The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-09-29
Correspondence Of the News.
LETTER FROM DECATUR,
ILLINOIS.

! union Ol CoUutAeS III 1917, lncluQln 6
within its limits fiatt, Dewitt, and
Moultrie counties. The Sangamou
River, with its several tributaries, af
fords good facilities fof drainage, and
abundant water for stOck-raising pur.
poses. These streams, in common with
all prairie water courses, are heavily
lined with timber. Indeed one eighth
Of this county consists of wOod-landj
four or five steam saw-miIls are con-
stantIy at work; cord wood sells from
SO 80 to $500 per cord.
mention these facts In advance,
because should I neglect to speak OF
them, I might enumerate other ad-
vantages until the legend of the hap
py island of Atlantis would be recall
ed to memory and finally be answer
ed; "Oh, yes, but you haven't any
timber or water, and the wind is al
ways on the blow"
We have the timber. We have
the good lime water and plenty of it,
and the only thing that is con the
5LOlg'' this quiet Sabbath evening is
your humble correspondent.
One mile north of the SangamOn
River, where the Illinois Central and
Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroads
cross each other at right angles, is sit
uated the city of Decatur--tbe pivot
around which the State revolves;
the heart from whence the railroad
arteries infuse life, health and vigor
into the UttermOst parts of the State;
the place where all the people assem-
bic once year to investigate and
compare each others progress toward
higher civilization-this is Decatur
lghere I lire.
In 1857, with a population of 1000,
the. city was chartered. In 1867, with
a population of GOOO, the city was
re-chartered. About this last time
the building of a new State House
was being agftated. Decatur prompt
Iy offered one million dollars for the
building. Defeated in the ambitious
design, but true to the instinct of en-
terprise that prompted the offer, she
forthwith determined to become the
"RailrOad Centre of Illinois," and to
that end she makes the following ex-
hibit to the Stale Fair of 1870. Be
sides the two great roads, above men,
toned, we show the Decatur & st.
Louis r r. just completed, with an
extension to Chicago under contract;
the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur r. R to
the Ohio River; the Indiana & Illinois
Central R. R., to Indianapolis; the
Decatur & MattOOn r. R., the Peoria,
Atlantic & Decatur r. r., the Decatur
& Champaign R. r., and the Decatur
& Paris R. r., all in process Of con
structiOn and all to be finished within
Is months.
To secure these roads Macon county
has voted an aggregate appropriation
Of SG4O,O0O; one-half however, has
been assumed by the State.
The benefits are already beginning
10 accrue, as witness the following, to
De directly traced to the D. & st. l.. R.
R. This company are building a !
.ound house to accommodate 42 engines
hey have purchased ground for their
shops, and with the compile
ion Of this road comes a large rolling
nill-now building-to work 25O
nen. Yea! Verify! Railroads pay
en- fold, cost what. they will.
The following list contains nearly
IL the manufacturing establishments
-four town: l Agricultural Works,
Iron Foundry, l Boiler Works, l |
Wood Pump Works, I Five-story /
Furniture Works, I Basket Works, 3
Flaming Mills, 4 Steam FIGURING
Mills, l Wooden Factory, l DistilIery,
Breweries, l Paper Mill, l Linseed
)u Mill, l Vinegar Works, 2 large
JoOper shops, 1 large Tobacco Manu-
actOryj besides numerous smaller
hops Of every description. We have
3 Dry Goods Stores, ? exclusive Car
yet Stores; 24 Grocery Stores, Hard
ware Houses; 8 Clothing Houses; A.
agricultural Ware Houses, 3 Whole |
ale Liquor Houses, 4 Bakeries, &c.
Probably can convey a better idea
# the recent progress of Decatur by
he following statement:
I came here in the Spring Of 1866.
Since then more than one half of the
Industrial Institutions have been built,
more than one-half the business part /
If the town has been erected. The
have built 3 churches
e. O. Smith-not a MethOdist-has
irected the finest Opera House in the
State outside Of Chicago. The largest
md best arranged High School build
ng in Central Illinois, and two large /
have been built since
he time last above written, and fin
lily, since that time the city has in
,reased one-haIf as much again. As
natural consequence we feel proud
'ght up with gas, talk about Nicholson |
oavements, street cars, sewers, &C., all
1f which we will have-when we get
lime to support the luxuries.
Speaking Of enjoyment again, re
minds me of the State Fair, which