Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-05-11
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Indiana.

~ W f'N@N
respond with you occasionally from my
western home. 1t is now the pleasant /
time of spring with US. The grass is
springing up, the wheat is very green
on the best fields il is about one foot high,
and looks finely. Perhaps the crop never
looked better in this region. The fruit
trees are in blossom, strawberries are set,
and begin to show considerable berry,
Fruit growers are somewhat fearful lest
the late frosts should injure their apples.
Peaches were - a great extent killed in
the winter. They get a crop of that lus
cious fruit here only once in about six
years. The intermediate years the trees
are killed off or do not bear. Trees on
the river, such as the sycamore, cotton
wood, and buckeye are in leaf, and the
whole landscape exhibits great beauty
Farmers are abundantly occupied in pre-
pairing their ground and planting their
corn. The spring has been very favor
able for their purposes. And the whole
country shows life, and activity, as well
as beauty.
There has been great change since
the winter in all these particulars
The winters in the West are gloomy
for New England man. Not sufficient
snow for good sleighing, and all other
modes of conveyance, except Railroads,
very poor at that season. l made a
journey to Chicago and the center of
Illinois in December, and nothing could
be much more gloomy than the aspect of
the country, especially the prairies.-
There you look out as far as the eye
could reach, and it was all dead, and COW
cred with snow, having the appearance
of an extensive frozen lake-no trees, nc
hills, nothing to relieve the tedium of the
dead level. Perhaps away on the hori-
zon a house, looking solitary and alone
without an clubhouse, barn or shed, with.
out tree, or anything to show aneigh.
Dor, or break off the intolerable prairie
winds, like lone traveller in the grea
desert. And thus on, as we rode hou
after hour on the Railroad, the same
r scenery, no hills or mountains, scarcely
, any trees, one "interminable sea of land
with here and there a lone house lik,
ships on the wide ocean. To me all thi
looked solitary and gloomy enough--ver,
r univiting to one who has lived in Ney
e England, among the social hills an
: sprightly waterfalls, with enterprizin
n villages nestled in the valleys. Th
i winter is not a good time to become er
: amored of the West, travelling in III
e mud or on adamant. But now all this
n changed. Let one pass along and Sc
e their fields of from so to 500 acres eac
e of wheat or something like the sam
st area, flowers starting up on all hand
al save when the black soil has been throw
T. up by the steel plow, and his mind woul
CT be very apt to undergo an entire chang
5. Then, especially if he be farmer,
f would be inclined to say "these bros
I'd meadows must be vastly better for n
r. business then the rocky and hard {" siC
r hills" from whence | came" | am n
n a farmer, but such are the thoughts tn
n pass through my mind.
ne Business is also about as bright al
IS promising in this country just now as Z
ne spring. When | visited Chicago, bu
hu ness was at stand still, or SO it appes
x" ed. The greatest show Of business ii
presented itself to the eye was that
Lager Beer. More teams were passi
loaded with beer barrels, either filled
empty, than with any other commodi
'"' if not all kinds of merchandise, cou
7h' ed together. am certain that notit
CD more barrels than anything else pa
Us ing along the streets. And many of
stores had auction hand bills posted
the their fronts, and red flag hung {
WIN marked g sheriff sale" or something
Out that kind. Chicago was poor. Its P
an pie, or the knowing ones who were h
hal est, said the "bottom had fallen out.
VINO They have evidently undertaken to
,ga- too much. They have done great d
this and have done it well. Their str'
ease have been raised and paved, spler
A buildings, blocks of stores, rivalling
most old and wealthy cities, have sprung
ees- as it were by magic. So much en-
de- prize was worthy of better fate.
ling the improvements are there the str
are paved, buildings erected, and
ter some capitalists can go in and reap
har- reward of other mems labor at
live. figure, just as Railroads pass out of
e all hands of the original stockholders in
lg hands of trustees. and then over to