Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-04-12
ABOUT FARMS AND FRUIT LANDS.


ETY. of soil and climate, and nearness to markets,
can be found elsewhere in the world, than are now
offered to actual settlers by the Illinois Central
Railroad Company. These lands are all within
the limits of illinois, aptly termed the Garden
State of America" They are located all along
the line of its railway lin no instance at greater
distance than fifteen miles,, which extends from
Dunleith down through the centre of the State
to Cairo with a branch $50 miles long from
Chicago to Centrala-altogether length OF 705
miles
The rapid development of the 40 counties
touched by the Illinois Central Railway line, is
shown by the following census returns In 1850
their population was 351 Ssz. in $780, SAB 914 and
IN 1866, l,l27,00I. Within ten years the company
has sold 1555,OO0 acres to more than Is, 900 pur-
chasers, and no actual settler has lost his home
through harsh treatment on the part of the COM
panY. Where indulgence has been deserved
it has been extended to meet the wants of the
farmer.
Illinois lies between parallels of latitude go and
40 N, and has all the diversity Of climate to be
found between Norfolk, in Virginia, and Albany,
in New York. 1t has area of $1,000 square
miles, and contains AS 900 inhabitants. Although
only about one seventh of Its tillabe have
been placed under cultivation, it's agricultural pro-
ducts exceed that of any other State. Its soil is
cropped for p years successfully, require neither
manure nor fertilizers Of any kind. The north
ern portion abounds in minerals, and the mines
of Gaena noted for their wealth in lead.
The dairy business is here carried on with great
success.
In the central part is found the deep black prairie
loan, which produces the staple production OF
the State in great abundance. Stalks Of corn Is
feet high, and grown on this soil have been for
warded to the great Paris Exposition.
Farther south are smaller prairies, interpreted
with timber, which produce the best of winter
wheat, tobacco, fax, hemp, and fruit; and from
thence toward Cairo the lands are more heavily
timbered, and the raising of cotton, tobacco sweet
potatoes castor-beans, and the manufacture oflum
Der, yield large returns
In many parts of the State those wonderful foun
tans of artesian water easily obtained by boring
from 25 to 100 feet This water slightly is impreg
mated with iron, though hardly perceptible to the
palate, and the person animal using il becomes
healthy and robust
The great advantage presented to the purchaser
of Illinois Central Railroad lands is in the direct
and cheap communication which the producer has
with the best markets of the world-in summer to
Chicago and by the great lakes east in winter, to
Cairo, and by the Mississippi river, south. These
lands are adapted to all the varied productions of
the temperate zone and from their rich, deep soil
yield with less labor, and in much greater abund
ance, the crops common to New England and the
Middle States.
1t is well known fact that the farmers of Illinois
are steadily growing into financial independence,
for there is no portion of the world where all the
conditions OF climate and soil so admirably COM
bine to produce the great staples of and wheat
and no where can the husbandman rely upon surer
returns for his labor. Among the most profitable
sources of wealth that of cattle raising 1t is
conceded that the best beef in America is that fat
tened on the prairies of Illinois.
Old farmers from Ohio, Indiana, and the densely
settled portions Of other States understand this and
sending their sons, selling their more valua-
BILE farms, and themselves cmigrating to the land
that presents such unsurpassed advantages for this
branch of industry.
A considerable portion of lands particularly
adapted to this business lie on the Chicago Branch,
from 90 to 140 miles from the great market of Chi
cago, in the center of the corn belt where the
range Tor grazing is free and extensive, hay can be
had for the cutting and stacking, and artesan wa
ter obtained.
Another and easier way of making money out OF
the soil is in the culture of fruits. The heart OF
the fruit of the Mississippi Valley is Egyptian
Illinois. Here the soil contains elements which
produce fruit spontaneously, and the climate is so
kind to its growth that crop seldom If fails.
The facilities for sending to market (the Illinois
Central Railroad furnishing special train for the
businessl, and the never-supplied demand obtains
for the laborer bountiful reward for his patience
and industry, iCich are The heaCier portions Of the
capital required Golden fortunes have been
made and the field is still open for like greater
results.
Besides small fruits, peaches, pears and grapes
of the finest quality yield luxuriantly, and large
quantities are shipped North at an immense profit
The early ripening of fruit here enables the grow
to command the high prices of the first OF the
season in Chicago, ST Louis and the Northwest
From single station, last season, there was for
warded over the road "A, 900 bushels OF strawber
ries and 6s, 600 boxes of peaches, besides large
quantities of other fruits.
Nine hundred thousand acres in al of the com.
pany's lands remain unsold and these in every
spcct are equal to those already disposed Of These
lands may be reached from the East and West by
any Of the lines OF transportation crossing the
Illinois Central Railway at either Odin, Sandoval,
Nation, Pana, Tolono, Decatur Gilman E. Paso,
Mendoza, Dixon. All Station Agents the
road are provided with plats, showing the lands for
sale in their vicinity.
The price of these lands vary from So to $12 and
upward per acre. and they are sold on short credit,
Tor cash a QeductlOn OF Ten per cent from the
short credit price is made to those who buy for
cash. For instance:
Forty at IS per acre, short credit the
principal, one quarter cash down-baance, one,
two and three years, at six per cent interest, in
advance, each year.
Interest. Principal.
Cash payment. -..-............ Sl4.40 5000
Payment in one year, ........... 800 5000
!" two years. 40 5000
's three years 5000
Or, the same lands may be purchased for sass in
cash.
The title to these lands is clear and in fee simple
from the State. For full information all points,
together with maps showing the exact locality OF
all lands, sold or VI sold address, or call ON
LAND COMMISSIONER,
Illinois Central X. r. Co.
IS Michigan Avenue, CHICAGO, Ill.
RIELCQ SHoT=HenrY Ward Reecher.