The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-04-09
Letter from Illinois.
FAIRFIELD, WAYNE COUNTY, April 2.
tn the FIl;to,- of the iSt1uI1rT.

FAIRFIELD, WAYNE COUNTY, April 2
To the Editor of the Standard
Perhaps some of your many readers of
the STANDARD, will be pleased to hear
from this section of country and think
ing I may say something that will inter
est the people in general l write. We
have been favored with very mild win
ter and blessed with rain and mud
there not being two weeks in succession,
that did not average four days rain
Such a season would disgust any person
with the climate of Southern
Illinois. We had one snow, which
was only two inches deep, and
lasted but few hours. The spring
is opening very avorable-farmers MAX
ing good use of the time in sowing oats
and fiax-fax being the most profitable
crop that is raised, as it is ready for the
market before any other crop. Conse-
quently brings the farmer money when
otherwise he would have to wait until
the oats or wheat crop was ready for
market. Our farmers have to depend
upon the products of the field for their
support, from the fact that, we have no
public works, for men to resortstoo to
earn money while the slow crops are
maturing. Hence the necessity in rails
ing flax-because it is the earliest, the
surest, and the most profitable to the
farmer. We have good stock and farm
ing country-generally well watered.
which is obtained by digging wells and
ponds-some springs but not numerous
by any means The soil is fertile, and
grain and fruits of all kinds produced in
abundance. We never have seen such a
prospect for fine wheat crop as there is
at this time. The surface is generally
level-mostly prairie-timber along the
water courses which consists of oak,
hickory, walnut, beech, cypress, maple
and many others too numerous to men
ton. Fairfield, the county seat of Wayne,
is situated 95 miles southeast of st. Louis,
on the Springfield and Illinois South
eastern Railway, and contains about
three thousand inhabitants. We have
good schools and churches of the differ
ent denominations, Presbyterian, Chris
tian, Baptists and Methodists The new
public school building is just completed
which is a fine brick building, built after
the latest style and by the best workmen
the country can afford-costing S25, ,000
School is now in session under the man
agement of Prof Harding. We think
we have the finest Touring and wooden
mills, that can be found anywhere. One
National Bank managed by E. Bonham
& Co There is not saloon in the
county-whisky is not allowed to be sold,
only on prescription from regular prac-
ticing physician, for medical purposes.
Two first class hotels-Eagle House, w.
A. Vernon, proprietor; and the Jackson
House, J. R. Dales, proprietor. The
county buildings are common-the peo-
pie contemplate building soon. The New
Albany and St. Louis Air Line crosses
the is, q 1. 5. w. r. R. at this place-is
expected to be completed this summer
We have good farming country around
Fairfield. The "Grangers' are creating
much excitement among the farmers of
Illinois. The Temperance Cause" or
"Womans Crusade" has reached some
of the eastern counties. We are happy
to add that we have no saloons in Wayne
county. Some sickness, mostly measles
and fever We know of two deaths from
consumption since we have been in the
State, and these parties were from some
other locality, and were sick at the time
of their arrival.
Respectfully yours,
CHAS. w. VERNON.