Connecticut western news., 1875-07-02
csnneesicas Western Reserve.

 EDITOR NEWS :-In my last letter think l Ipromised to introduce to your readers Ashtabula county, the largest of the eleven composing the Western Reserve, and in many respects the finest in the state of Ohio. I mean to do more than merely in- troduce you-for introduction without ac- qaaintance is very unsatisfactory sort of ceremony. Ihope may be able to talk to you of 1t in . homsly, companionable and inselligible manner tha. you may feel per sonal acquaintance with tin all its flatness, and with us, joint heirs and kinfolk.'
 We throw open our wide, hospitable doors to you come in and sit in our spa cious farm kitchens, and whether it be be- aide the broad hearth of the old-fashioned fireplace. or around the more modern Stew art stove, you will find warm welcome and a great store of treasured "reminiscences of the east, inherited from fathers and moth CTS long since dead-voluntary exiles from dear old New England. The whole home atmosphere of the Western Reserve is east ern in character; there's smell of baked beans and brown bread in every pantry; a little of the Yankee twang in the speech and manner of the people, and certain order and thrift that will make you at home at once. ..-
 There is many an Obed getting the COWS home this day in Ohio who is 8 true de- scendant of Brother Jonathan in face and limb, and we consider ourselves, with req son, quite as Yankee as Connecticut her self. Shall say word about the topo- graphy of the country before begin Our county comprises 2s townships, each five miles square, arranged in live parallel rows frem north to south, built 'on the square from the foundation, as you will see at once. Each town IS divided into sections and lots. surveyed as accurately as squares on chess board the country roads all run in . straight fine, as if going unswery- ingly about their business, and a road that varies from this mather atical precision is either strengthened at once by new sur vey, or if hopelessly settled in its crooked ways. is dubbed 6 diagonal in distinction. Our villages are mostly laid out in the same Wsy-doubtless mere utllitarian than the winding, lncalculable roads of Connecticut but not half SO beautiful. .-...
 The whole county fronts on Lake Erie on the noFth-the least beautiful of all tho great lakes, but the most historical. Supe fior is richer in mineral wealth, sea-green Michigan is more beautiful, blue Huror more wildly romantic, and gray Ontario more placid, but brown Erie finds it's recon pense in the historical interest whict enriches its shores. From the old fort eehlosser on the east to Detroit on thu western extremity, are strewn relics, atiq- uities and the memory of many battles The lake derives its name from the Fries, { tribe of Indians inhabiting its shores 20t years ago, and so utterly exterminated bl the Iroquois as to leave nothi ng behind them but their name.
 Looking south from Lake Erie we see gently rising. level. green country not 1 mountain in the whole county: not rocl asilarge as table in it's whole extent, ani as natural consequence of it's level sur face. no large streams. The climax of tht county in height is reached near Jefferson and from thence south stretches out tht slightly rolling towns that form the greate poEtion of it's surface. The soil for thret niles south of the lake is very sandy, warn and productive the remaineris nnmitiga, ted and inexcusable clay, not unmanagea ble, but requiring some care in order t render it very profitable. Deep, ,ploughing Is the watchword of the thrifty farmers and such will get rich reward anywhere bat the majority of the farmers rely mainl, upon dairying as means of support an source of profit. Of this msnnfacturin interest Gone of the greatest of the county I will perhaps say something next time.
 HAD.
 Jefferson, Ohio, June Fist, 1875