The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-06-05
FROM THE FAR WEST.

tkRMiLLION, u. L., May 10, do.
DEAR JEFF;- IL have delayed wri-
ting until the present time, in order,
partly, to see how the country would
appear before informing your many
readers of all the inducements and
drawbacks which might influence
emigration, and partly because your
columns were so filled with impor-I
tant news aud documents from
Washington, that / feared my letter
would be thrown aside.
l hear and see various reports
from other States and Territories
concerning the prospects Of the COM
ing crops. Some appear to be- suffer
ing from the post or grashoppers,
and many are beginning to have
fears Of general famine. There are
a goodly number of grashoppers in
our vicinity and some considerable
anxiety is entertained tor the safety
of the crops. In some places they
are taking wheat by tho acre, hut
such cases are rage They are 1eav-
Ing some farms altogether, and it is
generally believed they are not as
numerous this spring as they were
last They did but little damage
then, and it is to heexpected that we
will lose little by them this spring.
With that one exception, farming
prospects are as good % could be
desired. Corn and Potatoes are be-
ing planted in large quantities.
Before coming to this Territory, /
was often told that nothing could be
raised here, owing TO dry weather
and grasshoppers. This is my sec
ond summer here, and my experience
Is that we have plentiful showers,
and no more disturbance from the
"pest" than other localities widely
famous as agricultural districts
Our climate is almost sublime. A
beautiful winter is being followed by
q spring which does honor to the
country's fame. Vegetation is not
as forward here as it generally is in
Ohio at this season, but we have had
only one light frost in four weeks.
] believe our chm tie will average
a little cooler than in your vicinity,
but at the same time the thermome-
ter will Indicate a more even tenn
perature. l suppose our climate is
q little too dry sometimes to raise
good corn, but small grain and veg
etables will do well generally. Hon.
estly. and without any desire to ex-
aggerate or misrepresent the facts, ]
think this country offers splendid
inducements to settlers. ] know of
only one serious de.riment, and that
is lack of timber. Persons coming
directly from your wooden country
would be apt to'think that a clay coun-
try would not afford timber enough
for more than twenty-five farmers,
but ,es who knoas how little wood is
really necessary, are of the opinion
that there is plenty TO last until tim
Der can be raised.
Our soil is unsurpassed in fertility,
ard if Illinois is the Garden State,
Dakota and the Missouri Valley will
be Uuole Sans wheat field. We
may be given to boasting, but you
know Young America can "spread
himself upon the broad, green prai
rie, aud whatris boasting now will
be behind the reality in few years.
am decidedly opposed to any at
tempt to induce any one to leave a
comfortable home in Ohio, especially
brave old Hancock, to come here.
My reason is, many haye been so
persuaded by friends, and after
spending nearly all their means to
get here did not like the country, and
felt that they had been deceived and
almost ruined. However, / shoald
be glad to see many OF my old
friends coming here to locate. / be.
Ilieve l am the only representative Of
old Hancock in this country, and as
Int is fact that Clay County can give
every land.ess man in Hancock s
farm of one hundred and sixty acres
my hopes are that some of them will
Improve the golden opportunity.
"There is tide in the affairs ol
men which taken at the flood leads
on to fortune"
Most Respectfully,
j. A. v.