New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-09
4 WESTERN SETTLERS EXPERIENCE.

To n, Editor IF TIE n. j. Tribune
SIR: 1t has occurred to that in the midst Of so
extensive an emigration from to west a. is now
going in this country, few practical suggestions
from the experience Of an actual settler and six
YEAR, resident Of the West may not come amss to
your readers. Hence will send you few facts and
suggestions which you may give to the public, or to
the flames, as you may deem most proper.
In the Spring Of 1851 lee the beautiful town Of
Hayerlll in the good old Bay State, to seek To-
cation in the Far West where to for myself
and family permanent home had not decided in
what part Of the West to locate although my prefer
enees were in favor Of Wisconsin But after looking
ali ut for two months or more and talking with every
Western man met, | CON u1ed 20 settle in northern
IlinOis--a conclusion have never for a moment
gTetted but the contrary, have every year found
new reasons for rejoicing IL. Aud here | mention
few of the reasons for preie.ng northern Illinois to
any other part of the great Western Valley.
First it is heailhy Is any part OF New-EnSland.
Second It's sail is cot surpassed by any IN the word.
Third it is settled almost entirely by people from the
Eastern aud Middle State, with the exception Of
very small proportion Of Germans Fourth It's adj
yantages Of to market are vastly superior To-
those Of any State west of the Mississippi River. This
last considerations when Soned ~ dollars aud cents
a. difference in cost Of tran portatOD, aud considered
in It's annual aud perpetual effect upon the net incom
Of the farmer is than enough 10 balance the diff
ference in price between Illinois and Kansas or Iowa
lands.
Having come 70 the aforesaid conclusion, | pur-
chased a quarter section OF prairie land in La@lle
County about ten miles from a,aiic-tne terminus q
Illinois River and Lake Michigan Canul-fpr It'll"
less than g. au acre. had money enough to pay
for the land but made one payment onlt-the balance
10 be paid in two years. In September moved
my family out, and built board shautey with two
TOOms in which we lived that Winter. Hay
ing purchased a pair II horses and wagon,
and twenty acres of timber, | went to work in good
earnest, ffst to dig we'll then to build temporary
stable in which Ia winter my horses aud 1--WE cows,
which | BOUGHT and then through the Winter TO get
ont the materials for good frame house and tor iruc-
ING my farm. intending to fence 81 acres the next
Spring; but succeeded in getting only acres fenced
al of which aud II acres more | broke with Two
horses besides cultlyang 80 acres which rented ana
mt IN corn and oats. This rst year hired no hep, eX-
cept a few DAYS in putting ny the fence and the cur
peuter work On the outside Of the house; the inside
work did Ilys self during days that were not suitable
a. work out with team. hlred the house plastered
and moved iutO il about the middle OF Juue, 49,! L
raised no wheat that year and consequently had my
bread to buy. After harvesting my oats cut ana
drew 10 market hay enough, wid hay 10 guy our gro
series and a Years supply of flour. The next year
bought u third horse and hired boy at s. per mouth,
and cultivated what land had broken, aud fenced ana
broke 40 more. always planted so1-co on all
| could break between the first OF hay aud the middle
Of June and got from 10 t. 80 bushels per acre. THIS
cost Inc nothing but the SEED and the harvesting, aS
had com planter of my own invention attached to
the pillow, and dropped with my knee IN every third
furrOw, the next turrow covering 1t. little more
SEED must De uetu III litIihE t'ic hflNJ t''''
nels upon which the sod does not lay fiat will not come
mp.
The third year bought another horse and another
wagon keeping the same boy at $40 month, fenced
the whole farm and broke 80 acres more. At the end
of the third year had the whole farm paid for, with
house worth $l,GU0 and three miles OF teuce ON II.
The same year bad crop Of white winter wheat
which yielded q bushels to the acre and sold Tor . -
per bushel, making a cash Income OF So per acre.
Twenty bushels Of wheat and 10 bushels OF corn per
acre IS fair average crop, although corn If cult
waited as at the East would yield from 10 to 100 bush
els per aor MAJ ana boy wth four horses, can pillow
MA cuivpt1 Ky -iS5-S"y "' oi wheat ~ Vi oa'9
f. cut tie whio4 ana oats and tnTashlug machi1e t.
thrash H. All the rest of the LABOR can do wthou,
additional help.
In the six years that have been here have never
had the frst symptom oi the a-uc, aud think an
safe in saying that the open prairie not one ia ten
ever have tue ague. ). NJ
Me5dotq Ill., June /, 1871