Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-07-30
From Illinois s.
ANNf AAI. 4t-F J. 81
Correspondence Gallipolis Journal
9i Oh PEKTN, H., July 81, '68.


Correspondence Gallipolis Journal
9i Ei PEKTE, ILL.,, July 81, '68.
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
DEAR SIR:-Thinking a few
lines from a friend and reader of your
paper might be acceptable to you and
your readers, | pen the following:
Pekin, the county seat Of -qiazewell
county, is situated on the Illinois river
about so miles from ST. Louis, and 70
from La Sale, the head of steamboat
navigation. 1t has from 8 to 10000
inhabitants, and is the centre of one of
the best grain regions of our country,
wheat and corn being the principal pro-
ducts, although other small grains are
raised to considerable extent. The
trade Of our city extends for 80 miles
or more east. south. and west of us.
Farmers bring their grain to our ware
houses, where the facilities for hand
ing are unsurpassed., Ganal boats
and Steamboats, taking their freight
right,at our piers and proceeding direct
TO Chicago or st. Louis without break.
ing bulk. This allows our merchants
to pay the highest market prices for
wheat, corn, pork, DO, and also to sell
goods to the farmers at ashght advance
above Chicago prices. Business has
been very good with us, but just at
present the harvest engages the atten-
ton Of all the farming, population, so
that it has seemed rather quiet, with
the exception of the, city trade We
have a daily line of steamers to and
from st. Louis, two trains a day for
Chicago, and one for Jacksonville and
south. Another road, the. Pekin,
Bloomington and prbanna R. R. is
under epntrast, and being pushed
through rapidly, and we hope by
another year to have a direct cas- tern
outlet, as also a western outlet ta the
Mississippi by the completion Of the
Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railway.
Another road is in eontemplation---the
Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur R. R.,
running through very rich section Of
country, tapping the Chicago, i Alton
and st. Louis r. R. at Lincoln, and the
Illinois Central at Decatur. Our city
is engaged largely in the manufacturing
interests, having A large Touring mills,
10 distillerries, 8 breweries, a agricul-
tural implement manufactures, or
wagon and plow manufactures, DC, 8
banks, / churches, s hotels. and one OF
the finest school buildings in this section
of the State. Our court house and
court house square are also very fine,
During the last few weeks we have
been experiencing the effects of the ex-
treme warm weather. Thermometer
for days stood at noon BOB and IO4
degrees in the shade, while at no time
during the day did it get below 80
degrees. A great many persons have
been snnstruck, and in the harvest field
both men and horses have received the
fatal stroke. In one field near here q
out of 10 hands weyeF killed. We all
hope for rain and, cooler weather soon.
The crops are looking nicely, the grain
is nearly harvested, and fair crop an
otlolpated. Corn and other crops are
looking timely. b General opinion is we
shall be in no danger of starving.
EShouid this prove saceeptable to you
and your readers, and you desire it,
will give you an occasional letter. E
ka6 Z | am yours respectfully,
'''' g.nG.abAREOW