The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-12

VALLEY OF CANAAN.


tie Starving Deni=sns of Large C,ties-7Ne
Valley Of Canaan Land of Prsmise-Squat-
ting the Easiest Life After ana Veteran
PsU~eer Of Sirty-Prices Of Land Encourage.
snens 10 Laborsrs.
Here in my lonely but comfortable log cabin,
1900 miles from the city Of New York, and seven
from my nearest neighbor sit down, after Pc
rusing q package of twelve copies Of your useful
paper, of which, after the LIST Of April next, hope
to see copy in every cabin in this thriving town.
ship-say have been led to write to you and add my
voice to your SO oft repeated advice to the citizens
Of fuctuatng New York, to go West, and there for
q trife procure q home that hard times or de-
preston cannot rob them of; and to confirm your
Judgment, shall cite little of my own ex-
perience.
In consequence of the arrangement of business
ANA the severe pressure of the times about fourteen
months since left your city in search of farm,
for permanent residence for my family and my.
self. Since that time have journeyed far and wide
through many of the Western States, but could not
get hold Of anything to suit me until / was led
into Northwestern Wisconsin Handed at Lacross,a
fourishing place on the Mississippi river, and,
through the gentlemanly kindness of Mr.. Lord, the
Register Of the Land Office thers, persuaded to
visit this town. On the 9th of July last not
foot Of land was as yet entered in it He informed
me that it was good prairie land as there is in
the world, well watered timber or adjacent to it.
He also furnished with plots of the four adoin-
ing towns, and told me to 90 and take my choice;
that it was in the immediate neighborhood of
very extensive pnery, that would furnish one with
q market at his own door, better than New York
market, and where mans produce would fetch
him more money than it would in New York city.
Well, l came here in company with two gentlemen
from New York, and had got but q miles into the
town before 1 was satisfied, and remarked to the
gentlemen that the land suited me- and fixed upon
quarter section. They both located alongside of
me. On the way to Lacr ss to enter the land, they
bought mill site the line of the adjoining town;
it had few days before been entered at the Land
Office TOR 800. They paid tribe over $lOo to the
party. Last month it changed hands again, and
was sold for IS 500 in gold. 1t is one Of the best
sites in the State in che world and could not be
bought to day from the parties now in possession of
it for $4,000. They have appointed me their
agent to lay out town in its immediate vicinity,
erect a saw mill, planning mill sash and blind facto
~ and all necessary buildings, to improve the place
forthwith. The mill is to cut 81 900 feet per day OF
timber, as good as can be; the land produces from
Is 900 to 10000 feet per acre. (cost here 81 70 per
acre. in New York 81 and the lumber when sawed IS
worth $l8 per 1000 feet. Beat this at the East If
you can. am an old and experienced lumberman
and am convinced that this Is The greatest Jumper
country on this continent. :,
We have four towns adjoining u.s. that will make
five hundred rich prairie farms, aud timber within
short distance; that will give to each farm forty
acres. There is now about one half OF them taken
up by actual settlers, that move their families on
here early in the spring The remainder are Still! In
market, and many Of them consider are as valua-
BILE farms as can be found in the Western country.
for industry, and soon there will be an open.
ing for intellect and talent, and Chippewa
county will stand up to many OF her sister counties
that are at present somewhat more advanced. It
10 m In f1lo1 land.
gentleman, when we visited this town last summer,
It was q perfect garden OF Eden," flowers grew In
great profusion deer bounded through the wood, az
they still do, and prairie heas were almost as plenty
as birds and speckled trout abOunded in the brooks
and streams; we also have great many grouse and
other game Wheat brings two dollars per bushel and
everything else in proportion Yes, Sir, soon such
farming country as this and such class OF enterps
ing people as are settling it, will support VII
lage or even q city, and next year this time expect
to hear on the ground on which am now writing,
the merry peals Of West Troy bell, calling together
this prosperous and happy people to return thanks
to the Almighty for the blessings he has so profuse-
ly showered down upon them.
am possessed Of 400 acres Of prairie land, and
80 acres Of timber; 160 acres OF which received
from the United States government for my services
in the war Of 1872, on Brooklyn Heights. Besides
this, in connection with gentleman from Albany,
N. Y, have 900 acres more. which we expect TO
convert into mammoth farm this spring and, at
present prices of produce here, we can clear the
price of the land, stock, buildings and oil improve
ments, in three years. then the improved farms will
sell for $25 to $50 per acre.
This beautiful valley is located on the O'Clarc
river and Bridge creek with many beautiful streams
of clear cold water running to them The springs are
all soft water; there is no limestone here and more
healthy country there is not on the globe. There
never has been case of fever and ague here; we
are about half way between Black river falls and
Chippewa falls, and fifty miles frcm the Mississippi
river. Some of your very best families have had the
wisdom to break loose from vacillatng, precariOus
city life (and becoming more go every day) and
through me have located and entered farms in
this valley. May God grant that this may meet the
eye of many of your good people that will do the
same thing before it is late and secure to them
selves beautiful farm which with prudence and eco
nomy, will be worth in three years several thousand
dollars, with an abundance OF all that mortal man
can wish for for do not think that in this immed-
ate valley, where there will be village city,
mills churches and schools there will be good farm
to be got after the first of My next at government
prices. When sit here and reflect what my situa-
ton has been, and what the situation is OF many,
very many, in your city, it reminds me of the advice
that Mr.. Secretary Corwin gave to young man that
was applying for clerkship. He said, young
man, go West-squat, build you Gabn,-lve like a
fireman. may give you clelkship to day-you
may not have 1t Tomorrow but if you own an acre
of land, it is your kipgdom your cabin is your
tie; you are sovereign aud yon will feel il in every
throbbing Of your pulse, and you will thank me for
Labor is very high here-carpenters and masons
get from 81 to 50 so per day and boarded; laboers
81 so and boarded. But in fact it is hard to get
labor at any price. Land is so easily obtained, that
almost every man is sovereign; he may go
and pre-exempt land, and if he can manage
to- get in crop, the first years produce
will more than pay Tor it. There are many in this
Western wor.d-no longer ago than two or three
years-that came here without second garment to
their backs and scarcely dollar in their pockets,
who new are able and wealthy farmers, and can
boast Of their broad acres, got by their indus
try. / have already made this Communication too
lengthy; but, in conclusion, through your extensive
York that none need despair for the writer Of this
has this day arrived to his sixtieh birthday and he
tells you and them that he intends to open ,420
acres of this virgin soil the next season. would
100 acre warrant within half mile of the village
site, for Mr.. s.. an engrayer, in Fulton street, New
York, and have just been offered IS per acre Tin
god) for it, and have written to him to that effect.
The warrant cost him about 81 per acre in New