The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-06-08
~LoUDoNvILLE, Ohio,

ED. OTATES o ONION-DedT or.
In response to your invitation for local
items, 1 have supposed that a word
from the southern part of the county
may prove interesting to your readers.
Never, since the spring of 1859, when
the brightest hopes of the husbandman
were all blighted in n single night,
have we in every respect had such fiat
tering prospects for al abundant har-
vest. The wheat is well set, of luXu-
RANT growth, already nearly all headed
ont, and but few poor fields The
same marked prosperous appearance
may be remarked only more emphatic,
of all other farm products, while all
kinds of fruits promise an unusually
abundant yield. In the midst of such
prosperity, it is certainly "well to be
here
AS Il verifcatioa of these bright
prospects, may be noted the unusual
desire of the farmers to dispose of
their last years crops. And III
the history Of our village has there
been even an approximation to the
amount of grain that is now being
tlken i'll by our produce dealers. 1t
is one constant stream of loaded teams
moving to the several warehouses and
mills, so that at times streets are almost
impossible. 1t is but natural that this
amount of business should leave its
impress on all classes of business men;
and that our merchants, mechanics.
and indeed every good citizen should
feel that Commerce is the higher law"
and that it is a just and prosperous
ruler. Hence on every street we may
sec marks of thrift and Improvement,
and in many cases a laudable ambi-
ton to build the very best class of
ton awakened "to build the highest
steeple," as on last Saturday morning
the NJ. L. Church, in this place, was
struck by lightning and considerably
damaged ; no doubt, ere long, render
ing a new and more substantial struct-
ure necessary.
A serious accident occurred on the
P. Fit. w. s. @. r. w. on last Satur-
day night, about ten miles west of us.
Some fiends i'll human shape had re
moved n rail and as the express due
at our place at 8 p. NJ, was coming
at full speed, was thrown from the
track and the cars precipitated down
an embankment, killing one man and
iniuring quite a large number. For
tunately a detective aided by or eff
Gent town marshal, has just arrested
two men, both strangers here, charged
with the crime of removing the rail (;
and one of which has confessed that
they did it. They have been taken to
Mansfield and lodged in Jail. Their
object was plumber, and yet, after the
train was thrown off the track, and
they only a few rods distant, the
shrieks and groans of the wounded
and the -goadings OF their Own con-
science, possibly, in that dread
hour of darkness deferred them from
approaching the wreck-and they left
as they came, empty handed, but bur-
dened with the heaviest crime.
We are said to be q progressive peo-
pie, and surely our course is onward
whether upward or not. And when
we daily read of the crimes that are
committed in every class of society,
from the humblest walks of life up to
those who have tie choice of basking
in either the sunshine or the shade of
the Tribune we might believe as n
people we are on the downward road
to ruin. 1t is true that our standard
of morals is fearfully low, and that
in many respects the customs of So
ciety and ever the Christian Churches
fail to hold out the proper incentives
to virtue, or to frown with deserved
indignance ON the most shameful vices.
But it was perhaps always so, and for
the sake of mankind l would attri-
butte this apparent increase in wicked
ness and crimes to another cause No,
we are no worse than those who have
passed over the river and are gone be-
fore us. But while in former times
crimes remained within circumscribed
spheres and finally died out with their
authors, for want of the means of be-
ing carried abroad; now the pen and
the press are busy at work and knowl-
edge of passing events is common
and as we are Gas prone to
evil as the sparks to fly upward" most
surely must we hear of much that is
not good. Yet the pen and the press
are the great levers that are to elevate
mankind so as to enjoy the truly great
and good things that are provided for
him. By the way we are to have a
printing press, newspaper, &c, &c,
in active operations in a few days.
You must call and see US then. 1
feel an interest in it because belonging
to our town; but the States & Union
shall remain to us as dear as heretofore,
simnly because IL is our county !