Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-29
The Great West.

We give place below to the reply of a Western lady to letter that appeared in the Sentinel recently. We imagine that the truth lies somewhere between the two statements-very likely little farther west, however, than we stay-at-home East erners are apt to suppose:
 MR. ED1roR.-I saw few weeks since an article in the Litchfeld Sentinel re- garding the country west of the Missis- sippi. It purported to have been, written by New Hampshire man, and having been myself resident of South ern Kansas for number of years, feel in duty bound to correct several errors into which the writer has fallen.
 First. he endeayors to make it appear that none of the many that have gone into those Western States can return with as much money as they carried away In re- gerd to that l can say know of, and ail personally acquainted with, many who have made themselves independent by going there, all eastern men too. One in particular am thinking of who is said to have gone there bankrupt, and who is now judged to be worth from $50, 900 to $60,000 Another who went to the same place with only ten dollars in his pocket can now count his thousands. Still another, Connecticut man too, has acquired large property and instead of being anxious to sell out and return east, he told me he had visited Connecticut twice since he left there, but that the last time he spent but one week, not being able to remain longer contented away from his Kansas home. Thus it is with very many that go there. Of course there IS an occasional croaker, some discontent- ed one, as there is ill every place, but let. an enterprising man go there, and if he cannot live it is his own fault. As regards the price of land, it is quality and location that controls the. price of land, west, as well as east, and prairie at 8 an acre might suit our Granite State man provided he is not fond of ledge. The greatest wonder is that he ever left the shadow of the White Mountains, even for short season.
 As for ''all being anxious to sell out" I think his visit must have been made among the class called squatters, who stop on claim just long enough to deed it, often without turning a furrow or. making the least improvement, then if they can get some one to take half, and pay for their half, they are anxious to sell out and prepare to squat again. There are likewise others who take claims, go on and make improvements; soon the country around them becomes settled; ! when, like Daniel Boone, the first settler of Kentucky, they become anxious to sell out and push on to the frontier, the coun-I try being too old for them. This class appear to be of little benefit to society, except in opening up new country. InI that respect they are very necessary.
 Now, one more word to the author of that article. We would advise him tol look at our country in geographical point of view. The Mississippi is far east of the central dividing line of the United States, and this country is destined to be- come settled from ocean to ocean by emi. grants from Europe and the east. They will press on unmindful of the effortsl made to retard and discourage them byI some that occupy @ spot about as large asI bed blanket, compared with the Statesl west of the Mississippi. And whence are the future supplies of surplus wheat toI come, if not from the states west of the| Mississippi? But little of that grain isl raised now in states that formerly prol duced an abundance. Look at the Gem nesee Flats, Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indianal Even in | the fertile State of Illinois. but very little ' winter wheat is raised. I would advise those that prefer wheat bread to rye and indian, to make true statements or re- main silent in regard to the far west.
 thinking they may yet be obliged to look to that section for the very bread they eat. Had the first settlements of this country been made in the west on some cf those beautiful prairies, and had our Puritan Fathers possessed the same end terprising spirit of our New Hampshirs
 native, think Naw England would stili remain a wilderness, the habitation of thd red man and refuge for wild beasts, A LOVER OF TRUTH AND JusrIcE. l