The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-01-30
TREMPEALEAN Wis, Jan. II, 1879

80 the Editor of the Standard:
l was much pleased in receiving your
paper not long since, being the first copy
l have had the pleasure to read for some
time. 1t made me feel as though I was
in Jackson county again. 1t was a let.
ter from home and friends. It was like
shaking hands with old acquain tances.
And by way of recompense for my past
| Indebtedness, will send a few articles from
the north west for its readers, if you deem
them worthy of publication.
MY location is about 800 miles nor tn
west of Chicago on the Mississippi river.
The surrounding sceneries of the village
(Trempealean) are very picturesque and
attractive to all admirers of landscape
views The towering peaks and bluffs on
either side of the Mississippi, and the far
stretching prairies on the Wisconsin side
make this one of the most lovely places
on the Mississippi.
This part of Wisconsin has been settled
for about 90 to 27 years; but the greater
part within the last 10 or Is. There is a
variety of nationalities, viz: English,
German, Norwegian, Poles and several
others-in all IL or IA within the county.
But by the proficient school system and
interest manifested in education, the for
eigners soon become practically well ac-
quainted with our form of governm ent
and are made good and intelligent citi-
zens.
The educational system differs some
from that IN Ohio. Here we have a coun-
ty superintendent whose duty is to grant
licenses or certificates to teachers and
visits all the schools within the county
twice each year. At present there is a
lady superintendent, and by her energy
and enthusiasm in endeavoring to secure
good and efficient teachers, the schools
seem to be in q prospering condition.
Farming and numbering are the leading
industries of this part of the State
Wheat, corn, oats and rye are the chief
cereals. But the wheat crop on account
of the chinch bugs and blight has been
light for the last few years. A lew days
before harvest last year the wheat pros
pect was never more promising, but the
hot weather came just in time to blight
the Izernel-thus making the quality very
poor.
Times are very hard and money almost
impossible to get All kinds of produce
are at the lowest figures. Wheat from
36 cts. to IS cts. per bus hel-owing to the
quality; oats IS to 20 cts; corn 25 cts;
pork s. 80 to $3.50 per cwt.
The lumber yards az reported are do
ing a lively business-thus furnishing
employment for great many men and
teams.
The men, who have bought farms and
gave mortgages on the land are the ones
who feel the depression most severely.
But fear Of assuming too much space
will leave off by telling something of the
winters.
For the last two or three winters there
has been no severe freezing; but on New
Years day this year cold blast from the
northern regions came changing the eli
mate from 36o above zero to 27o below
within 36 hours. l tell you, Mr. Editor,
uh- -h-uh-h, it was cold. In western parts
of Iowa and Mimi, the thermometer
stood $50 below zero. Numbers are report
ed as having been frozen to death.
Should this be worthy of space in your
columns, [ shall write again and speak
more fully of the development and pros
perity of the north west. Yours,
D. w. GILLILAND.