The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-06-30
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the West.
NINA 4 ta.aaa IenaaMa

Perhaps few Western cities afford a better point
Of observation than Indianapolis. Il Il inland
has no water communication, is not q manuiac-
turing centre and Il not favorably situated for
controlling an exienaive Wholesale and shipping
trade. Hence IL growth Is more likely 10 be
identical with the deveopement Of the coun-
try around IL, than that Of river city like Gin
cinnath or ST. Louis, or lake city like Chicago,
or manufacturing centre like Pittsburg. De
pending mainly upon the agricultural resources
OF the section 10 which Il iives its increase has
been slower and steadier. Yet men are to-day
doing business In this, a city Of 80. 600 nhabi.
tanis, who saw the ground upon which Il stands
when Il was tenanicd only by the aborigines Of
the forest.
Nine Railroads radia,e from here TO all points
Of the compass, crowded with passengers and
bearing the rich products Of their several Sec
tons 10 their destined markets. The stranger
feels nj once that he Is In a great city. Horse
cars carry him through most VI the principal
streets. The streets themselves are vide, clean.
and well.paved with boulders taken from the
bed Of the White river, on the east bank OF
which the city Is built. The people are brisk
restless active. The rush aud clatter Of business
are heard on all sides. The stores are large aud
gotten up IN the best style. The letter class Of
private residences arc chiefly 0n the suburbs aud
arr models Of elegance. cOniott aud good taste,
sarmounted with ornamental shruhbcry that
gives them an air Of courtly rcposr scldom to he
found Ia city OF such recent origin.
Not only IN material prosperity aud actual
growth. may indianapolis be taken ~ a fair spc-
eimen Of the West. but equally - ia ihOsc en-
largcd aud humane charities Tor which the West
cru people ARE dcsrrvedly NOTED Large. atirac.
tive and thoroughly furnished institutions are
located here Tor the instruction ~ the Hind the
Deaf aud Damb aud for the care ni the insane
and pauper Here too are the State Inivcrsity
the Indiana Asbury University. besides several
Female Summaries. all Of high order ol schOi-
afship. The State itself has made liberal proVi-
sion for the education oi her sous. the income
OF a permanent fund Of over four million dollars
with an annual tax Of sixteen cents per hundred
dollars on the real aud personal property Of the
State, 20 To the support OF u thorough and we'll
organized system OF Pubiic Free Schools. Each
Township is likewise furnished by the school
Department with public Library OF standard
historical, literary aud scientific books for free
circulation among the people. The city supports
four daily newspapers, three English and one
German, besides a number Of secular aud Felig-
ious weeklie> The largest aud most ilourishing
printing and publishing establishment is that al
the Journal which has ALWAYS hecn an able aud
fearless advocate ofloyaliy and Union We paid
visit TO the Office during our stay ia town. and
found /, well furnished with lIuc and Adams
presses, aud doing large amount Of Book and
Soo Itiuunk. Auc CITY Is well s~Nltitd Win
good Hotels. has an extensive Rolling Mill for
the manufacture Of Rail Road iron. with agricul.
tural implement aud other factories ofless impor.
iance. The General Government. by a recent
act Of Congress. has purchased eighty acres Of
ground near tue city, on which II Is erecting a
large aud magnificent Arsenal Tor the use " thu
Ordinance Department
Indiana ranks among the first states 90 the
Union for patriotic devotion during the late war.
Hes eka
her people among the most loyal and lnyiclding
She bears on her proud record the names Of such
men ~ Maj. Gen. Alvin i. lloyey. Col \ H.
StTtight Of Libby Prison nototcty and Others Of
equal fame. la spite Of the teaching. OF such mcn
as Hendricks aud VOORHEES,, the State has remain.
ed true TO the principles the great Union party
Politically II has always been aCios. State Even
those familiar with her politics rarely venture
much on the result Of general election Il Z.
confidently hoped, however. that IN the coming
election tor members o. Congrcss and several
important State officers. the Union candidates
gi! b. chOs,u
Stepping outside Of lndiauapoli, "a any d..
recion, the traveller finds himself ia one ~ the
finest agricultural sections Of the Wet Though
paFtaklng Of the generally leve, character of the
country, the land IS sufficiently rolling TOT thor.
ough drainage Consequently there !, les ten
dency 20 aggc and similar d..aasts here than
where siagnant pools and mAsshc. abound 80
This section Was originally VERY heavily wooded.
but enough has been cleared 20 prcsrnt pleas
ing variety o. Landscape. Within IL radius ~
ten miles from the city the farm. range from
~ 10 LOO acres In extent. They afc wel.icuccd.
furnished with tasteful and substantial dwellings
and such farm buildings ~ are necessary
where stock j. rarely housed throughout Tia.
wear and all crops prepared for market q, .oon
as harvested. \ noticeable feature Is the tic
gancc aud taste displayed IN the erection and
adOrnment Of the country residence The teO-
pie seem 10 take special pride IN healtifying their
homes and surrounding them with all he ~.
fractions OF sylvan adornm,ni
Along the water courses aud even elsewhere
from four 10 six feet below the surface lies a bed
~ gravel This material is used 'of covering
the prominent roads the country and makes "A
firm and durable track for wagons
The thorough system Of Rail Road cnmmuni.
cation through the West, makes the land here
highly valuable for agricultural purposes Il Is
Of the most productive quality and the proximi,,
10 good market, assurvs COOL price. in the
farmer. Within two or three miles of The city.
small tracts sell for from $3.50 20 : $50 per acre
and Sl00 Per acre Is not an unusual price Tor
farms j. ing ten or more miles from the Ciiy.--
le, within sight Of the city one may sin see the
rude cabins Of the original settlers. built u un.
bewn logs, with single chamber which serves
all the purpose Of kitchen. bedroom, and Jarlor
for = large family, entered by single door hung
On wooden hinges, III by a window ~ four plnes.
and the whole establishment covered with shin.
giles spill, from the forest around
The timber Is chiefly poplar. beech. walnut.
oak and maple, and the bottom lands Of the
W hiie river bear some magnificent specimens @.
these several species A. q saw mill near India
napolis the other day, We noticed "a number ~
walnut and poplar logs. measuring over four
ect ia diameter. Most Of the buildings are CON
'truoted entirely Of wood, and this T. also the
principal fuel. The coal for manufacturing pur-
poses q chiefly brought from the Ohio mines.
The Eastern traveller cannot fail to b. impress.
ID with the inherent greatness aud rapid devcl-
DpFnent Of this Western country Every train
brings succeeding wave Oi sturdy etnigrants,
strong in health and hope vigorous in action.
,hrewd In business and loyal 10 the institution
Df our free country. Every day Is Fastening a
realization whose grandeur and glory never en-
tered into the most exaggerated visions Of the
fathers who laid the foundations ~ Freedom aud
unity on the Western Continent. l. NJ n