced the price
OF wild lands to Actual Settlers by in
terposing broad belt OF warranted lands
between Sfvilization and the Govern
ment ltandA- Touch no Land Warrants.
From another of the letters before us,
we extract as follows:
CAMBRIDGEpoRr, Mass. Feb. Is, 1854
Sir VIII you inform me, either by
letter or in your weekly paper
I. Which is the best time for going
West, tie spring or autumn?
2. What part of the West is the best
10 emigrate to, taking into consideration
healthiness of the climate
8. Does the Fever and Ague prevail
much IN Wisconsin
4. How long does the Presumption. of a
lot hold good
5. Many want to go West, but for
want of reliable information do not at
tempt it and | presume that many would
feel obliged by short article in your
paper relating to the subject, want to
go to healthy locality, decent land and
fair water. Yours, c.. H.B.
Our answer to this writer may. serve
sor others also; here it is:
/. For farmer, spring is decidedly
he best season for migration Westward
1 he can start early for Mechanic,
almost any season will serve. We should
.dvise Farmer to start as early as the
st of April; but travel and trans porta-
ion are then much dearer and Journey
ng with family less agreeable than in
tune, which month We would suggest to
A volume might be written in an
wer to this question and not exhaust
t. Briehy-There are good locations
everywhere, and energetic, capable work
RS can hardly miss between Buffalo to
Pittsburgh on the East and St. Paul to
(Mo.) on the West. Far
nore depends on the man than on the
lace. We like Northern Indiana or
illinois and Southern Wisconsin very
we'll.