St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-01-11
CHICAGO LETTER.

- X. CHICAGO, ILL Dec. 80, 1865.
DEAR EplToE:-* *;* INN, trip from
Chicago to Rock Island, passed over some
very beautiful country and = number Of
thriving and handsome towns, villages and
some young cities. Among gthe largest and
most hourishing are Joliet, La Selle: Peru
aud Rock Island. Joliet produces sone Of
the incest building stone to be found any
where, and it is just the place where i -ppe.ff ppe.ff-
son could exactly suit him sell. in IN iu-
posing stone. La Selle and Peru are pre-
ducing coal in large quantities, end Tor
that matter, Sheffield, q little town forty-fve
miles from Rock Island is not behind them
in .that commodity. left the track 1t .he'
last named spot, and made . journey some
twenty an niles across the country, by aslox
er conveyance than the steam horse. Ia tie
beautiful little city of Princeton. Prom
one pOint, TO the otLer vas originally IN
pnbreken, and no doubt 6ne-looking prai-
RE, but now it is an endless corn-tield, and
fro:h the distance between houses, 7 should
judge that each farm contained 200 or 800
acres. pon inquiry, L found but few of
the farmers in that section of conntry,oWn-
Cd their lands; ali, or nearlJall, Mers rent
cd, each man giving one-third Of the crop
for the use Of the land. There seemed. 70
be no sociabihty existing among the inhab-
itants; Of this region-each man looking ont
for No: !, and caring little what becomes Of
any or all the rest AS far as my observx--
ton vent; l5sheuld. not take the farmers
On thatsroute to be the most sintel elhsentor
enlightened class that can DO found. News
papers do not seem to be necessary to their
happiness; blt corn, cattle and same Are, iy
and with these Hthey seem to- be- satisfied.
From the appearance of the people, Que
would imagine that Illinois is not the
healthiest State that can be found ana .,
visit TO any Of tie numerous grave yards,
will convince the most skeptical that n.Any,
many, many have found their last reating
place on the fertile plains of Illinois, 4
large proportion Of these seem to be young
peeple. In fact here are but few heafthy,
robust,' fresh-loeking people 70 bes, ,smet
with in the southern part Of the State, and
yes the eprai'ie lands there, where coal has
to be hauled fro,a .0:to 100 miles byswskun
is wp:ahsfro,m S225iro $40 per acre. me oh
er fuel.toi be liad2 there Tore ethe,neeessitvuof
hauling coal offar: But If. Z had to ch6ose
between taking a quarter or half f:section.of
land in this part Of the State for nothing
land live. son%it-or paying 326sp per aSre
for the same amount in Minnesota, should
most assuredly take that in .Minnesosasa-
'Aal the land Of illlinois5 would not pays8er
the loss of health and then 1 cannok sec
that the land IS as productive as stAatz in
sMinnesotas lis true; good corn 7cau be
raised: here, also good cattle;T but their
wheat ,hiysy year is. not worth grinding. sand
their .potatoesi are not to be, eompared with
those raised in Minnesota; in factsI .haye
seen but few lthatar .6t to eats Oeta IRE.
fair. bptenot extra, sAad. SO it is with most
crops except. laorn, .aud that can't. be sur
passed .t,a. Tf45ggfi, s.as, on fssS:ss5 s.fFsas
s.s5 Chicago, though, is q city, ,that tho State
may well he proud Of, and. + doubt Il, more
enterprising citIzens can. be, found in any
city IN the, Union.s Itis declined to b one
ofAmerica' 8 greatest, commercial icitiss.-
But 4 have. made this.v (which. l. intended
for. Init. - short note far. too. lopg, and.
will close ;hy saying chat With, AopeJo see-
ing youand old Minnesota ere,lan& Ire
sfnaans asseSers s5ss.ssi II. .sss..s
..s stE.e.. Truly your friend, ,s. as.s-
~ - GEO. W.BENBDltE