The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-06-24

ing, and extinguished the flames In less than
half a minute, Then the spout of water, as
thick as mans arm, was directed to the burn
ing brick--the stream poured in at the windows
a few minutes and the flames were subdued so far
as to make everything safe except the one build
Ing. Then knew why people were SO calm under
such circumstances because they relied on their
fire engine and fire companies. Now am thus
particular about this fire, so | may suggest the
question, why do not the good eople of jack
son get fire engine?
Having made everything safe at the fire, l
proceeded to the State House, and was aston
ished to see the diapidated condition Of the
buildings. No comparison could be made be-
tween IL and the Capitol of our own State The
comparison would be better by saying it is more
like our old Court House, which was burned in
1861 only the State House is larger The
grounds around the House are beautiful, con-
tanning about ten acresin the heart of the ci ty,
and covered with native forest trees, and have
no doubt will, before many years, contain a
House worthy of Indiana.
indianapolis is city of modern style, well
laid out, and in the midst of a very productive
country yet must confess cannot admir- it,
because it is so low, wet and foggy While
was passing up town, on coming to street, the
fog at distance Of az square or two completely
filled the street, when none could be seen in any
other direction, and on my return it had moved
up along the street. further into the city.
At ten o'clock A. NJ. the ira in started for St.
Louis, and had daylight view of the country
the whole way. From indianapolis to Terre
Hauto the country Is very fine, but too much
brush and swamp lands / do not admire Indi-
ana. From Terre Haute to Paris, Illinois, the
country is about the same then heavy timber
begins to disappear, and finally the cars carry
you into the great prairies of Illinois, and you
can look and never sec all, and yet You cannot
help looking. Great herds of cattle--not on "a
thousand hills for there arc no hills here, but
thousands of cattle on these plains can be seen
on the right and left. Some fields contain thou
sands Of acres and you can see every horse and
cow almost, for eigh or ten miles on either side,
unlest here and there hedge fence may break
your view. counted as many as forty-eight
same time. The want of timber is the drawback
here yet thousands of acres of wheat and corn
can be seen ut the same time in well fenced fields
and such wheat l never saw before Every field
of fall wheat is really better than I, if farming,
would ask The spring wheat-not much sown
will be failure. It's kie d with rust. Now
It must be understood tina the prairie lands are
not all of the best quality. Some lie too low,
and have gray look, and 1t is plain to see by
the crops that they are not SO productive as the
dry grounds. l am greatly pleased with the
prairles. No wonder the rebs, during the war,
wished to invade. and carry the war to the corn
fields of Illinois; for surely herels the Egypt of
America-the land Of corn.
finish this letter on the cars, on my way to
Kansas City, having left St. Louis at nine o'clock
A. NJ, June 18, 1869. No accident, will write
you after reach the land of promise, Kansas
JAMES TRIP.