The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-15
Letter from Illinois.
ROCKFORD, Ill, Nov. 5, 1861.


l see from the productions Of other cores
pondents, which appear from time to time,
that it is not always deemed necessary
to wait until something occurs worth commn-
ncatng. That consideration induces me
lust now to write, and trust will induce you
to publish.
An Englishman, it is said, can always find
an unfailing topic, to talk or write about, IN
the weather, and my observation has led me
to think that the remark applies equally well
to Yankee.
A word. then. as TO the weather for the
last quarter. You are doubtless aware that
the fall, in this western country, has pecu-
liar beauty and magniticence over all other
seasons of the year, and ever the same sea-
son in New England. Our winters here are
severely cold, with little snow, but almos,
continual piercing winds, which 60 right
through the tail Of comet. Our summers are
l hot and dry, and our springs are variable and
, UNPLEASANT. This fall has not formed an ex
} cep,on 10 the ordinary rule, except that the
2 fore part of ii was attended by an unusual
S quantity Of rain. And here come in the
I crops a very important topic here and every
! where, except in Ireland and other regions
i where they have no crops. The great crop
1 Of this region, wheat, was not a very good
Y one this year-probably less than one half of
' that Of the preceding year. By reason OF
# some climatic peculiarities both the straw
Il and head were 10, well developed. although
p the kernel was pretty good As the result
: the average product per acre fell below fair
crop, and below the expectations of our far
t meas generally. There was another seri-
n Gus drawback from the aggregate Of this c.
e real. and this was occasionei BY the unusual
Il and continued rains Of September, which 50
, wet the wheat in stack as 20 occa sion q seri-
Gus loss and injury. The produce Of many a
farmer was almost entirely ruined in this
X WAY.
l- Perhaps Your readers viii think that there
O. must have been a fair compensation in the
is enhanced value Of the product. Unfortunate
l. Is this was no. the case. Prices have ruled
u decidedly ower than las: year, when the croi
l. was ;he fines. this country ever prodlcei.-
W Various CAUSES may be ASST gned for this
0: southern demand by the rebellion. Anothe,
!. is the high an! perpeiually advancing pric'
K. O: :re;sh;s. The shipment from Chicago @:
!, 4 million bushels week by water requires
great amount 0: lake craft. The demand be
ing great, T.. arSe portion q !as: Years GRO
being held ~ tie a:!ae.>. and scI.t .orwar
LOW ., = price considerably below what lie
could have obtained Immediately after Ia,
- y,>, las. YEAR the owners OF vessels put I
y the prce Of freight enormously. Many
- axe ,t>se. has earned more this season tha
III" is entire original cost, Ills j. an evil Ii,
w. vii probably cure Itself in time; but many
M farmer W.. perhaps lose his farm by :ailul
~ o. thr resources on which lie depended
~" g.y Il. ex.st.us mortgages, before tina, -!
'"s comes
90 Tn. corr, cr,o ~, wear WAS good on
Wy b,, then corn ) scarcely worth tie ,xpru
has
''''' O: tah.,s to niArset. O:.ly ;A;uk O; rais..
corn T. SCI, ?, zen cent, bush,.. ans. i
THY worth I'm. ahou, ina. here. or tweu.y-o,
l4N cent, n Ci.ra,o. |. : not MUCH beside !;
"t ,y,..a 70 saw. Is has often been sad here. til
=" corn in the ear j A. cheap .ue. as can be I
OF - IL hi, r,c,ou. have not. however. st,
.."f :, r>-3 IN ,h.. wy.
an mus. say q E,tlr something about !
'"" WY. \ CIV. way IS raging throughout, !
he length and breadth Of our extended count
y produced bv the "vaultins ambition" o: =,
ana >},,,ho,JiYg oljearcby. Its evils are tcl, (
lu!' ,ryvber,. hui. by 4 wise t:sDensation OF Pl
and ,;l.,c. ,hev ar, r,ineI down most nrofu>
ted, ,.o. .t.. o,,;r,v hsa5, y. rs authors. H.,
$ ~, y. b4r. :, Won IN Vermont, i've !,
bet ,....,, 49, ,,,,... ,,,ar;r,,o,,s as
tate a.,a .bo a},s,I,..,, ...
for .u..o..,.;; ,;,-on,.,.r,. ,,.,.; H..
best :. o7.,.4
be ~,
tan, :,
ttee - ,a..,,., .,l
wed
los, i -