Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-12-16
FIR the Journal and stAts.mAa.
Letter from Decatur, Illinois.


may be valuable to many persons. and
interesting to all -
DECATUR, December 1, 1864.
Ivm. McCaHlley, Esq. Friend of
Forty Yedys Pest.
When had the
pleasure OF seeing you in August last, YOU
made many enquiries respecting the city
of Decatur, where l reside, and the West
| all of which then was not able to answer
to my own satisfaction and although /
may notnow answer them fully, hope to
impart such information as may be yalu.
able to yourself and others who may
desire il.
lhls city contains between 1000 and
G,OOO inhabitants. To manage its mu-
niclpal affairs we have Mayor, eight
Councllmen, Clerk, Attorney, Marshal.
and Aid. Nine to eleven hundred bows
and girls at school, under the supervision
and care OF three school directors and
nineteen teachers. Six male, and thirteen
female, with salaries from 5000 to $1,000
per annum; and allow me to say, that
the energy, efficiency and intelligence of
the directors, teachers and progress of
the pupils, would do credit to any of your
Eastern cities. We have three Steam
Mills; two Of them have on hand this day
25,0O0 bushels Of wheat and corn can
manufacture 200 barrels of -four in "a
hours, which has good reputation even
in New York, to which city it often finds
its way, although transportation is con
siderable; however, st. Louis and Chicago
are the usual markets, being Eve hours
from the former and ten hours from the
latter, and freight about the same TO
either place. We have sixteen lawyers
some eminent, Others stationary, and
others again rising. They are quite
equal perhaps to those OF any other place
OF equal size, but you know abhor liti-
CATION. and would sooner be placed ON an
open Prairie, ten miles from any habita.
tlon in u rain 6r snow storm than be en-
gagged in law suits. We have "a disciples
of Escnlapus who stand about as the
Attorneys, but indulge me to say, there is
one under my roof who by experience, /
can speak OF as possessing talent, know
ledge, skill, and experience in an eminent
degree. Our wheat crops average from
10 to 25 bushels per acre In conse
quence OF the severe winter, that sown in
the autumn was not SO productive as that
sown in the Spring-in fact our crop of
Spring wheat was abundant some fields
yielding thirty bushels per acre. Our
corn crop is fine, yielding frsm 40 to 65
bushels per acre Many farmers have
sold their crops standing in the field, un-
gathered, for twenty-five dollars per acre.
inc purchaser to gather it, or turn cattle
IN II as he chooses This is nearly paying
for the land, with one crop Indeed,
many have more than paid for their land
with one crop. Two crops would pay
for almost any land near the Great West.
en Railroad which runs through this
place, y real industrious farmer could
pay for almost any farm at present prices.
in two or three years; the price of farms
range from SIS to $50 per acre. depend.
ing upon proximity to railroad highly
improved, with fine buildings, are worth
more.
Produce rates as follows Wheat per
bushel, sl.50; corn, 60 cents; potatoes,
Sl,5O; turnips, 40 cents cabbage. G
cents head; butter, 40 cents pound
hogs on foot, $ll00 per hundred eggs,
20 cents per dozen; lard, % cents Der
j pound onions, 50 25 per bushel; oats
GO cents; timothy hay, $500; prairie
hay, ~ to $40 per ton. With such price,
any real farmer could purchase farm al
sSO per acre and pay for it in one year
The land is SO rich that it never needs
s manuring, in the experience of our oldes
farmers. We have eleven churches o.
different denominations with an atten
+ dance OF from sixty to four hundred each
II Ing ministers are exemplary and pious
and some of them eloquent and profound
Ten dry goods stores whose annual sale
are from 100000 to 100000, one @
Which has for the last seven years sole
II 100000 annually. Sixteen grocer,
stores whose sales annually are from
j. $4,000 to $4,000. Three hard-war
,r stores selling from $4,000 to SIS, ,OOt
annually. -Four boot and shoe store
that sell from $4,000 to sG0 900 annual
~ -Four clothing stores, vending fror
$4,000 to $4,000 per annum. Fiy
drug stores selling from $4,000 to $40
uOU per annum, these are fitted up wit
: such elegant taste as to vie with such el
n Establishments in the largest cities. l
u speaking of sales per annum mean ths
n- each establishment sells to the amour
N mentioned. We have one fur store doin
~, ~ large business. Three fine hote
!" which tor accommodating landlords, ell
Ne gance, comfort, cleanliness, grubb an
p. bedding cannot well be excelled No on
le could lind fault except an ignoramus, {
n. one unaccustomed to the creature cor
>, forts of this life. Two book and statio
H. cry stores, doing aourishng busines
o. Three bakeries, where good bread can
ST. had, and which are making money.
he pump factory, employing from ten (
,rs twelve hands, no doubt making mon,
10 from punctuality and indefatigabe O
O. tention to business Eight eleanly al
he thrifty butcher shops. Two iron lou
nj dries doing large business. An agI
od cultural implement manufacturing esta
lishment, employing one hundred al
iiity hands, with prospects of largely i
ed creasing its business on account of j
us creased attention to agriculture. o
r. undertaken or coffin maker, who does |
=. business SO neatly and we'll, that l ha
."' never heard that a single complaint h
Its be uttered by any one for whom he h
Of made garment. Three livery stabl,
lii well managed and making money. Thr
a banks, one national, all doing a lar
- business and making money. We have
o' Soldiers Aid Society, that has been fai
la- fully ut work for the last three years,
lee tending tile blessings of care comfort
M consolation, to the heroic defenders
~ thnir nnnntrr -GnI Ila.a Il. l. il 1