Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
Correspondence of the Sentinel.



Winchester the county seat of Randolph
county, is pleasantly situated on or near
White River, in the midst of a rich and well
cultivated section of country. The town is
quite an old one, and previous to the open
ing of the Bellefontaine and indianapolis
Railroad, made but slow progress in improve
ment. Since the completion of that great
thoroughfare however, the town has been
steadily increasing in population and enter
prise, and now contains population of about
1900 souls There are ten or twelve stores
of various kinds, two mills, and nearly all
the mechanical trades, two churches, Meth
odist and Presbyterian, two hotels and one
printing office, and several neat and hand
some residences in the place. and business of
all kinds appears to he quite brisk for the
season, and the size Of the town.
The agricultural and other resources of the
country about Winchester, are being rapidly
developed under the impetus given to trade,
and the advance consequent upon the open
ing of market for the produce of the far
mer of the completion of the Bellcfontaine
and Cleveland Railroad. Lands have large
ly increased in value, and disposition is
manifested by farmers, for the improvement
of their stock, and the scientific cultivation
of the SOIL
The grain crops in this section look very
promising. The corn is quite low, but it is of a
healthy, vigorous growth, and, drought not
interfering, will make more than an average
yield. The wheat looks very fine. We
hear no complaints Of the fly or army worm.
The frosts in the early part of last month,
killed all the peaches in this locality, and
most Of the apples and other fruits. Plumbs,
we are told, are the only fruit which will
make list" The heavy fIosts of Saturday
night last, did not extend beyond twenty or
thirty miles east or northeast of lndianapo-
lis; but far as it did Gravel, il has left its
mark. The corn, potatoes, beans, tomatoes,
and even the grass, for some thirty miles out
on the Bellefontaine Railroad, have been cut
down 10 the ground Beyord this distance,
however no frost fell on Saturday or Sunday
nights.
The Know Nothings here have formerly
claimed this town and the county as one of
the strong holds of that ubiquitous hero of
the dark lantern Oligarchy, Sam" But the
right-hawk is falling into disrepute even
among the faithful. The recent drubbing
which that individual received at the
hands of the Democracy of the Old Do
minon, has greatly shaken the faith Of many
of his followers in his persistence, and their
adhesion Is consequently beginning to wax
cold toward their american leader, the more
so from the fact of its having leaked out that
the Sam" aforesaid is but the bastard off
spring of British fanaticism, and French
jacobnism. They can't stand the f,uTin es-
sence of the animal We have to-day been
told by at least twenty men who have here
tofore voted the Know Nothing ticket in this
county, that they have cast their last ballot
for the pseudo American party. Some of the
leaders in this county have been showing
their political scoundrelism by riding Sans
horse for the sole purpose of getting into fat
Offices These men are all old broken down
political hacks--and the People" are now
well satisfied that they have been duped by
them, and will desert them. Another cleo
ton in this county will witness the triumph
of the Democracy by a large majority.
c. w. c.