, 1878-07-18
COMM MICATED.
ST. JoHNsBuR,, Vermont, June 10, 1878

ST. JOHNSBURI, Vermont, June ID. 1873.
DEAR ARGUs:-When we closed on
short letter we were in Utah. enjoying IT,
society OF those peculiar people who laN
endured much persecution aud privato,
for the sake of theirRELIGION rs they call II.
They talk much about the next world. yr'
they appear to be working for this world
enjoyment.
1t appears to be natural and we are no
exceptions for mankind to speak Ot tn.
evils and mistakes made BY our nrigllhO s.
or society, but say little about their good
deeds Would il not be better if we could
reverse this habit~amd speak Of our neigh
bOr's good deeds, and omit the BAD. The
Mormon Church law of temperance and
non-usc OF tobacco. and their industry and
economy are worthy of imitation.
In our travel East. from Utah, we found
snow until we came down near the Platte
river. We ran north up into Minnesota;
thence south as far as the Missouri line.
In all this route vegetation did not appear
much ahead of Washington Territory
when we left. There had been much rain
in Illinois, and many acres had not been
plowed, We dropped off at several lOcai-
ties. which enabled Us to see the products
of the lands and the ability OF the people
TO get a living. and also to hear their COM
plants relative to business and finance.
1t is not that there Is no money in the
country. as we learn that there Is plenty
OF money IN banks, which can be obtained
by good security. What the farmers want
here is some person to purchase their pro-
duce and pay good price. But the
present aspect of business cannot encour-
age the speculator to purchase the farmers
produce and pay farmers prices. Farm
ers IN the States, who could sell, in the
time Of the war. their corn for fifty or sixty
cents per bushel, their butter at fifty cents
per pound. and other produce In propor-
ton, now consider it murder to have to
take 20 cents for corn. IA cents for butter.
etc. The facts are that times are coming
down to the BED ROCK of business that eX-
isted before the war. and the people must
come down also or be wrecked financially.
This is the condition Of Illinois. Iowa,
Wisconsin and those States in the West.
so called But the New England States,
to all appearance, are lot in as good con-
ditiOn. Nearly One-half of the farms are
mOrtgaged for more than they would bring
under the hammer. We had given the
New England people credit for economy
in business. but the high prices and piles
of greenbacks that were in circulation II
few years ago upset the reason Of the sOns
of the Puritans, and they are now-many
OF them-banKrupt. The people OF WASH
ingtOn Territory should be content
Congress is passing some appropriation
bills, and cleaning up some necessary work
that cannot be put Oft till they meet next
time. Nothing OF great interest. The
only thing in Washington that interests
the public here much is the work Of the
committee that has been appointed to un-
earth the last Presidential election. 1t
will take a person that can look further
into milestone than we can to see any
good that can come out OF the invcstiga-
tion of this committee now. 1t can In no
way affect Mr.. Hayes, but may have some
weight in the next election. L. b. IL.