The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-04-18

Some Notes Taken During Trip
/. Through Green County-GOssipy De-
scrlptiOns of People and Things.


scriptiOns of People and Things.
Especial Correspondence of the sentinel.l
BLOOMFIELD, April 12-The wealth and
intelligence of this county gives it promi-
hence among the southern tiers of the state.
The county Is divided by White river in two
about equal parts The eastern portion is
heavily timbered with walnut poplar, beech,
white oak and ash, which now find a ready
market on the line of the new narrow gauge
railroad. Lime and sandstone of excellent
quality for building purposes are abundant,
and red hematite iron ores are found in
great deposits % feet in thickness, extending
over an area of not less than $50 square
miles. Coal Of good quality is also found in
various localities.
The west portion of the county is well
Kmbered, in part with variety OF
oak and hickory. One-third of it is prairie,
high and rolling, while others are wet and
low, requiring heavy drainage for proper
culture Fine and rich veins of coal from
four TO nine feet, are found in this portion
of the county. The st. Louis, Bloomfield
and Louisville narrow gauge railroad. which
is now in fine running order for Al miles
from Switz City to Bradford, is opening up
the resources of this county to a wonderful
extent Its completion will produce a
mark revolution in the business interests
of this whole country.
Bloomfield is the seat of justice for the
county, where JuQBc ISOOlDSOn Is now OH tile
third week of his court. working from a.
m. to in the evening His lawyers sit
around him like children around their ma
ternal protector-all of them open to fees,
suppose, of all sorts and sizes. The two
Cavens, Taylor, Rose. Shaw and sundry
others make the bar, and the business of the
court moves on with apparently remark
able harmony. Litigation seems to be
the chief way of life here. This is not said
of them in any derogatory sense, for all
know that the times are largely out of joint,
that hard times have brought many to the
very ragged edge of financial ruin. All this
is not strange, for we have been for years, as
is well known, misrepresented in the legis-
lation of the state, and the consequences are
shown in oppressive taxation, which is
grinding the people almost to powder Even
in this county the delinquent list amounts
to $40 900, which fact alone ought to stir the
people to move on the ballotbOx with even
an angry spirit of reform; for it is only there
that they may hope for any relief. For two
years the farmers of this county have lost
their crops by high waters, which have
swept along down White river, destroying
almost the entire crop of the two seasons
This place, the county seat, is the most
sandy town your correspondent has yet
benin in the state. 1t is the only pest
they complain of, for when it rains
it is washed down the streets and
doors and cellars until the whole
town is filled and covered with sand. Their
court house is plain and old fashioned af
fair, but in its offices are to be found Off
Gals who are first class specimens of the
genus homo. Careful capable and honest, it
is only natural that they should be popular
among the people. Among the ladies of this
place there is one who should be introduced
to the readers of the Sentinel, because she is
large hearted, and true, intelligent demo-
crat. Though not allowed to vote she felt
anxious for her country, and when Tilden
was counted out by fraud and perjury she
draped her large flag in mourning, and
placed over its broad stripes and stars the
Ominous words, Never More" by which
she meant that it was the last of our free
elections. Her belief is that this is no lon
ger the republic of a free people. She thinks
that fraud has triumphed over the rights Of
the people, and that liberty has been sub
jected to the tyranny of a corrupt admins
trative oligarcby. Though she is only a
woman-a passive member OF the body poll
tic-her head is level, her spirits true and
her position honorable. Well would it be
for the public virtue If the cOun-
try was full of such noble heroines.
On Thursday paid flying visit to Owens
burgh, IS miles east of the narrow gauge 1t
is a thriving village, and contains an intelli-
gent and good citizenship. The country
around it is rolling, but rich in soil and un-
derlaid with the richest coal and stone.
In politics this county is very equally d.
vided, the republicans rather predominating
but the thing is gradually changing, and the
probabilities are that the eyes of the people
will soon be open, when they will see the
king in his beauty.
They are rather a pious people in these
parts, and men consider themselves religious
If they even happen to be democrats. One
of them met preacher the other day and
gave him a silver quarter. "Are you a
Christian? asked the preacher. 81 guess
l am" was the response "What church do
you belong top asked the preacher. THE
democratic party" was the reply. The an
swer was certainly consistent, for republican
religion is all that the others can boast of
and surely one is as good as the other. Gods
returning boards can not prefer the one to
the other.