The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-12-17

| Ed. JEFF-:-In CONSIDERATION Oh
certain favors to me by you render
ed, 1 thought, perhaps, that few
items of observations in my travels
might not be unacceptable for the
columns OF your valuable paper.
1t was my pleasure, the last time /
left home, to go by the way OF Co
lumbus Grove-a flourishing village
in Putnam county, which is fast
improving, being surrounded by q
good farming community. From
thence went by rail to Beaver Creek
Circuit, which is located in parts oil
Wood and Henry counties
wish first to say, so far as 1 could
observe, that the country has much
improved within the last ten years.
There are many fine farms and
houses but the corn last summer
was poor-nOt half crop. In con-
sequence 1 saw but few hogs, az
many were sold last summer. The
wheat sown last fall looks very poor;
I did not see one good field, owing,
10 doubs, to the hard rains In the
fore part of the summer, and then
the hard drouth, SO that the ground
got so hard and dry that it could not
be plowed III time, an what was
sown did nos all come up; so that
the wheat prospect looks dull sior
next year.
Second, I wish to say that one
among the greatest subjects OF con-
yersation among some is the contem-
plated railroad to commence at Ere
mont; thence west By Bowling
Green, Grand Rapids and Napoleon !;
thence to Bryan. Those interested
have met in council and organized
by electing Mr.. Purdy, of Mansfield,
as President, and will now 90 for
ward in opening books for subscflp
tiOns along the whole line; aad 1t Is
thought by some to be road oil
much importance, as it will shorten
the travel from west to east some
twenty-eiQht miles. '.
Third, | wish to say, that among
the most singular sights l 5eheld was
a mink establishment-yes, mink
minks sure enough. What will not
enterprisiIg men do for the sake oil
making money? But among the last
and new things under the sun is that
of raising minks. Surely it can not
be Tor the sake of the curious odor
that they send forth, nor for the
pleasant flavor of their meat, that
minks will be raised, but for the
love of gain, and something new and
amusing for it is very amusing to
see q lot of miuks get together in the
water and take one OF their playa
Mr.. l.. j. Sterling, of Grand Rapids,
Wood county, took great pleasure in
showing me his mink establishment,
which he has had in operation about
three years. He has four buildings,
which resemble small corn cribs,
with tight floors the sides are oil
lath, so that there is plenty OF light
and air. He has in each a water
trough, and number of small boxes,
which they can hide under. He feeds
them with fish, chickens, birds or
beef. They will eat any kind ofmeat.
He says they will also eat cakes but
when they eat cakes they will imme
diately throw them up again. They
thrive best on fish. He has now
fourteen on hand-two males and
twelve females. He had as high as
twenty-six at one time. He says
theJ bring forth from five to eight
young at time, which usually come
in April, and in the November fol
lowing, they are full grown and will
be fit to kill, for their hides, for
which he has received as high as
s6.25 apiece, but generally 50 hide.
He thinks he can raise one hundred
at cost OF about $50, which would
leave him $3.50 a hundred for his
trouble. They are as tame as cats,
and he takes great pleasure in play
ing with them. He thinks that they
would be very profitable stock for a
butcher, as he could feed them on
the offal of lis establishment, and
with very little expense realize a
large profit from the furs.
Dec. 10, go. JSo. POWELL.