The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-07-21

MT AYR, Iowa, July 5, 1870.

MT. AYR, Iowa, July s. 1870.
M d. lackley;
DEAR SIR-I have selected Mt. Ayr, Ringgold
county, Iowa, for perhaps my future home.
wish you to send the STANDARD to me at this
place. To comply with o promise made to quite
number of your citizens, and my old friends,
with your permission l will give short sketch
of my tour west l deem 1t unnecessary to state
anything saw before reaching Cincinnati, only
that saw several fields of wheat in shock near
Cincinnati other crops looking well. Left Gin
cinnatl half past seven, A. NJ. on the Cincinnati,
indianapolis and Lafayette road. Kept my eyes
on the stretch to see some of the Indiana prai-
rie, but in vain; nothing but hills, hollows, bur
oaks, pin oaks, swamp oaks, thin soil and poor
crops, until ran into the most splendid Depot
ever saw, situated on the cast side of Indianapo-
lis Judging the city by the depot it is quite
city. Did not stop to see. Here the scene chang
ed somewhat. Land better, better timber and
better crops By the time reached Lafayette,
the scene was very different Fine farms, good
crops of all kinds. The Wabash Valley is most
beautiful country. Passed through Central Ill-
Rois in the night. First thing of importance
next morning was the bridge across the Mississ-
ippi River at Quincy, Splendid bridge on the
Missouri SIDE For eight or ten miles the land is
low, swampy, and almost uncultivated. On to
the prairie generally, broken and thin soil, un-
til reached Chillicothe. From there the land
got gradually better, on to Kansas City. Here
stopped for three days. 1t took me about half
that time to find the City, but when did find it,
/ found quite q business place; but would
have thought ofbuilding city on such site. 1t
will take almost as much work to grade as to
build the houses. You must not disbelieve me
when state in places they go out of the top of
three story buildings, and then below the level
of the grading. Other places, fills equal in depth.
Rather rough place. In the short space of three
days, there were six persons reported murdered
in the city. They get in saloons and other places
of vice, fall out, stab or shoot This is the way
things go in Kansas City. did not go far into
Kansas only went to ottawa, Franklin co., up
the Kansas River to Lawrence city. The soil
is very rich, but in poor state of cultivation.
From Lawrence to Ottawa, fine country, well
improved, fine orchards, and good crops. Found
the soil gradually thinner, as l went South to
Ottawa. At this place found my old friend and
townsman, Dan Hoffman. Soon as he found we
were in town, he called on us, and manifested
great concern for our welfare. Had to go and
| take dinner with him. Mrs. Hoffman is in our
| judgment a very agreeable and fine lady, They
have a small family, two children, fat and hear
| ty. Dan lives at home, all that is necessary to
make one happy. He took us out to see his farm,
half mile from town. He has the best corn in
that part of the country, orchard, grapes, straw
berries, &C., looking well. John Hoffman and
family are a few miles south of this place. When
we left here we went up the Missouri Valley to
Council Bluffs. Very fine country along the
Missouri River. Western Missouri and western
Iowa very fine soil and country. made all the
inquiry that ! could and got all the information
possible, and came to this conclusion: That the
! cities and villages are over-run with Tradesmen
There is too great proportion of the people in
| trade. There ought to be more cultvating the
soil. This country is capable of sustaining fifty
| times its present population. You may travel
| for twenty miles over soil that the best soil in
! Jackson county holds no comparison to, without
seeing more than dozen houses. Land from 50
! TO $40 per acre, but the trouble is the warlling
men are not the men that have the money, and
it is very hard for a man to get start here with
out a few hundred dollars; but If the poor man
! has the endurance to weather through, the West
is the place Mt. Ayr the place have selected,
is situated in Ringgold CO.. Southern Iowa. The
soil Is not so good, perhaps, for corn and wheat,
| as some other localities; yet, evnything consd-
cred, believe one can livejust as well here, may
be better, than most places in the West The
water, climate &C., are good. This village Is one
of the pTettiest little places have been in. Peo-
Pile intelligent, civil, and appear to know how
| to mind their own business, and do so. There Is
one thing that would look strange to most Of the
people of Jackson county; that is, to see a
Prairie on fire. The grass is green as any wheat
field vet it will burn. There is dry grass under,
of sufficient quantity to burn. The people burn
patches, to let the grass come fresh. Its better
grass for grazing You cannot look out at any
time without seeing prairie fires. Excuse this
short letter. may write more after see and
know more of the country.
d. RADCLIFFE.