Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-03
fof the Waterman.
FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Another thing in which this country con-
trasts with the East is the use the people
make Of their strsw and slough grass. Here
larg share ofitis burnt, s;ubble and wheat
straw with the long sedge grass and rushcs Of
the sloughs, make often the whole horizon
glow at night with their gl:mmering flames
A consequences is. little manure compared
with the amount Of grain grown, and therefore
an Impeachment Of soil In fact this country
is to realize the evil that come upon Sicily,
Sardinia, and Northern Africa and other grain
growing countries in former days. II this
generation are made rich by the crops their
soil produces, to an extent, thA, wealth is TAX
en- from the next generation. But whether
man can pay thirty or forty dollars per acre
for land, and sell wheat at an average Of seven
ty-fvo cents per bushel, and the land yield
about twelve bushels per acre is doubtful
Another thing in which a contrast exists
between this country and the east is in the
per cent. paid for money and the use made Of
it. In the Bast man borrows to buy pro-
duce when 1t is rising. Here man often
borrows money to buy Railroad Village lots
when everything is prosperous and pays ten
or twelve per cent, so as to mortgage and
sell his farm in less prosperous times TO pay
the debt | have known a man to borrow
$500 at IL per cent. buy an old store at his
end Of the village in hopes Of making his ad-
jacent property more valuable, and be Obliged
to see the building 60 entirely to ruin with
out occupancy. So Of Tavern stands nd all
such property. Money is gradually coocen'
trating in few mems hands, and the 10 to
30 per cents. are all paid by losers in the race
to wealth; for men here can no more afford
to pay high interest than they can in the East.
Another contrasts exists in the rapidly Of
decay in buildings and farm implements. In
New England good house well painted will
last fifteen years without repair or repaint
ing. Here they viii not last five Paint
seems beaten off by the soorching air. the
blistering sun, and the fierce driving RAIN
and every crack. crevice, check, or joint adj
mits water, where it would seem impossible
to an eastern man for it to enter. Build
ings therefore decay rapidly tho built of Mich
lgan pines and painted ; aud the heavier farm
implements, like wagons. mowers, rakes and
the like, are apt to stand out in all weathers'
even through the winter, and Of course can
not last long.
Why these men contract such habits, it IS
difficult to tell, except fret their shelter IS
limited and they cannot enlarge it without CON
siderable expense, and they don't seem to
make the most of what they have They CON
tract easy habits except in certain seasons, and
the result is great expense in the aggregate
and few indeed are there, that attain great
pecuniary success,
Another thing noticeable in the condition
of producers here, is the varableness Of the
market. Beef, pork, grain, butter, eggs, &C.
may without known reason, fall or rise 10
wenty four hours from to 30 per cent Inc
decisions of the Board of Trade Of Chicago
are supreme, and without reason known F."
outsiders, and now seem able to say TO then
why do ye So"
Your market may vary slightly from day .,
day, but generally nearly uniform from wees
to week with upward or downward tende p'
oies, according to supplies or demands bu
here there is as much uniformity as the lT
terest Of the Board of Trade requires auu
farmers are more at their mercy than the san
class in the East are at the mercy of specu''
tors With these things to contend VIII
is wonder that Illinois has settled as raP'
ly as it has. But the most extrayagan'
counts are published of its fertility and ca
iraordinary productions which seem to oh"D
men at distance and induce them to leo"
steady homes for the excitement and comp,
ton for advantages in the great sea OF '''
west Yours huriied't