Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-09-22
Western Correspondence.
OLNEY.lILL., Aug. 81. 1874.


Editors Democrat - 4
After an absence OF almost twenty
years from my native county-when had
almost forgotten that there is such place
Il received, to-day, from some unknown
friend. copy OF the Oxford Democrat.
Having numerous acquaintances in
your county, have suddenly resolved to
write something about southern Illinois,
tor their benefit.
Southern Illinois is ofted called Egypt,
not on account oi its dryness, but because
of its exceeding iruitfnlness. 1t is like
the land where the Israeiles went to buy
corn. Our corn is rather better than yours.
A man may ride through corn fields, on
horseback, and not be visible 10 one over
looking the field. Crops vary greatly.
according 10 cultivation. Some get only
twenty-five or thirty bushels to the acre,
while others get twice as much. Last
year. one OF my neighbors subsoiled and
planted twenty acres, without manure,
and raised twelve hundred bushels of
corn. Manure helps crops. but there are
many fields which have produced corn for
twenty years, without any eriizers.
When first came here wheat was not
a sure crop. This year our county. twenty
miles square, has raised about 100000
bushels of wheat. Tho surrounding
country has done equally well. The
people have learned how to ''put in
wheat. so that il has become our great
crop-the wheat and corn being the lead
ing interests. Last year, another neigh
Dor of nine put in eighty acres of wheat,
and realized out of the crop 5000
Wheat is sown in August and September.
and is usually ripe about July lst. THIS
year it was all cut by that time. Spring
wheat will not grow here.
This country has undergone great
change in the last ten years. in respect to
the health of its people. The land is
rather level, and fol lmerly water stood in
many places. in poos, that dried up ia
the summer and caused malaria.
New land is mostly taken up" and
The loul places are drained and dricd, SO
that il is rare 10 sec one shaking with
ague, and when it does happen, we know
a haI ~
cured Experience has proved that the
''choice spots" Tor building, viz: the
"bluils" (hills) along the streams. are
exactly the places TO avoid. first chose
such 4 place. and was sick rs long rs |
slaid there. Now | live mile away
rom asy stream, and am rs hearty rs one
needs 10 be.
Olney is the best and nealest of the
towns in southern Illinois. but those on
the Mississippi are larger. We are build
ing court house wo,th $4,000 aud the
city authorities will put down from five
To ten miles OF brick sidewalk this season.
We have as fine II school building as there
is in the State, aud one Of the best schools
OluoY presents the best opening for anv
kind of manufactures that l know Of
Farming implements of every sort are
shipped here. There is little manufactured
here, except Flour, furniture and custom
made boots and shoes. New England
used to be full OF ingenious young men,
with energy enough to do wonders here.
Can't you send US out lew? Send some
who can build steam engines, thrcshing
machines, plows, and do foundry work OF
all kinds. Anything will succeed here
with work and skill combined.
Yours &c,
+. w. HUTCHINSON.