St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-13
Letter from Illinois.

friend Of this town, formerly from
Berkshire Co., Mass, for copy of the
following letter, written by Mr.. San
ford Howard, editor of the Boston Gull
tivator. In y note, she intimates that
we may be interested in the article
las surely we are) from the fact that
the Messrs. Bryant there named are
brothers Of William Cullen Bryant,
the celebrated poet and editor, and
adds-"They are all old acquaintan.
ces of mine; our fathers farms being
contiguous."-EDs. INTEL.
PRINCETON, ILL.,, Oct 13, 1856.
This town is the " seat Of justice"
for Bureau Co., and is about 100 miles
from Chicago, on the Chicago, Bur-
lington and Quincy Railroad. The
section is considered one of the best,
agricultnrally, in the State. The soil
is rich, and timber is less scarce than
in many other sections.
have had here an opportunity to
see more of the results of cultivation
than are generally to be met with Gin
the far West" am enjoying the
hospitality of Cyrus Bryant, Esq, who,
with three brothers, came here from
Cummington, Mass, more than twenty
years ago. In fact, Messrs. Cyrus and
John H. Bryant began the Improvement
of their farms in 1882, before the land
was brought into market. They had
therefore various experiences in from
tier life, ifnot in "squatter sovereign
ty." The changes they have witness
ed are great, and must in many re-
spects be highly gratifying. In a Pc
cuniary point of view, they have seen
the land which cost them but dollar
and quarter an acre, rise to an aver
age value, for their whole farms, of
800 per acre. From being obliged
to haul their wheat 100 miles across
an uncultivated country, and then sell
ing it for thirty-seven cents bushel,
they find market at their doors at
double the price they formerly obtain
ed. Instead of the toilsome mode by
which they were obliged to travel,
q railroad, we'll made and we'll equip
ped, passes along the very border Of
their farms, while at the distance of
six miles is another railroad, commu-
nicating with other important points
both bringing daily intelligence from
all parts of the country, both occupied
in the transportation of the people and
the products Of a rapidly rising empire.
Instead of the broad expanse Of wild,
unbroken prairie, where three or four
rude habitations only were within
view, these early settlers have seen
spring up before them handsome
town, numbering their population by
thousands, and forming the centre Of
q community possessed Of the princi-
pal adva ntages of civilized and chris
tanned society. These happy chan
ges cannot fail to enhance the enjoy
ment Of those who have witnessed
them, and go far to compensate for
the deprivations and hardships Of pio-
neer life.
The Messrs. Bryant engaged in the
culture of fruit, soon after they remov-
ed here. They have therefore had
more experience in this line than
most other settlers Of Illinois. They
have large apple orchards, and have
gone considerably into the cultivation
of pears. The trees have grown we'll
and appeared generally healthy until
last wiuter. Apple trees have borne
with as much constancy and in as
great abundance as could be expected
for their age. The same may be said
of pear trces,-the quality of the fruit
in both cases has been good. Cultiva--
tors who used proper care in planting
and subsequent management, had
every reason to be encouraged. 1t
is proper to say, in passing, that the
plantations of Messrs. Bryant were
not as much exposed as some others,
they have belt Of natural forest on
the westerly and on the north
crly side, which screened the trees
from the most severe winds, and prob
ably aided in giving them their compar-
alive superiority. But the last winter
was very destructive to fruit trees
in the West, and those of Messrs.
Bryant have not been exempt. tits
really an unpleasant sight to see the
finest apple and pear trees Of ten to
fifteen years growth from the nursery,
tut off just as they were beginning to
epay the expense of their cultivation.
they were supposed to have been