The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-04-22
Letter from Iowa.
GRovELANp, ADAIR Co. iowA,t
Anril q. 1873 I

April 8, 1873
Ed SPIRIT: As the birds warblc their
sweet melodies on the housetops, (trees
are scarce, and nature dons her spring
garb, it makes one feel good, after expe-
riencing such lony. cold Winter as this
last has been; and rs it necessarily makes
many changes in the farmers life,
and in fact in almost all of the vocations
of life, l thought perhaps some OF the
many readers OF the SPIRIT wouldn't mind
hearing from these Western parts, and
learn what we are doing
We have had some beautiful weather
this spring, and consequently farmers
bave got their spring wheat sown, of
which cereal there is more sown this
spring than for many years past, resulting
from q good crop and high prices last
season there win be some oats, and a lit
tie more than all average crop Of barley
sown also. There is such an overplus Of
corn in this county that am unable to
say whether there will he much planted
or not. ya a.6
In regard to railroads we are in the
same fix you are in "Old Monroe" We
want railroad and have voted a 8 per
cent tax. towards building the St. Paul
and Iowa Southwestern Railroad, and if
they "fill their bill" there will he aepot
within very short distance OF the farm
belonging to Mr.. J. E. Hill, formerly of
Woodsfeld. The road is surveyed, and
there is good prospects of it's coming
Railroad is our chief topic Of canyersa,
ttion,and even when wrapped in tue arms
of Morpheus" I'VE arc awakened from
our sweet slumbers by dreaming we hear
the ''iron horse" putting and snorting up
"Bunces Branch" only to find ourselves
"fooled again" But while we are on
this agitatiug subject, mi ght as we'll tell
you ono of the reasons we are SO anx'
ious
We are in the center of the county,
and as the county seat question is not
yet decided. we have faint visions of q
court house and ''peanut stand" rising in
majestic sublimity almost within our
dooryards, as 1t were. Who don't like to
hearlawyers plead and set on jury, eh
But I shouldn't have asked that question
till after the foundation Of the court
house was laid.
Ifthcre is any young men around town
without any visible employment tell them
to pack up and come to Iowa, and if they
don't get profitable employment it is their
own fault. Even now, as early in the
spring as it is, farmers are predicting an
unusual scarcity of harvest hands good
hand can get from S1S to 1913 per month
here, almost the year round, and be treat
ed like gentleman to boot. That is one
remarkable fact that stranger coming
from the East will readily notice.
"Back East" l am sorry to say, people
are too much ''stuck up" and imagine
that if a young man "works out" unless,
perhaps, he happens to be a counter jum-
per-" or something of that sort, he is a
''little below pah )" but here, Mr.. Editor,
it is uice versa If young man works
on fam, and behaves himself, he is re-
spected and treated just as well as il he
was one of the family, which | consider a
credit to the country.
There is one mistake that great many
Eastern people indulge in, sometimes for
life. Ihaye heard young ladies remark
"Oh. dear! ] never could live out West
My delicate organizations never would
stand it +; people are so old-fashioned out
there" Indeed! We are glad to hear
it, Miss Squeamishness, but we fail TO re-
realize the truth of your remark.
Now, Mr.. Editor, / wish to say that
those who are 80 unsophisticated as to
imagine that W estern people are an uned
ucated, ignorant, old-fashioned class of
people, labor under very false delusion
Tell me where we come from2 "You
pause for rcply?" Idon't. The West
is composed of people who lived in the
Eastern States at one time, but thinking
the West would suit them better, wen,
here. Now why should we of the West
be more ignorant than those who remain
ed there?
This neighborhood is composed ol
quiet, peaceable citizens, big majority
being good church members. Two fam
lilies, Mr.. Samuel Patterson and j. E,
Hill, are old residents of Woodsfield -
We have regular preaching every alter
nate Sabbath, BESIDES sermon occasion
ally from transient preachers. We will
soon have Sabbath School, and, in fact,
our social facilities are such that the most
fastidious couldn't get the blues.
But have taken too much space al.
ready and will close. With BEST wishes
for my Monroe friends, remain, yours.
&C., RAMBLER.
s. P. S.-More anon. e
EFThe loss and recovery at exactly
The right instant of valuable old deeds