The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1868-07-23
For the DEMOCRAT.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
NUMBER I.

by rail from Chicago to Clinton, Iowa;
partly for the purpose of seeing the coun-
try, and partly to visit friends who live in
Lee and Whiteside courtics, Illinois. As
the face of the country and the manner
Of farming are so different from what they
are in Marshall, it has occurred to us that
it might, in some degree, interest that por-
ton of the readers Of THE DEMOCRAT
who have never seen those extensive prai-
ries, with their thousands of cat;le, to give
a brief description ,of the country over
which we passed.
Taking train on the Northwestern
railroad, we left Chicago at SIS a. M,
June %, and soon arrived at the Junction
of the Galeaa branch with the main line,
distance Of twenty-five miles The juno
ton has population of near 1,500 in
habitants, and Is very pretty place
Some thirty miles west of Chicago is the
Lafoy river. 1t runs southwark, is some
what larger than Yellow river, and on its
west bank is situated Geneva, one of the
most beautiful towns we saw on the route
1t has about 1000 inhabitants. We pass
ed through Decalb, Rochelle and Ashton,
small places, but sprightiy and wide-a-
wake. The country from Chicago to Ro-
chelle, distance of II miles, is rather
low aud fiat, particularly daring a wet
season. There are, however, many fine
farms in this locality. We were over some
eight or ten miles Of the north part of Lee
county. South of Rochelle the larger
portion Of the prairie is too low for any,
thing except grass. Dixon is situated in
the northwest corner Of Lee county, and
is the county-seat. 1t contains about six
thousand inhabitants, is 90 miles west of
Chicago, and on the south bank cf Rock
river, which affords good water-pow
that is being we'll improved. A. this
point the Illinois Central crosses the
Northwestern. or rather runs under it. Af-
ter passing two or three small towns we
arrived at village called Nelson, where
we were met by our friend and relative,
j, B. Wickizer, with team and buggy to
convey us to his home. After a pleasant
drive over dry and wet prairie, we passed
hedge of Usage which marks the line
between Lee and Whiteside counties, and
some two miles further we halted at the
residence of our old friend, r. +. Shirley,
formerly of Union township, in this couu-
ty, where We met with a kindly greeting,
and after partaking of his hospitaities we
went on our way. In this section We re-
NAMED over week, and obtained pretty
good view of the surrounding country,
which, by the way, is as handsome as any
ought to desire We are under many ob-
legations to Mr.. Shirley for his many acts
of kindness to us during our visit. From
his residence to Sterling. distance 'oi
three miles, the land is worth from sixty
five to ninety dollars per acre, if improved.
The prairies in that neighborhood are very
much like those Of LaPortc county, in this
state, only a little more sandy. Timothy
and oats grow almost spontaneously. Corn
and oats yield from 80 to 80 bushels per
acre; wheat, %, We saw several 100
acre lots of timothy! The market is not
quite SO good there as here. We fire.
quently wonder when we see the large
cattle trains pass through Plymouth, where
all the cattle came from; but when we saw
the immense herds scattered over the prai-
ries 1t was no longer a wonder to us.
There are many very nice groves Of tim
Der, not of the best quality to be sure, but
a pretty good apology for fence posts and
flrewOod. Coal is about as cheap there as
a good article OF wood ready for the stove
is here. We saw no hogs running at largo
during our trip. The fences, generally,
are very POOR; the posts are of cedar aud
cost 20 cents each; the boards are pine,
and are worth s22 per thousand feet two
boards and two wires to the panel is the
most common way Of building. We saw
a great many miles of Usage hedge that
was planted last year. We happened to
meet our friend, j. J. Cor bailey, formerly
of this county. He has fine prospect
for grain.
Farming is carried on in that part of
the country on the most gigantic scale.
All the farmers use reapers, mowers, hay
rakes, threshers, and markers with which
they mark FIVE rows Of corn at once
They use corn-planters, drawn by horses,
with which they plant two rows at time,
and buggy plows with which they plow
one row at a time. Wells are all walled
with stone and the water is good Stock
water, in many places, scarce.
A farmer or mechanic who is we'll stu.
ated here would do well to be satisfied. A