The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-04-03
III. i g G eI1aTle OH s .
A Ranble in Hartford.
NO. VII.
HARTFORD IN GENERAL.

A Large County-Dirersity QfsoH and Gil
mate-Room for Populatioas- Crazy about
some things, and not Crazy enough about
others-Farms too Larye-An Agricultu-
raj Society-Femole College, dc.
Mr.. BAKER When l finished my last
letter I thought would give you breath
ing-spell as far as my rambling contribu-
tions are concerned, but the moro | think
about Hariord-what it is and what it
should be--the more l feel like employing
an hour or two each week in ,jotting down
my thoughts, whether can bring them up
to the measure of my hopes or the expec-
tations of others or not.
shall not confinc myself in this eclectic
sort Of production to any particular locali-
ty or any particular class of persons or
things, but fire away at random ut what
ever may come trooping up from the men,
cries Of the past, the realities of the pres
ent, or the hopes of the future
Hartford is Il glorious old county and a
large one, and from the extreme upper to
the lower end-some forty miles, if l re-
member correctly-has great diversity of
soil as well as climate and productions,
could be made to maintain four times its
present population, and be little empire
within itself From the conversation of
the comparatively few persons with whom
| met during my last visit, was almost
ready to conclude that they were little
too crazy upon the subject of a railroad
and not quite crazy enough upon the sub
jects of good country roads and superior
educational advantages. But first immi-
grafton, and though not much of an admi-
rer of your down east hustler, who pro.
nounces "cow" us though it were spelled
with k or a q, u hundred or two live
rural Yankees would soon make your high
ways passablo and your worn yellow fields
green and generous.
But, in the absence of population SO
increased as to necessitate division of
your farms into smaller tracts -the surest
and quickest mode Of improyement--thc
next best thing in that direction is the
organization OF an Agricultural Society,
which, am happy TO see, you have already
inaugurated.
The people of Hartford, rs far back us fifty
years ago, to my certain knowledge, were
famous for Improvements on paper, and l
am sometimes afraid, when see the spas.
modic efforts Of the -Egis and Democrat,
that many Of them are ''chips of the old
block" though they may not follow the
example Of their fathers by going to mill
with the grain in one end Of the sack and
stone III the other.
But you are going to have an Agricultu-
raj Society," am almost sure you are, as
you have worried along after a fashion till
you see you can't get farther without it
and | will leave that matter where it is,
with this single admonition, if you will
pardon me for it-nerey cease striking whHe
the iron is hot.
In more than one letter of a former series
| had the temerity to suggest, and to urge
people much more literally educated than
myself, and certainly far more intelligent,
to organize, in the vicinity of their county
town, Female College of the highest
grade, which would, utter all, be of greater
benefit than almost any other enterprise.
There is no reason in the world why fifty
thousand dollars, more or less, should be
emptied out OF your pockets into those of
the people of Baltimore for the education
ofyour daughters, when you might, by n
proper course of policy, have it emptied
out OF theirs into yours for the same pur-
pose. You have the means and many beau
vicinity, and | should have much stronger
hopes Of the future development and pros
perity Of Hartford, it, as soon as the Agri-
cultural Society is a success beyond perad
venture, few Of your more cultivated and
| influential citizens would interest them
selves III this important matter.
In addition to those advantages, II Secu-
red, Hartford, it seems to nc, situated us 1t
is between the cities of Baltimore and
Philadelphia, and of convenient access
from both, might, with adequate public
accommodation for visitors, be made re
gion OF great summer resort. Not only
would its healthy climate, pure water and
superior hunting and fishing attract people
from the cities, but its beautiful and 10
mantle scenery would attract hundreds OF
the lovers of the sublime in Nature. No
part OF the world that have visited eXcels
it in this, and it is strange to me that your
people do not seem TO appreciate II az
they should. My friend Scarborough, who
has considerable streak Of the love Of
the grand and beautiful interviewer among
the solid and useful in his nature, has de-
scriDed several of the scenes very graphl-
eally, and yet, in the language Of the en-
raptured Queen, "the half has not bccG
told" The Rocks of Deer Creek, for in
stance, form one Of the grundest natural
superstuctures | have ever beheld ~mort
imposing, in my opinion, than the Natura
Bridge Of rginia-because upon Imort
stupendous scale; and yet that great curl
osity has never found its way into any
book have ever met with, and doubt J.
three-iourths Of the people of Mary lanc
ever heard of it, or il half the people o
Hartford ever saw it.
Bald Hill, on the Susquehanna, is anoth
er spot where Nature dislays another mag
niticent specimen of her handiwork. II