Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-13
Two Interesting Letters.

To the Editor of the Republican,:
Knowing that many LaPorte people
are turning their attention westward
and watching with interest the progress
of civilization in that direction, L
thought perhaps few lines from one
who is making a tour of observation
through the west, might possibly inter-
est them and for a short time divert
their thoughts in another direction,
and give their political bumps rest;
pointed over Morton as the Minneso-
tians and IowaLs are over Blaine,
their political minds need rest. Every
body i'm this section of the country was
for Blaine, and while they freely admit
that the election of Hayes is certain,
with probably larger majority than
Blaine could have got, and also avoid
ing the acrimonious fight that would
surely have followed the nomination of
Blaine, still many of them so admired
Blaine for his Craftsmanship, ability
and gallantry, especially as displayed
in his last effort in congress in fighting
single-handed and alone the entire
Southern Confederacy through their
committee of ex-rebel generals and
routing them as he did, that they felt
it would be a great satisfaction for
them to help place him in the presiden-
tial chair; but they acknowledge the
wisdom of the convention and propose
to astonish the world and especially
that part of it south of Mason Il Dix
on's line with the majorities they will
roll up this fall for Hayes & Wheeler.
Ihave visited through most of Wis
consin and Minnesota, and part of
Northern Iowa thus far. Central and
Southern Wisconsin seemed to be pros
pering in the way of agriculture, but
complain bitterly in mercantile affairs
very much as in Northern Indiana.
As / passed over into Central and
Southern Minnesota, the scenery
changed somewhat. From st. Paul
and Minneapolis ON the north to the
southern boundary Of the State. and as
far west as New Ulm heard butlittle
complaint either as to trade or finance.
In this section they raise nothing worth
mentioning but wheat; but that they
raise with a vengence. A person
can travel all day without get
ting of from wheat except in crossing
roads. 1 drove so miles in one day and
nearly in one direction, and not a mile
but what there was wheat OH one or
both sides of the road. A person who
has never been through this country,
cannot possibly imagine the vast area
of wheat to be found in Southern Min
nesota. Wheat looks well, consider
ing the heavy and constant rains they
have had all the season thus far. |
have seen fields that have had wheat on
for the last twenty years, and never
yielded less than seventeen bushels per
acre, and last year yielded "a, and have
averaged, ever since breaking, Is BUSH
els to the acre. Who can wonder that
farmers are owning hundreds and thou
sands Of acres in this favored State.
OTTUMwA, Iowa, June 18th.
Since writing you last, have travel
ed over most Of Iowa and into North
ern Missouri. 1t has rained almost
continuously for the last ten days, in
consequence of which, farmers are look
ing blue. The farther south L have
been the wetter it seems to be and the
poorer the corn, which by the way, is
the chief grain production of Iowa. In
MIMI, you see nothing but wheat fields
in Iowa, corn and grass. Formerly,
Iowa raised more wheat than now, but
the quality graded so low, that wheat
raising in Central and Southern Iowa
has given way almost entirely to corn
and stock-raising. Every little way,
you will see large herds of cattle, guard
ed by herdsmen on horseback, and in
some parts of the State the hog trade
is becoming large and profitable
source of revenue. Through the south
ern half of Iowa corn will not average
over six inches in height, while any
quantity can be seen in the extreme
south not over four inches. This lat
ter seems to have been planted lately,
and looks clean and nice, while the
larger corn, owing to the wet weather,
looks yellow and sickly, and most of it
badly frost-bitten, while the grass out
ranks the corn in growth, much of it
not having been worked at all. La
Porte farmers would not expect any
paying return from such corn, but here
hey still feel hopeful, provided the wet
season is over, which looks favorable
to-day. There does not seem to be as
much emigration to Southern Iowa as
farther north, although they claim
throughout the State much larger
migration to the State than before in
years. Wild lands i'm Northern and
Central Iowa and Southern Minnesota
have increased from 80 to 100 per cent.
in the past two years. What effect the
western floods, grasshOppers, chinch
bugs, hessian fly and other evils will
have upon emigration for the next two
years remains to be seen. Much of the
wheat all through Iowa and Southern
Minnesota is turning yellow, claimed
by some to be caused by the chinch
bug and hessian fly and by others to be
caused by the extreme wet weather.
Wheat looks worse on old fields than ON
new breaking. Take it all in all, / am
however, well convinced that west of
the Mississippi is the place for man
of small means and industrious habits,
provided he is willing to forego some
of the Injuries and pleasures to be
found in older settled countries and has
the ''sand" to stick till these luxuries
0vertake him which they are sure to
do, just as they did the old settlers of
Marshall county, who are to-day reap
ing the reward of their enterprise and
pluck. One thing notice west OF the
great river" you hear but little COM
planning of hard times as yet; all APP
pear to feel hopeful and satisfied, and
wherever you go, the people are all SAN
guine that they live in the most pros
porous part of the country west, and
claim that theirs is the favored spot. |
found Cedar Rapids, MarshalltOwn |
and DesMoines all thriving, enterpris- |