Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-07-14
From tho North West.

DEAR EMPiRk :--Thsugh long neglected, yet
thou art not forgotten Sickness ia ever q val
Id excuse for tardiuess and neglect and this is
my plea. THIS great city though so much ira
duced, and so freely condemned by anxious
friends as the sure destruction Of those they
love, by its unhealthy climate, sudden changes
low aud exposed position, is nevertheless as
healthy as good old Dayton, with It's reputa
tion for pure air, salubfions climate and desira'
BILE location. The bugbears Of Western fevers,
ehills, epidemies and miasmas have ceased TO
terrify The people, and no longer TO this cause
is ascribed the comparative pauoily Of old IN.
habitRnts, but rather to the fact which TO many
seems to never have occurred, that the country
has not been long enough settled by young men
from the East to change them into old men
such as 10 the East, with their burden Of life,
tottcTing limbs aud hair silyered with toll, care
or thought are yearly gathered, an abundant
harvest, TO the garners the Great Unsuitable.
But am not so seriously ill., having recovered
nearly my wonted strength and activity. as to
warrant such solemn reflections and turn TO
matters Of every day life.
My last, think, was written at Burlington,
the most western in character Of any city l
have visited As | returned from there through
the rieh-the perfectly prolific plains Of Iii
nois. ! could but wonder how any person hRv~
irg seen them, and possessed Of the means Of
settling could ever have the heart 10 return
East, TO delve among the rocks, swamps aud
barren hills, which form 50 striking contrast
to these fertile prairies The vicinity Of Gales
burg seemed more thickly settled aud more
thoroughly cultivated, II not Of n better soil,
han most points on the road. Near Princeton
| stopped. aud made q short diversion into the
country. for the first time obtaining fair and
intelligent view Of Western lands and farming.
These things nre not so rare or new 10 Others
as to require description. Que. however, &C,
cdstumed TO Eastern f,rtning aud crops eau but
be astonished at The FIRST sight Of western aRri.
culture. The extended fields almost ilimiia.
BILE, the depth and rich color OF the soil the
rank luxuriance Of all vegetation, the cornparA
tive ease Of ullsge aud tho extent managed by
simple farmer, aud finally, the almost fabu.
luus quantity OF grain produced IN list fil HIM
with am q, mrnt The extensive prepa, aIions
at ra'h station, but a few miles apart, for re.
ceiving aud forwarding grain would Seem en-.
tirely beyond what Is demRndpd aud vet there
is complaint, that even these are scarcely half
sufficient for the purpose in harvest season.
This surely must be the garden Of the world
aud Senator Douglas, ~ Chicago. said truly
that the hand OF Providence is plainly dlscerni
bio in directing the Pilgrim Fathers to the sern
aud rugged shore of New England, for had they
| a H.. k.tl r.,
would have been raised. such as have easily
subdued the western yilds, to redeem the ster
lie and forbidding East irsm the primitive
wilduess Of nature. Added to all the advans
| tages Of the West there is an altractiveness in
the primitive style Of living and the direct and
immediate dependence upon the soil which is
quite new and irresistible to a stranger. No
profits Of manufactures, no speculations Of local
or foreign trade are the hope Of the West, but
there reliance is wholly on the crops aud every
condition Of expenditure or improvement is
predicated on the results Of Harvest. Nature
seldom deceivinR the confident hopes Of her
dependents, the West has, until Of late pos.
sessed a sure and reliable source Of revenue
prosperity. For tho ugh prices materially
change yet plentiful harvest gives to all the
necessaries of life, while, even at tho lowest
rates. sufficient can be obtained to secure most
at least of its comforts. OF whatever else men
may deny themselves, they cannot dispense
with the products Of the soil and hence the
firm basis Of western prosperity, The East
depending as il does on the West, not only for
the means oflife, but also for the life of trade
is directly and sensibly affected by the pros
perity or adversity Of the latter. While the
latter supporting herself aud relying on the
East only for the supply Of desirable comforts
aud superiuous luxuries is, except as she is
! represented by her Bankers and spectators,
far less sensibly and vitality affected by the hard
times for manufacture and the fluctuations in
the eastern stock market, than might be sup-
posed. The failure Of the crops, in connection
with the financial disasters of the whole coun
try has crippled her severely in every part--nor
E only in speculation and commerce. but also ia
; agriculture. The present harvest coming in &C
nobly will do far more toward restoring the
former prosperity and rapid growth Of wealth
aud population In this section than very many
suppose. AS this however is our only depan
dence we anticipate the result with some lTem-
BLING aud hail every item of favorable tiding'
with rejoicing; and God grant an abundant
harvest. l..