Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-06-10
Editorial Correspondence.
DAYTON. O.. Nav 30. 80.

| NAiioN, Wy A""y w, o''
DEAR JOURNAL Your truant editor ant
suite arrived at this beautiful locality severa
days ago, but my natural disinclination te
write has prevented me from addressing you
sooner. doubt, indeed whether any one
would feel disposed to mental labor in the
midst of such strawberry and cherry festi-
val as we are now enjoying at the hospitabe
mansion Of Il friend and relative few miles
from Dayton. You WILL therefore, excuse
my negligence, and also the brevity of this
letter.
When last wrote we were in St. Louis
We left that city on the evening Of the 2lst,
per steamer Highfycr, for Louisville, at
which place we arrived on the morning of the
25th, having been detained one day by the
bursting of cylinder head on the boat,
which, fortunately, however, resulted in no
injury to any one. Louisville is flourish
lag city of about $4,000 inhabitants. Its
trade is at this time, however, somewhat de-
pressed by the hard times. From Louisville
to Cincinnati we travelled ON the magnificent
steamer Telegraph No. Bone of the finest
boats on the Western waters. The morning
Of the 26th found us guests at the Burnett
House in Cincinnati This city still ranks
as the largest in the West, notwithstanding
the progress made by St. Louis and Chicago
during the last few years. The population of
Cincinnati is about 225,000 Its streets, its
public buildings, its suburban residences,
and its gardens show more evidence of wealth
and taste than those Of any other city we
have visited. Pixies opera house, erected
last year, is an architectural wonder. Its
cost was half a million dollars Mr.. Pike,
the builder, is wealthy retired liquor dealer.
The business of Cincinnati is still depressed,
though improving. We observed consd,
cradle building going on, and at one
fine four story business house in process of
erection near the Burnett House, we saw a
steam hod-carrier at work, by which the
labor of score of Irishmen and Dutchmen
is dispensed with. 1t was the first machine
of the kind introduced into the city.
Dayton holds its own during these hard
times. 1t has numerous manufactures and
fine country to support it. The population
is about 25,0 900. Real estate has not depre-
ciated much in value here, especially farming
lands. A farm about five miles from this
city, consisting Of 11s acres, sold short
time since for s11 500 in cash. The build
ings on it were valued at about $4,000, and |
the land was considered as an average quail
ty. The price paid is not regarded as extra
ordinary. Indeed none of the adjoining
farms are held at less than one hundred dol
lars per acre. But such land would scarcely
be found in Iowa. 1t would be considered
entirely too poor for farming purposes. Such
land as we have in Iowa would readily COM
mand from 5000 to $500 per acre here
Farmers here, however raise good average
crops, but it is only by a great deal of care
and toll.
Farmers have many comforts and advanta-
ges here not enjoyed in Iowa, yet cannot
but regard the soil and climate of my adopted
State as vastly superior, and verify believe
it is destined to become more populous and
more productive country than the famous
Buckeye State has proven to be-
may possibly write to you again before
my return. Yours, &C., j. NJ.