Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-19

the Maramec, which is river larger than the
Wnooski. The head waters are in pine region
and before the War large quantities of lumber
we're RATED down to market from the numerous
saw-mills upon It's banks.
Leaving the Pacific Railroad, at Franklin, the
South West branch runs nearly all the way on q
high dividing ridge, which is the poorest land in
the State, and serves to give bad impression tc
those who are on first visit, although but q
short distance on either eide we come to good
land and cultivated farms. At some points the
view is extensive in all directions while the line
Of the horizon is almost level.
Arriving at i, R,la, which 10 perhaps half as
large as Montpelier, but incorporated and quite
brisk business place, it being the present ter
minus Of the railroad, which will probably be
soon extended to Springfield, as the grading is
well along and the masonry Of the bridges nearly
completed Wishing to know abou. the Govern
ment land in this region, proceeded to the Land
Office of Maj. G. 7. Walker, and making known
my business ! was afforded every facility by the
oblging Agent and his assistants lie has pats
Of every township for many miles around, show
ing at glance all TIE water COURSES and where
the vacant land lies Tor there Is large amount
Of Government land IN the vicinity which has
never been taken up, and can be entered at a
trialug expense under the Homestead Act to
actual settlers eighty acres within SIX miles Of
the railroad or one hundred and sixty outside Of
railroad limits Il can also be preemp;ed to any
amount at s.. so or Sl.2j per acre. Then each
alternate section within six miles Of the railroad
has been granted to the Railroad Company, and
this will be in market soon at nominal price,
80 there 4 great plenty OF land Tor settlers for
years to come, but Of course those who come now
have tho beet chance to select The Major has
men who make j! their business, and are well
posted, employed in locating land under the
Homestead Ac. Tor persons who cannot come
out at present thus securing the best Of Gov
ernment land for them, a far less expense than
butJ Syul4 4OJA ~ Jul LJA tucm'tNeoi hnQ luey
can come on and take possession at any time
within six months Now about the land The
rich bottom, and prairie lands, and water privi-
iegcs, have nearly all been taken for years, and
some Of them are held az almost fabulous prices
ior the West while very many OF the improved
farms can be bought quite cheap, some for less
than the improvements cost, cash down. About
the bes. way Tor a settler here would be to buy
small improved farm with Government land
adjoining that he could enter or preempt, thus
giving him good start and plenty OF land to
spread himself on in the future The Govern
ment land about here is mostly what is called
upland, and the old inhabitants cal 1t of no ac
count, aa they canno. raise large crops on it year
after year without manurlng, but with little
manure and one half the labor expended upon
farms in the East, would make perfect Paradise
OF it, and even as it is, there is no better land in
the country for stock farms, especially for sheep,
which can be raised here with but little care or
feeding through the Winter, as there is but little
snow aud the land is but scatterlngly timbered
and grown up to tall wild grass which makes
good pastuEing. The way they clear this land,
is to eirdle the trees, which are mostly oak and
walnut, and plow up the land among them, af-
terwards the dead trees can be removed at their
leisure
This land is also excellent for all kinds OF
fruit which grows abundanty, grapes and peach
os doing better than on the low lands This is
great country for fruit and vegetables. Last
week, at a farmers, helped eat Of mush-me-
on which | bad weighed before it was cut, and
it went twenty-one pounds, while the man had
several more nearly as large He had sold over
one thousand water melons from two acres Of
land that he had never manuied-had about as
many more and be called it very poor seasons for
melons. Cotton grows very we'll here The peo
pie raise it for their own use, and work it up in
the family, as farmers do their wool in the East.
The country Is well watsrei, and good liring
springs are abundant, except on the high land
where they obtain water by sinking wells at a
moderate depth, or from cisterns which are con-
stFuctsd without any cement at small expense.
Proceeding Yves: about ten miles, you strike
the Gasconade, which Is larger than the Mara
nee and has several large branches one, the Big
Piuey, had about twenty saw mills on it previous
to the War in full operation, and they will be
started again soon. What is needed here now
is large Touring mill, and it would be good
Investment for some Eastern capitalist as the
farmers now have to 90 twenty miles to have
their wheat ground. The country is perfectly
settled about here now-n0 danger in the least
from guerilas or bushwhac6ers, and line OF
stages start daily for Springfield one hundred aud
ten miles distant, The climate is very even the
heat of summers tempered with cool breezes,
and tho winters are mild with but little snow, and
quite healthy. Consumption and rheumatism
are almos: unknown. IL is peculiarly adapted
to persons coming from the Eis;, and with the
State settled with these people, with nearly all
its vast mineral resources yet to be developed
i. bids fair in few years to bo the leading State
/ in the West. H.R.
NEW ENGLAND REmcs AT Mechanic
Fair lately held at San Francisco, there was a
New England kiIohen, in which Aunt Susan, -
! the hnnsnk keener. had on nrhihitinn Tho na,r,a.