The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-07
CHICAGO, Ills, June 80, 1869.

CHICAGO, HIS, June 81, 1908.
After a stay of four days at Green
castle-and four very pleasant days |
they were, too-we took our departure
at $50 An. on the T. II. & R. RI.
for Chicago via Indianapolis, La
fayette, and Michigan City. The |
country from Greencastle to Indian
apolis was beautiful after the pre-
vailing rains of the early part of the
week. The wheat crop looked little
better here than even than in other
portions of the State we had passed
through. A gentleman on the train,
with whom we conversed. informed
us that the farmers in his neighbor-
hood marion County, regarded the
crop as the largest, aud in every way
the finest, ever raised in that section.
The weevil, however, is complained OF
somewhat. Harvesting seems to have
commenced in good earnest, and con-
siderable grain has been cut. This
week will be the very heart of the
season. Those who have not yet cut
will commence work within the next
two or three days.
The same encouraging accounts OF
the fruit crop, however, do not reach
US, and many who have given much
of their attention to its growing, pre-
dict failure this year. Up to the
present time the supply has been
scant and fabulous prices prevail
Apples promised well early in the
season, but the potato bugs are de-
stroying them. Between Indianapolis
and Lafayette the country does not
look sO.well. The prairie, however,
Is pleasing to the eye with its splen-
did covering of grass. and farmers
seem to be diligently prosecuting their
work. For a time, IN the early part
of the year, they were discouraged by
the heavy rains that prevailed so long
and feared the worst for their crops.
The young corn, which had been
planted early, was nearly all washed
out, and things looked Unpromislng
enough In truth, but as soon as the
weather would permit they set to
work again, determining at least to
do their duty, replanting their corn,
and the result Is they now have fine
prospect.
We did not stop in Lafayette long,
but had sufficient time to look about
US and receive impressions. The city
seems to be growing very fast. Busl-
ness blocks, churches, school-houses,
and residences in various localities
are building, and the general appear
ance Is that of thrift. The people
here, as elsewhere in the State, are
agitating wild railroad schemes, none
Of which will probably be pushed
through. The citizens, however, seem
to be III earnest, and some good may
possibly result from keeping the ques-
ton well before the people. A cor
respondent writing to the IndianapO-
lis Journal, a few days ago, makes
this mention of the movement: " The
one OF perhaps the most Importance
to this place is that one leading from
here to Bloomington, Illinois. This
will be pushed to completion as rap
idly as money and energetic men-and
we have bcth-can do. Lafayette
means business, and it IS not proposed
to be outdone by any other city of ouI
State" Now this part we quote, as
indeed we find the entire letter, Is
done up" in rather q bFaggadOcio
style, and yet our own observation
preston to the united sentiments of
the people The citizeps of Lafay-
cite have long regarded the growth of
other Indiana cities with jealousy
and are making desperate efforts to
gain rank among the first. Evans
vile has probably been the source oil
more annoyance to them than any
other place, although Fort Wayne
and Terre Haute are bitter pills fol-
them to swallow.
The city is certainly growing. but
even at its best there is not that hustle
and stir of preparation and building
of business and of moving humanity
to be observed in your city. The
business streets do not look as solid
neither the commercial blocks as i'm.
posing. The picture Dom Piatt, il
one of his odd letters to the Gin
cinnati Commercial, drew between
Washington and New York, bette
illustrates the contrast We would max
between the two places than anythin
we recall now. He says: Coin
from the Capital Of the Nation to til
Metropolis Of America is like passin
from q graveyard to a huge bee
saloon"
We find the Police Court report
full of rape, robbery, and the Jesse
crimes, giving a pleasant armea o
the state of morals in that delightful
town. Leaving for Michigan Git
early In the afternoon, the frs
two hours ride was very pleasant
but at the expiration of this time "
commenced experiencing the disa
greeable effects arising from the lat
freshet that visited this part of til
country. Several bridges were dow
and the track had been washed ava
for miles, but large force of work
men were engaged in repairing th
breaks For miles we passed owe
an inundated prairie ia which scare
piece of land could have been seei
Ian almost limitless sea of heagin
water. We world sometime com
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