River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-09-25
Editorial correspondence.
PEORIA, ILL.,, Sept Is, 1874.

is the second city in wealth and popu-
lation in this state. Next, it must be
noted for its extensive whisky distiller-
les, and it may be the seat of the
whisky Ring" if such a ring exists
in the state. 1t is remarkable for the
width of its streets, which exceeds that
of any other city or village | ever visit
ed, but they present dingy, dirty ap
pearance, in the main. The presence
of hogs in every part Of the city, and oil
geese in all streets near the river, i:
not an indication of the greatest neat.
ness. Ana then, TOO, their familiarity
with the pedestrian, and even with the
horses and street cars, is rather disa.
greeable to person not accustomed to
their society. But this is a city OF
wealth-more wealth than enterprise,
if mistake not. 1t contains about
thirty.five thousand inhabitants, with
the usual Improvements, (save that OF
neatness) Of other cities It is on the
Illinois river, and has steamboat &C
commodations; and it has railroad ac-
commodations till you can't rest. 1t is
at the mouth Of the Kickapoo river,
and the country round about is quite
well timbered. Wood is worth only
three dollars per cord. Coal is abund.
ant at six to eight cents per bushel.
But the great feature OF the day here
is the State Fair, an attraction, by the
way, which brought me hither. And
this lis big institution" The FAN
Grounds are on the river bank, or near
it, in beautiful grove. 1t can be
reached by boats or small crafts on the
river. by the cars at one point, and by
street-cars and hacks at another. !
shall stop to give only brief account
of some of the leading features of the
Exhibition. And the "horse," of
course, is the first on all such occasions.
Their number is not legion, nor yet "a
host" but if they lack in number, it is
certainly made up IN quantity. OF
draft horses, torty-two are on the
ground, nearly all of Norman, or Nor
nan and Morgan stock There are
among them, however, some very fine
English draft horses, one of which
took the first premium. Nearly all the
Norman stock, both horses and mares
are of a uniform dapp'e gray color. l
have seen but two black or dark ones.
The English draft horses are invaria-
bly,, and uniformly of bay color.
Their weight is enormous from $50
to 1900 lbs.
Some fine "rosdsters,'' OF driving
horses are on exhibition, but no very
fast trotters. The best time yet made
on the ground is 2:45. Comparatively
speaking, there are few trotting horses,
or good driving horses here. But to
what use these mountains of horse flesh
can probably be put, is more than |
can tell. Here are brood mares weigh.
lug 1900 to 1000 lbs and year;ing
colts weighing ] 200 to 800 lbs. These
horses and colts pove around like ee-
plants, and it is quite enough for their
legs to support their bodies without i'm
posing upon them the task Of travelling.
From these draft borses and the Nor
gan or common stock, there may posi-.
bly, descend a race OF horse which will
be an improvement upon any stock now
ia use.
For cattle tins Exhibition is far
ahead of anything | ever before wit
messed, though ! scarcely believe it is
profitable to have a farmers entire
"stock" in one animal. The smaller,
finer animal is quite as profitable, and
more convenient TO have round
Beauty combined with activity, with a
reasonable size, are qualities IN both
horses and cattle which Iadmire And
cattle Of this description are here found
10 large numbers
The hogs are from mammoths, or
mountains to pigmies, with all
qualities from the coarsest to the finest
from the ugly to the beautiful
Floral Hall is a prodigy, containing
a host, and embracing an endless va
riety The Art Gallery is a wonder,
aud it would do credit to a nation, 70
sag nothing Of a state. But the great
wonder after all is the immense crowd