The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-11-06

kS@~e siOWly ONor tne riCn pasture-nelusi tue
stacks Of golden grain the vast fields Of
corn, reaching far beyond the scope of vis-
Ion; the busy farmers, tbreShing their har-
vest, aud the rural laSses, engaged in theit
various occupations, are all objects Of inter-
est. As be passes through Illinois, he does
not realize the fact that, but little more
than thirty years have passed since the 6rst
white man trOd her soil aud as he passes
over her broad prairies, he imnglnes that
centuries have been consumed in preparing
such vast fields for cultivation He wonders
where the innumerable towns and villages de-
riTe support; what I'll the monster buildings
labelled Elevntor;P what yonder long and
numbering tram of cars are laden with. For
an answer, be 10 told that the country is rich,
4 aud demands even larger towns that the
farms are covered with golden wheat fcldS /;
and the elevators" are but little buckets
that descend TO an unfailing well, and COM
ing up, empty their contents into the moving
graneries that make up the long trains of
cars that move East and South to market.
Enterprise makes everything. Steam aud
electricity drive the machinery.
II any OF your readers wish to get just
conception OF our eOuutrys greatness, lie.
them visit the great West, and note its towns
and villages starting up, Phenix like, into
busy life--the commerce whitening its lakes
and riv.rs--the great streams crossing and
SMALL ones coasting along Che shores, bearing
in all directions their curgoes Of enterprise
and wealth and let him reflect, that ALI this
has sprung into existence within century
and he then can forccas: the future, and see
in the present the hope OF generations.
The City Of Lincoln, from whence writo
you, 10 situated on the Chicago, Alton & ST.
Louis Rail Road, about midway between
Chicago aud ST. Louis. The situation Of the
City ia one Of great beauty, being surround
ed by a beautiful, undula,iug country, in
which forty-three years ago the first white
man settled. Imagination can scarcely paint
the gorgeous beauty Of this valley, as 1t must
then have appeared to the eye, with its clear,
| rocky rivers meanderiog through the richest
and most productive country in the world.
The silence Of nature was then unbroken by
the noise and din Of civilization. The Illni
and Fox Indians padded their birch canoes
on the broad waterI of the Illineis this,
with al occasional frightened deer bounding
over the prAiries, or the howl Of the wolf,
was all that disturbed the silence of the un-
broken wild-where now, the shrek of the
locomotive and steamboat mingling together
in sympathetic unison, proclaim the onward
strides of progress. The name of Lincoln
was formerly Postville, but was changed to
its present name IN honor Of Illinois proudest
sOn-Abraham Lincoln.
In minerals, believe there is nothing
found OF any great value, except coal, which
is seen jutling out on every side indeed,
there is no liuit to the supply Of excellent
coal, which is so much cheaper than wood
that it is used in almost every house--in
many localities, il may be had for the digging.
AS an agricultural district, Illinois presents
equal advantages, ut least, and to many, su-
perior advantages, compared with other
States. The clinatc is good aud the pro-
duets vAried-wheat, oats, corn, barley, rye,
and, in fact, all the cereals doing well. The
farmer Of to-day will gather his crop of
wealth early. Furmeily, the market for farm
produce was on the NIsissipPi--now, i, is
at bis door. The Opening OF the diii'etens
lines Of Rail Roads through The State, in Sv-
cry direction, has given the farmer market
for everything be has to sell, at bis door.
Grisi-mills, Woolen.faetores, Machine.
shops, and other manufacturing enterprises,
are scattered through the State in great pro.
fusion. SO, the mechanic may hnd ready and
profitable employment in any direction he
may choose TO turn bis hand.
The school privileges Of oil the Western
States are excellent; school houses are built |
aad children educated at the public eIpeuse'
The child OF poor labOring man stands an
equal chance with the child Of the million !
aire. The beauty Of this system exhibits
itseI. in the general intelligence Of the Vest
era people. The press, church and school
privileges Of oil countries determine their
moral character. Ths visitor 10 the West
has Ouly to note the predOminencs Of all
three in this State TO establish the fac, that
the morals Of It's people are Of the bighesi
order The scenery aad early ossocistiOnS
here have contributed to ibis end, II we may
credit the quite prsyaIsn. theory IN this re-
speet The spirit Of ChriSlIanity draws man
into nearer communlon With nature, and
sosbiea him to feel the tnspiru,ion Of her
hiddsn life. Shelley was not believer, yet
We 6nd bin, when brought into inlimase
eommuniop With nature, uhconsciouSly in
fu,lng into hi, productions Spiri, Of Chris
tiani,y. The best minds Of modern times
have slriyvu 20 grasp the depth Of natural
beauty. wordswor,h hears, 10 the outward
World
"Tbs sini small taios oi hnmanity."
and 6BdI, in commubiou win nAlare,
"a pfasns, thA, dlsiarbs him viih ths ioy
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