Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-07-11
MIoHIaANMsummER.

Dear Reed-In my last, 1 believe Ief
myself IN one of MIchigan's celebrated be.
neOOIent institutions, but hope you have
lost no sleep on my account. After due
trial, l was passed out, and came on to
thus place Saturday p. m, and having had
a weeks run over this and Kalamazoo
county, am ready TO offer my observa-
tions aud conclusions.
In this county the surface IS quite roll
ing, and shows unmistakable evidences of
its drift origin. The soil as a rule is
sandy, though loan and clay districts are
not wanting. In some localities the sand
is too yellow to indicate first class soil.
The timbered area consists mostly OF oak
openings, filed in, in many places, with q
thick growth of underbrush. This made
"breaking up" a great business in the ear
ly days of the county. This was done
with team of from to 10 yoke of cattle
attached to heavy steel plow, and the
work required muscle, have seen many a
farmer broken down and prematurely old
from his own exertions in preparing the
helds which to-day are covered with gol-
den grain. There are localities where ex-
ceilent timber of other varieties than oak
IS abundant. There are but few running
streams, small lakes, abounding in excel
lent fsh are numerous, and marshes COW
cred with thrifty growth of tamarack are
not wanting.
The staple products are wheat and
wool. Corn grows luxuriantly, but the
soil does not seem adapted to timothy
Before the introduction of clover, the only
hay was the product of the marshes. But
few cattle are raised, and nearly all the
hogs 1 have seen remind me of fthose prim-
tive breeds delineated in the sketches
from the south, published in Sert6Her and
Harper. There may be cause for this.
An intelligent farmer told me day or
two since, that the people have nothing
to trouble them except when tOads begin
to pull the corn, or sheep TO eat the pigs.
Michigan claims to be the first wheat
growing State in the Union, and Barry
is the banner county. The township of
Rutland, lying west of this. has the repu-
tation of yielding the best quality.
One thing have noticed with parhcu-
lar interest. Though the county is yet
new; summer folIering" is Systematically
and rigidly followed. Through this pro-
cess and heavy clovering, the quality of
the soil, excellent in its primitive state, is
kept up, so far as richness is concerned.
Would not the farmers of Ashtabula do
well to pattern2
Gong across the county, I find on ap-
preaching kalamazoo, the character of
the surface and soil changes, the one being
more level, the other dark, rich loa NJ
Corn is here of luxuriant growth, and
an abundant wheat crop is fast ripening.
The character of farming is essentially the
same as in Barry. But I found on inquiry,
that the quality OF the wheat. after long
cropping, is deteriOrating. This substGn-
tiated what had told some of the farm
ers of the latter county, that they will
ultimately have 10 resort to the impOrta-
ton of manures to supply the loss of ell
ements arising from the heavy expOrta-
ton of grain. The same lack of running
water exists here, and as stock is more
abundant, almost every farm has its great
water tank, kept constantly full by wind
mill adjustment In Kalamazoo soil, tim
othy does well. The county having been
longer settled, more attention is paid to
the improvement of stock than in Barry.
1 have been much pleased in noting the
commodIous and tidy appearance of the
school houses, the people are now rapidly
building. Just few of the rude log ones
of the first settlers remain, speak more for
the real grit of American educational en-
prise than her most imposing institute Gus
even.
Kalamazoo is the centre of travel for a
large district of country, and is thriving
city of $4,000 inhabitants. 1t supports
one daily and two weekly papers. and
contains thirteen churches. Here, besides
its public schools, are located a Baptist
college and Jewish seminary, business
college and young ladies seminary, on
the HOlyoke plan. The latter is beauti-
fully located on an eminence overlooking
the city. The attendance upon this has
not been so great. and in looking tor a
reason, 1 am led to inquire if the opening
of so many colleges to young ladies, is not
going TO do away, to considerable ex-
tent at least, with the necessity for exclu-
siFe female schools.
Here and at Hastings, the liquor men
have vented their spleen against the tenn
perance movement by .deadening shade
trees in private parks, and by defacing
churches and the residences Of prominent
temperance people, with ink. In this city
a marble shop was entered and work TO
the amount of thousand dollars was Ge-
stroyed by bespattering it with India ink
Hastings is a thriving town of2,OOO in
habitants. The banner of Republicanism,
if there can now be said to be one, is held
aloft by the Hastings Republican, while
the Home Journal, is the exponent OF De-
mocracy, if there is any. There is con-
centrating here lively manufacturing in
teres., and every thing betokens material
nrosperity. Provisions have been made
for an extensive and beautiful park, and
.he necessity for cremation is avoided by
having located the cemetery entirely with
ont the town, The new public school
building, erected on site commanding a
view of the eopptry for miles around, is,
every thing consideGed, the best arranged
and ventilated for seEuripg the comfort
and well being of ehildreR. Of any nave
ever seen. A years use shows no scratch,
which speaks we'll for the discipline or
the school. The property will cost the
people 100000. H. =. j.
Hastings, Barry Co. Mich Juue a.
The new portions of the city are regu-
1srlv laid out, and in few years will be
I ,veli shaded. There are a few small parks
~ ,,ot such as should be expected by
grest ely. To supply this deficiency a
nroiect Is an foot to purchase Belle Is
land, lying ia She river above, for a city