The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-06-12

me while trying to take in this great
country "and the rest Of mankind" that
a mans head or mental capacity was
like a vessel, it will contain so much, and
when you attempt to force in, or retain
more, it can only be done by displacing
or losing a portion Of what has already
been acquired. The idea wish to con-
vey is, that If ! don't improve a present
leisure hour to unload my mind Of some
impressions 1 have already received Of
the West, they will be lost-shoved out,
to make room for something else, and so
I'll unload my first collection. Reader,
have you not lost many an idea worthy
of preservation, because of neglect or
want of opportunity to note it down at
the time it occurred to your
On my way west stopped off at Van
dalia, Illinois, to visit relatives formerly
from Stark county. twill be remem'
bered that Vandalia was the original
Clpital, and that the country around
that portion of the State was settled long
before the northern or prairie section, 80
preiudiced we're our eastern farmers to
land without timber. What particularly
struck me in the appearance of this
country, was the absence Of that thrift
and prosperity which Characterizes our
ENekh1Nla lnnEfnnr hOtIunp
surrounded with shade trees, the bank
barn, with straw'stack and other out
buildings, were not to be seen. On the
contrary, the farm dwellings we're usu'
ally small frame houses, unpainted, the
covering for stock shed, or the merest
apology for stable; the fences poor; ev.
erything around the habitable place
wore awoe-begone look, ,betrayinga shift
less way of living. The lay of the land,
and the appearance Of the corn and
wheat was as promising as that between
Canton and Maesillon; and yet the count
ry will not compare with ours in eviden'
Ces of prosperity. My uncle, Philip Slus-
ser of TurCarawas township, sold his
farm lying near Brookfeld, thirty years
ago, for $35 an acre, and bought four
hundred acre tract, with two'story
brick house, two miles from Vandalia,
then the capital of the State, for So an
all acre. For the last several years the
heirs have been trying to sell it, and yet
cannot get an offer. No land has been
bought or sold in that section for long
time They first offered it at $35 an
acre, then $50; would now take $25, and
yet no buyers. The farm that was left
in Stark county has since changed hands
at $l00 an acre. The heirs tell me the
land in Illinois, for all purposes, is bet.
ter than that in Stark county; the count.
ry is quite as healthy, and this contra.
riety is to me inexrlicable. Jacob Rit.
ter, who left Stark county years ago, be-
came rich by farming in this neighbor.
hood. One year he harvested over 5000
bushels of wheat. He has been dead
several years, but his two sons have
model farms.
You would be surprised at the interest
manifested outside the State in our ap.
preaching Gubernatnrial contest. The
nomination of Foster was announced
while was in Illinois. The Republi-
cans heard speak of it expressed dis
appointment and regret. Using their
language Fosters manipulation of the
Louisiana contest, declaring the State
for Hayes, yet making Nichols Governor,
was three card monte trick, inConsist.
ent with the conduct of an honest, up.
right statesman" Judge Taft was their
preference; not as an expression in favor
of Grant for next President, but because
they considered him an exponent of Re-
publican principles, and a man who
would not stoop to trickery to attain po-
litiCal success. The nomination of Ew.
ing reached me the following morning at
Sedalia, Mo- The cars were crowded,
and it created very perceptible buzz
among the passengers. 1t was plainly
to be seen that quite number present
could not restrain their feelings Of Joy at
the result. Wherever l go, and when.
ever introduced as a gentleman from
Ohio, almost the irst subject introduced
latter the weather., is the coming polit-
ical contest in Ohio. see by the pa
pers that Blaine is to be with you. Had
not better send Henry Clay Dean over
the line to help shake the bloody shirt2
Kansas City is an active, enterprising
place of 60 900 inhabitants, increasing at
the rate of one thousand monthly, and
erecting on an average 100 buildings a
month. This sounds Munchausen like,
but | was assured by Creditable witnesses
that it was actually fact, The city is
built upon the hills and in the hollows.
The streets and sidewalks are narrow,
and there is an immense amount of filth
lying around loose, which will be certain
to invite yellow fever, if we are to have
it above certain latitude this year. Ev.
cry citizen of Kansas City talks big of
their future destiny. They are to be the
city between Chicago ard Denver. As
1t is now port Of entry, appropriations
have been made for Government build.
ings; and there can be no question about
it's growth, but it has most Wretched
site.
On the cars from Kansas City to this
place was a company of Indian chiefs,
big and little, of the Arrapahoes and
Cheyenne tribes, now occupying the In
dian territory. They occupied the smo.
king car, and l had several interviews
with them, or rather with the Govern.
ment agent and interpreter. They had |
been on to Washington, making an effort |
to be returned to their former reserVa.
ton in Montana.
intended writing you about Topeka,
but have just received notice to get ready |
for the train west, so am compelled to
cl ose in haste. L. s.