The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-02-14

'otu " eUuteF-IOVd BttHG -1SyGUDl-Rdit-
roads JTheat-Scarciy Of Timber
'SchooJs-Great SRoO Storm, dc.
BENTON Co., Iowa, Jan. 2lth 1867.
Mr.. EDITOR Seeing in your paper the
letters of "Mary B." and others, made me
think, that I would like to chat awhile
with your readers. We are a good deal
further north than you, and consequently
have colder weather during the winter
months, than you have in sold Highland. :"
This winter has been tolerably mild, how
ever, though last week the thermometer
went down to twenty degrees below zero.
Your correspondent, "Mary b" men
toned the fact that the Lunatic Asylum is
located at Mount Pleasant We have the
Blind Asylum at Vinton, our county seat.
1 have never visited it yet, though at diff
ferent times I've seen specimens of the pu-
Pills work. They are taught to read, 1.-THE
raised letters,) and are also taught some
trades, whereby they can gain a support.
They make baskets, broOms and brushes
of different kinds, and some of the females
are very skillful in making ornamental
lead work and worsted work. They are
are also taught instrumental and vocal
music, and numbers of them become quite
proficient.
We have no Railroad communication as
yet with the outer world, but we have a
prospect that we will before long hear the
"whistle Of the locomotive" on our prai-
ries. There is a road under contract and
the bed graded, from Vinton to Cedar
Rapids, in Linn Co., and as soon rs spring
opens, the contractors will commence law
ing the ties, and it is now expected that it
will be finished in time to take away the
crop of Wheat the coming season. We
have no winter Wheat here, but spring
Wheat scarcely ever fails.
The greatest objection to this part OF
Iowa, urged by Eastern people, is the want
Of timber. There are some few groves,
scattered through the prairie, but the main
body Of timber is along the Cedar river
and there are some farmers who have to
haul their timber for fencing and fuel, as
much as twenty miles. There is consider
able excitement, caused by the report that
there is pcnt to be found in nearly all our
.'sloughs." Some, it is said, have tried it,
and it burns we'll; though machinery is
lacking yet, for compressing it.
Schools are abundant here. Every two
miles square comprises school district
and when it is settled, has its schoolhouse
This part of Iowa is settling up very fast
| Land is rapidly increasing in value. Raw
prairie lands are changing hands at from
eight to ten dollars per acre. Vacant
houses, and houses to rent, are very scarce
and it is no uncommon thing, especially
in our town, 70 find two and three families
in one small house. This part fthe coun.
ty has only been settled some twelve ol
| thirteen years, consequently it cannot
boast of as many improvements as some oI
the older portions Of the State.
Jan. 9Th. Since writing the above, We
have been having grand storm of wind
and snow. 1t commenced showing Thurs
day night, and yesterday morning it lay
drifted in all manner of rantustical shapes
Since then the wind has been blowing all
the time aud changing the drifts, driving
them in every direction. The snow is,
believe, on the open prairie, where it does
not drift so much, about IA inches deep
Around houses and out-buildings, tn,
drifts are in some places six and eight feet
high, and other places entirely bare
Tonight the stars are shining brightly
over head, but Boreas still comes Sweepng
along, making one shiver just to hear him
But lest weary your patience, III stop
and at some other time I may tell you
something more Of our prairie home.
HAWEENE.