Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-05-21

goat st9SS 1s t0hiVfou WIN hb lhhiiy 70 10Ws
where be expects to remain during the remainder
Of bisliis. He Is well known to many Of our rea
dem, and bis letter will no doubt be interesting 10
them.
Ua - 1StaxD, CxDkR 90. Iowa,
81. ,is.,st April 18th 1857.
MEssRs. TAPP 4 McooT:--
Ny old friends, It is nearly one year since we
shook the parting hand. We hear from yoa
pretty regularly once week BY your welcome
paper. We are here in what is thought the far
west BY those east of us; but here the people talk
fgOing Vest and think the far west is. much
better than Aere; though we think this is pretty
far west
Doubtless you with many of our old friends
would like to hear from us.-how we are and
how We like the country, We are satisfied. We
have enjoyed good health since we came to this
State, and bave cause Of gratitude to God for bis
goodness Ious. The health Of the country, as
far as my knowledge extends has been very good
during the time We have been heN,
The wiutsr has been long aud those that have
lived here for ten OF fifteen years, say it has been
unusually severe but think it was not as cold
as The winter ofts55 in Ohio. lt.is true the
cOld strikes with more force here, than in billy
country, and where there is an abundance Of tim
Der u break the wind 1t requires warmer hou-
ses and good shelter for stock. A great amount
ofthe suffering We hear offs occasoned from want
Uncomfortable fixtures for both man and beast.
r. The summer is very pleasant, when the wide
spread prairie is clothed with luxuriant grass and
flowers Of every hue. The amount of crops Of
all kinds grain and vegetables, is almost inCred
ible. Our stock roam where they please during
the summer, 3.s
The country is pretty well watered Like
some parts Of Ohio, springs are scarce, but good
water is found at depth OF from fifteen to thirty
feet. 1t seems the country is underlad with lime.
stone as most ofthe water is hard; and as general
thing the purest water is found away from the
streams and timber. cannot see why this State
should be unhealthy. There is no staguant wa
Ter to produce malaria. Itis thought that great
deal Of The sickness that we have here is caused BY
the decomposition ofthe super-abundant vegeta-
Bile matter.
To make q farm here requires considerable cash
capita, TO begin with, but then you get a quick
rttuM. To secure good crop now land must
be broken between the first of June and The mid
die of August. 1t is then let lie until the next
spring. say from last Of March to middle or last of
April according to the season, when It is sown
with wheat. about two bushels to the acie, and q
good erop,--yielding from twenty five to thirty
five bushels per, acre, is almost sure. The wheat
grown in this State is very good, and makes as
good -four, as ! ever saw in Ohio. Had We as
good millers as you have we would get as much
-four TO the bushe. Corn and oats are raised
here In great abuudaree, and Of an excellent quail
ity.
Lumber i about twice as high as 10 Ohio
Timber land is worth from Gfy to one bundled
dollars per acre. Fencing posts are worth ten
dollars per hundred. A fence of three, six.inch.
boards, worth about one dollar and fifty cents pc
rod. The laws Of this State prohibit hogs from
running at large, 50 that we don't need close fen
ces TO protect our crops.
The country is simproving very rapidly-Rail.
ways are being made in almost every direction
Ina few years this will be among the best States
in the Union, unless the South should claim It for,
and appropriate It to the raising of their human
chattels, which, may God forbid. Our institu-
tions, both Religious and Elsmosynary are in a
fouFishing condition. We have an excellent
shool system. The school fund affords school
from six to nine months in the year. We have
good school houses, where needed. To build them
the land 10 each school district is taxed uniformly
the unimproved as much as The improved
Tbess houses are occupied, through the country.
q churches.
Improved farms are worth from twenty to for.
ty dollars per acre. and near Davenport land com
mands from one hundred 10 two hundred dollars
per acre. This may seem strange but it is true.
The land Is rich aud easy to cultivate after It il
once broken. not stump nor stone 10 trouble
you. Quarries of stone are in some places good.
Coal is found in many places.
Should you thiuk this worthy your notice YOU
may hear from me again. Respects to ell our old
friends In town and country:
Yours truly, etc,
CHAS FAWCETT.