The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-07-20
A. P. r.

good for those who like it,
| APR.
CHICAGO, Saturday, July 16, 1864
! 1t was my intention to come home to-
night, but now am not certain about it,
and hence I write you-not particularly
for publcation-but because want to keep
bright the chain of intercourse between
myself and the Narrow City, known com.
mcrcially as the Gem Of the Mississippi.
To day is very hot. The sun seems to
have put himself in the best possible shape
to pour his rays upon the heads of the
struggling mortals who are hurrying
through the world only to find too soon a
goal in DEATH. Isn't it strange how fast
people want to 60 toward that dreaded place
which ends all earthly aspirations and opens,
possibly, theatre Of action not precisely
such as our parents in their prayers hoped
we might figure on? But life is filled with
contradictions, and the best we can do is
to observe, without worrying ourselves to
account for them. Many poor souls live
in perjury that they may leave fortunes to
quarrelling and thankless heirs. Many
neglect good private business which rem.
ders them independent, to run for an Office
that enslaves them and pays less than the
individual trade or occupation to which
they have been educated. Many get mar
ried who are Of so rambling nature that
double harness does not fit them; while
others of domestic turn and, to appear
ance, having the elements of most excellent
Benedicts, remain outside the Court of
Hymen as fearfully as though there was
something there calculated to destroy the
last vestige of manly independence: (noth.
ing personal intended, "pard.") And thus
it goes. The world, if Moses was correct
in history, was blunder from the start
The Creator did not intend Eve should eat
that apple, else, as kind Father, he would
have put it out of her reach when such
mighty consequences of sorrowful char.
acter were to follow in the train of Disobe
dience: at any rate this is my theology.
The excitement of Thursday was moths
ing to what it was on Friday. WHEAT from
Thursday evening, at the Sherman House,
fell 10 to 13 cents, and carried in its fall
hundreds Of men who were forced to sell at
whatever price their holders or bankers
chose to name. In other words when your
margin runs out on grain and you cannot
put up additional security for farther de-
cline, your checks may as well be handed
in as that is the last mile you can travel on
the road Of Confidence. What day or
two may bring forth nobody knows. I
begin this on Friday P. NJ, and will keep
it open until see what to morrow may do
toward farther depressing or elevating the
market. Gold, since the pressure was taken
eff of Washington, has declined steadily
and rapidly, touching on Change at -,
Friday, as low as 242 and dull Every
effort is making by the new Secretary of
the Treasury to elevate Government secu-
rites, and every aid is lent him by the
National Banks whose existence depends
SO closely on the integrity Of the Govern
ment. The Secretary in this matter is
guided by the worthiest motives, but
whether he, with all the aids now in the
field, can secure any more than mere tempo
lary relief, remains to be seen. 1t is not the
general opinion that he can, though it is al.
most the universal hope that he may because
on his success, or rather on the preserva-
ton of government paper at nearly par,
depends all any of US have for the future.
Let it run down to 1000 per cent. and all
business will cease, labor will be unemploy.
ed and bread-riots, such as often disgrace
Europe, will be the rule here. Success
then to Fessenden if he has hit upon a
plan, more than temporary, to keep us in
shape through the present fearful crisis
There is certainly nothing in the military
position which justfes gold decline, and
hence the cause is attributable to Sec'y.
Fessenden, the Banking interests and their
joint efforts to make currency as close as
possible. 1t takes nearly three times as
much money now to carry produce as it
did years ago, and the banks have fine
opportunity to apply the screws to these
who have depended on them. Time will
tell US all about it. Yesterday wheat sold
at $500 to 200 against $9,18 and 2,2O the
night before. These 18 cents decline
absorbed a good many margins aad the
wheat passed into brokers' hands at the
small figures. Sad faces about town indi-
Gated the fall, but the intelligence was
cheered vociferously on Change yesterday
and by many men too who didn't "see if"
in as comfortable light as they wished.
The crops from Madison to Chicago are
all light Wheat is short, thin and patch
ed all over with chinch bug spots (faded
stalks) Of an dcre to ten acres: the corn
adjoining wheat fields is also beginning to
show signs Of the ravagesof this pest
Oats are very short but look healthy short
oats cannot bear heavy heads. Corn looks
well but not forward enough to put it out
of the way Of the September frosts. Hay
| is better than expected to see it, the lowest
| lands being very greatly improved BY the
late rains.
The N. Western Road is splendid one.
The "pantalets," the ladies will pardon