Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-17
A Model Illinois City.

beauties and attractions cannot be realized
save by experience. The only item lack
ing is romantic surroundings. All within
Is wealth Of beauty upon which the eye
delights 10 linger. If all of mankind aud
his inhabitants, except one loving couple,
were subtractcd from the whole, it would
be spot which would surely remind us Of
that Eden where man first lived, loved
and fell.
The city is the county seat OF Knox
county, and is five miles from Knoxville,
which formerly enjoyed that honor. 1t is
exactly one hundred and sixty.four miles
southwest of Chicago, and about fifty miles
east of the Mississippi river. The populs-
tion is between thirteen and fifteen thou
sand, among whom are many Swedes, To
whose thrift and industry the city is large
ly indebted. This number Of people would
occupy only small space amid the hills Of
Pennsylvania but with the grand freedom,
which broad expanse of habitable terri
tory affords, the people have selected their
plots of ground and erected their homes
without Limitation Of space, and the city
now covers an almost interminable area
over which one may walk for week with
out traversing it all.
Abiding TO its imperfections first, it is
proper 10 say that the business portion of
the city is comparatively homely and in
significant. There are no stately business
blocks-no attempts at imposing arcbitec.
ture. They are all plain and unpreten-
tious, frequently not over one story in
height, and very deceptive of the true
beauty Of the city. None of the store
rooms are deep and capacious, yet all carry
a large stock and transact lively business.
The reason for the absence Of lofty archi-
lecture is probably due TO the prevalence
of high winds.
But 1t is exceedingly refreshing TO walk
from the business portions of the city in
any direction. On either side the streets are
lined with glorious shade trees, the over
archng branches of which almost touch at
the top, forming a bower of beauty be-
meath Neat fences or evergreen hedges
enclose beautiful, well-cuiivated grounds.
Within is wealth Of trees and shrubbery.
Nesting far back amid this profusion of
green is the neat frame dwelling in which
the owner resides. The wonder to strAng-
ers is the numbers OF such homes. Instead
of one or two streets thus beautified, every
thoroughfare presents similar scene.
There are absolutely no houses built even
with the street, and there are none without
surrounding grounds. Nearly all are low,
rambling, neat frame houses. Many are
commodious and pretty, though none are
elegant. Words cannot express the ex-
quisite, home-like aspect which pervades
each of these delightful retreats.
None of the trees are native, but they
grow in limitless numbers and luxuriant
beauty. They take naturally To their new
homes when planted in Knox county soil,
and thrive more exuberantly than in the
East The same may be said Of the shrub
berry and other vegetation with which the
handsome grounds are ornamented Fruit
trees indicate that the seasons here are at
least two weeks in advance of those Of
Centre county, as the full, round, plump,
ripe cherry is now hanging in rich beauty
upon the trees.
An immense plot of ground just south Of
the business portion Is devoted to Park
Promenades intersect one another through
IL and comfortable seats invite the wayfarer
70 linger. 1t seems to be an entirely su-
perauous luxury where almost every fami-
ly have their own private grounds. 1t is
worthy of remark that riding Is the princi-
pie recreation with the ladies and children
of Galesburg. Every one owns horse
and conveyance, and pleasant afternoon
presents long procession of private car
riages, driven by the ladies, who are ac-
eomplished and dexturous horsewomen
Another and more refreshing popularity is
the entire absence of poverty. All can
procure the necessaries Of life. Taxes are
low, the city Is without debt, and has an
unexpended balance in the treasury.
The Galesburg markets are glorious TO
behold. Every fruit and vegetable In high
perfection are obtainsble. At the frst blush
of spring the early fruits and vegetables
are brought up the river from New Or
leans. Then they are prolonged until the
glowing sun has ripened the last straw
berry on the banks of lake Michigan.
Peas, beans, cauliaower, cabbage, aspara-
gus, bects, lettuce, strawberries, raspber-
ries, cherries, &C., are now in their fullest
glory.
One of the industrial institutions Of
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