The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-11-24

From Settler I'm Western Virgiuias iro
TO the Editor of the ", y. Tribune; aa
SuR:-Leaying my native Scotland q
few years ago on account Of i'll health /
went TO Canada for the purpose of buying
some land, thinking 10 turn my attention
to the raising of stock, tho only depart
ment Of farming ! had any knowledge of
or taste for. But after due inquiry and
some personal experience, I find the cli-
mate is not well suited for that purpose on
account of the long winters, notwithstand.
ing there are some very fine cattle raised
there, so resolved TO go further South
Seeing an advertisement which was pub
lished in your paper, regarding some lands
which were for sale in Western Virginia,
by Company styled the American Aid
and Homestead COMPANY, I called on
John y. Underwood, Esq, their Secreta-
~, corner. of Nassau and Cedar streets,
where got description Of the lands. l
made up my mind to 60 and see them. /
called at No. 229, Broadway, where got
first class ticket for Clarksburg, Va,
which cos, Sl2 so, IA second class can be
had for $6 50,) the time to this point be-
ing 23 hours, leaving at 8, A. M. There
was moi hing worthy of notice on my jour-
ney, only may mention that the scenery
is very grand and imposing between Balti-
more and Grafton. Clarksburg is the
county town of Harrison; It has number
of good buildings but rather scattered; it
has population of about 1000. But
there does not sppear to be much doing in
the way of business, yet the people appear
to be thriving and well off. There is rath-
er more stir Just now on account Of the
Assizes being held. find their Judge
(Camden) is much respected by all parties
on account Of his abilities and strict impair
tiality in administering justice. Coal is
here in great abundance, being delivered
from to 4 cents per bushel. The coun-
try around is very fertile although hilly.-
Corn grows at the very tops eleven to
twelve feet high. Wheat and potatoes
grow magnifcently. took stage to Yves
ton, the county town of Lewis, distant %
miles by good macadamized road; it is
an exceedingly neat, thriving little place.
It has saw and grist mill, three very good
hotels, four churches, weekly newspaper,
a wcll-conducted seminary, branch of
one of the Vergina banks (specic paving
at that,) daily mail, with abundance of
good coal, as well as splendid crops of all
kinds, which make living very cheap. I
paid 25 cents meal, and they were as
good as any ordinary man would wish, and
well served up. The same for my bed
1t is easy accounted for this, when they
had corn at Is cents, wheat ut 60 cents,
chickens at 10 cents piece, ttnkies from
20 TO 40 cents, and other things in proper
tion. found these prices generally all
over the country The houses are chiefly
frame, timber principally used being pop
lar and white oak, which sells for $40 and
$l2 per 1000 feet. The conntry is here
as it is all the way, very billy, but very fer
tile, eminently adapted for grazing, on ac-
count of the fine grass which grows on the
hills, and the miidness of tho winters. l
was told that in ordinary mild winters they
need not feel their sheep more than two
weeks, their neat cattle being fed once
day for about four months. The next placd
worthy of notice is Bull Town, on account
of salt work which has been established
there for forty years. The water is found
$50 feet below the surface. They make
about 80 bushels every twenty-four hours,
which is sold as fast as made for rs cents
per bushcl; but with little more energy
and impoved machinery they aould make
100 bushels. The Littlo Kanawha passes
here it is beautiful clear stream, with
plenty of fine fish in il. There are two
saw mills and grist mill few miles from
this place. About fivo miles from this I
stopped at Col. Squires' for tho night. He
81 an old veteran Of 73 years Of age, and
has been fifty years where he is. l was
told all the way along that the country was
very healthy, fever and ague being hardly
ever known, but this vigorous old gentle.
man and his family are living witnesses of
that. He had eleven ehildred, they are all
married, and have children, and the first
that has occurred in his family, was his sons
wife died in childbcd. found several ca
sesq quite as remarkable. l started next
morning for Sutton, the county town of
Branton. 1t is quite small place, but n-
creasing, as saw several frame houses go
ing up. The Elk passes herc--it isa beau
tiful, cleal stream, with water enough the
most part of tho year for rafting timber to
the Ohio rives, which is from 30 to 100
miles. All along its banks channel coal is
fouug in great abundance, which is being
extensively manufactured into oil. saw
a field Of Chinese sugar cane, the stalks
verifying from IL to 10 feet high, also, a
splendid field of corn beside it, and as
proof of the richness of the soil was told
there had been corn grown on the same
place for the last 25 years without being
manured. I found the country quite equal,
and in some respects superior to what it
was represented to me by Mr.. Underwood.
Why this country is not teeming with ia
habitants, would be hard matter to ex-
plain; for in point Of SOIL climate and min
eral wealth it certainly has few equals
There is great disposition to welcom in
dusterous settlers throughout the whole
country. They are actually in starvation
for mechanics, such as blacksmiths, wagon
makers, joiners, and such like. In view Of
the general distress likely TO be felt among
such men this winter in New York and
elsewhere, it would be we'll for thom TO go
there at once, where land can be had cheap,
as well as plenty Of employment at remu-
narofiprv nr,oas Il avvsant IN ohout t,vo