The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-09-17
M For the "Sa;rit.n
A Letter from Missouri
Sonora, Atchison Co., Mo.
August 30, 1856.

Mr.. EDITOR: my res 5cets 10Y on,
[ will say that when / left BeaHsville for
the west, was requested by q coGsftlcia-
lesnumbersof my friends to write TO them
and give some Information in reference to
the country; SO l have .eonciudei 70 do SO
through The medium Of yoar paper
Ii has. been over FIVE months since /
came to Missouri, during which time |
have been through a good portionof this
State, Iowa, and Nebraska Territory
1t has been greatly to my gratiicatio 10
see some of the rich and fertile land of the
great west. From Boonvil.e Travelled
through Saline, Fayett, Cooper and other
counties north TO this place, and was much
delighted with the well cultivated farms,
which are said to yield very abundant
crops. The praili that are yet to be en-
closed, were beautifully covered with green
grass, and herds of cattle could be seen
grazing in every direction The Sonora
Bottom, that between the Missouri River
and Nashnabotna creek, which is large
prairie, containing several thousand acres
looks like vast meadow. This bottom is
settling up very rapidly. The land en-
closed is becoming very valuable; the soil
being about fifty feet deep. am strong
ly inclined to think our bottom here beats
your soil in old Monroe. To break the.
prairie, and plant corn in the sod, it will
produce fifty, and as high as one hundred
bushels per acre, without any work, after.
planting. There can be as good water
had by digging any place here a. in
your country, and as good limestone
as there is in Ohio. Timber is pretty
scarce, but the settlers think there is a
suficiency to supply the country, as there
is young timber coming on faster than it
is consumed.
In all my travels 1 have not seen such;
fine farming land as in North Western
Missouri. The upland prairies are a lit
tie broken, but the prairie bottoms are as
level as one could desire, and all will pro-
duce better than any of the chucky bottoms.
Nebraska Territory is not second to any,
although it is thinly settled. yet there are
large farms being opened, and it bids fair
to be rich State, for the soil is there
I was at Omaha city on the 25th of june,
at celebration of the I. o. O. Good
Templers. Nebraska city is promising
place; its locality being on an elevated
bank of the Missouri River, backed by a.
delightful body of rich land and Surround
ed by beautiful groves of timber; it is inn
proving very rapidly at this time.
Perhaps I might as well say a word
about Kansas Territory; I hear from it
every day, being short distance from
there. The excitement still exists; affairs
are in bad condition, and the people are
still killing each other It is but Just the
other day since the wonderful 10. Lane,
from the Hoosier State, crossed the. Mis-
souri, river few miles above our town
with 500 men, out of Employment in their,
own State, seeking business where they,
have none. But enough Of this. As to.
the country, its fertility, &c., cannot be.
questioned, and if all difficulties were set
tied, it would be q perfect paradise for a.
portion of Orleans. / have been request.
ed by many of my friendsin Monroe coun-,
ty to give them description Of the west,
ern country. | decline writing to many,
from the fact that my account of it may
be thought to be exaggerated, but deem
|it sufficient to say, that no one could be
ssa4 "a 4 sxss 49ssga a1e5 esr :