, 1873-09-05
lAPO.RTE.
The Ico-Trnle OF n Lutte 1nllnnn City
--A Rare Plant

"a Rare Plnnts
Correspondence " Tbs Chicago Tribune. =.
LAponTE, Ind, Sept, 2, 1879.
Tho beautiful surroundings Of this Brighton
Of Chicago, tho hospitality OF Mr.. Thomas Tar
ghor. and tho charming society Of tho citizens,
have detained mo in tho company OF this coy
maiden, Laporte, longer than anticipated.
Doubtless my experiences will DO the prelude Of
many more who will come, sec, and bo con-
quered. There Ia something about tho placo
which prodisposeB tho mind to DO at pence with
itaolf; and tnko 1t that, il vo could at all
timoB analyzo tho conditions OF happiness. NO
should find them, in . great measure, depond-
ent upon, our immediate surroundings. Tho
wear md toar Of thiH Western life hayo expended
their forco rest. observation. and wealth un-
consciously succeed.
Some obHorycrs measure the civilization Of
country by tho amount of soap it consumes.
Tho tost acarcoy 0pplios horo; it is difficult to
find dirt" valuable matter in the wrong place."
A bottor toat of our Western towns is afforded by
tho amount Of
consumed. IT We adopt this moasure, Laporto
occupies no inferior rank. With population Of
5000, it's most wealthy eitizonH have private ico-
houaes. There iB rosailod by ono ice-nr,n, Tilt l.
wv
annunl Tho ice-wavo omanating from Laporto
ia q gratifying measure OF mans intelligence
and wants in making enbeoryiont to his uses
tho forces Of nature. Visit hor lnkos Ia wintor.
The groom sward Is covered by snowy
mantle; the wator turned into rock. Three
hundred mon and thirty horscs are employed
three month"; in rcaping q, harvest of leo from
her springfield reservoirs, packing away into
thirty -four capaciouB houses the concentrated
rigoss Of wintcr,- placing winter undor bonds Of
our, summo1-sun: Echolonned by tho vnrious
companies, this IaPorto leo protects and minis
tors to tho comfort Of humanity III tho cities OF
Chicago, 1ndianspolia Louisville and Oincin-
nnti, Rnd o host OF minor towns throughout tho
State. The quantity ia represented by train OF
froGht-cara
F1FTi-sEvEN MILES IN LENGTH.
Who alnong us can adequately measure this
onlarger Of our hnppiness' Our dairieH, our
meat-lnar)sc:a. Our tin.cups, our home rofrigera-
tors, tho wards Of our hospitals. aud our sick
rooms can testify. But there ia skeleton in
this cupboard. Suppose that our tempoeance-
men wore bold enough to stop our leo supply
they would cut tho Gordian knot OF the most lif-
lienlt question Of the day; for who would drink
lager-beer warm And would not tho long list
Of cabnlstlc and classic drinks Of tho American
bar BECOME practically obsolete, and "a much
mystery to future generations as tho "sack :" Of
old fdfsidf to tho preFent2 Maybe the next
move il to fight tho temperance mon upon tho
Incorporate use OF ton and coffoe, or wake up to
tho fact that their ugo has nude ccwards Of uH
ALL,
Turning from this digrossion, 1 flud that tho
thinnest Ice was harvested in 1s5G,-it was fyo
incllob and last winter WAS tho thickost,-24
inches tho average is said to DO II. Tho price
por CARLOAD, 10 TONS, delivered to car, is about
Sl5. Tho leo loft over from tho summon o1po-
riences loss Of one-third.
This ico-trado Of Laporto promises
A GREAT EXPANSION.
Ton more ico-housos arc to 60 up this fall and