The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-24
NEW BOOKS.

PRAIRIE FARMING IN AMERICA With Notes by the Way,
sa n ID aR R u4% s BY Is HE e CORR
Cropsn Se Ae vol in paper l2m9 pp IA N SeS
For sale by Lucas 4 Brother, 40 Baltimore street
This brochure is the result of hasty trip through
portion of the United States and Canada by the
author, in the Autumn of 1858. He reached New
York the 18th September, and Immediately
proceeded up the Hudson, by Saratoga Lakes George
and Champlain, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Detroit,
&C., &c. to Chicago, where he commenced quite
minute and very interesting survey of the great
State of Illinois, He to have been struck
with the general poverty and unproductiveness of
the country both sides of the line till he found
himself on the prairies-of which his admiration
amounts to enthusiasm. His real object appears to
have been to qualify himself to offer advice to the
agricuturists of England on the propriety of emf
grating. He does not hesitate to suggest the
superior advantages offered by settlement in
Illinois those held out to farmers at home
showing that the fee of the soil and the entire
improvement and stocking of farm of 300
acres in that State will be about one-fourth
of the amount required merely to stock the
same number of acres in England-and the prairie
land he pronounces better. Every thing is con-
sidered from English point of view; all his cal
culations being based the accessibility to the
home markets. We think his observations and
criticisms, in the main, sound and judicous He
had made up his mind what he was looking for be-
fore he started his tour of observation and con-
sequently he comes to the point at once. To those
of our own countrymen who think of emigration
this work will be found full of useful hints and sug-
gestions-whie to the general reader it possesses the
! great charm which always accompanies the obser-
vations of a candid, we'll informed and intelligent
| mind upon new scenes and circumstances For the
| benefit of our readers who may be groaning over
investments in Michigan Southern or Central or
Toledo and Wabash or Galena and Chicago, or
some other favorite of the past give Mr.. Cards
| opinion on the prospects of Western Railways, D.
Al:
1t does not seem to possible that there can he
any real Improvement in the traffic of the western
| railways before next harvest. The chief produce
of the country which at present creates traffic is
the grain trade There is but one crop in the year.
and if that proves partial failure, there is help
but to wait the result of another harvest But ma
ture is so bountiul in this country, and small is
the proportion of land yet under cultivation, that
when the tide turns we may look for rapid
| change Ifwith not more than tenth of the good
land of Illinois under rude system of cultivation,
| the agricultural produce exceeded for time the
| carrying capacity of the railways, what may it not
become as the country becomes peopled and cutiva-
ted? With less than million and half of people,
Illinois afforded in 1857 amount of traffic which
left profit to the railways. A very few years, at
| her average rate of progression, will double that
population, and at the same time double her agr-
cultural produce. And if directors and sharehold-
ers will in the meantime act with prudence and pa
thence their capital will soon again become remu-
nerative,
He met with no Adventures properly speaking.
Nobody wanted to "catawampousy chaw him
Cup" but of chewing in general in this land, he
marks-p. 65:
The nasty habit of chewing tobacco, and splitting,
not ONLY gives them dirty look, but makes them
disagreeable companions. They eat so fast, and
| are 80 SILENT and run off when they have
finished their meals, that really eating in this
| country is more like the feeding of a parcel of
brutes than The food is both various and
plentiful, but it is generally badly cooked and
| served.
Then the Hon. gentleman amuses himself with re-
cordng trait or two like this
In driving down from Lake George to Ticondero-
ga you pass through little village with four con-
spicuous churches One of them looks neglected;
the driver "guesses she was Baptist but ne reck.
ons she didn't pay, and they stopped running her, 3"
We conclude with presenting entire what Mr..
Card thinks proper to say about our own city:
The city of Baltimore, with population OF
10000, lies low a bay of the Chesapeake. Inc
whole country here is indented with bays, which
are both picturesque and convenient. The chief
business on the quays seemed to be the loading and
unloading of tobacco. There is fine monumental
pillar to Washington in the upper part of the town,
and many large and handsome residences In that
neighborhood. But it not thought safe to
walk alone in the streets after dark Asysem OTTER
rorism had been established by the "Knownoth-
lng, or American party, in the city, which had
led to several murders and law and order were be-