Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-11-15
LETTER FROM WISCONSIN.

LETTER FROM WISCONSIN.
Dear Sir.-A few lines may be of |
interest to you, and some of the friends
left behind In good old Vermont. We
left St. Johnsbury, Oct. 10 in the Har-
vey Excursion train, via the P. & O. R.
R. At Swanton we were delayed, on
account of train being off the track,
and from this cause failed to make good |
connections west, and were out one
night longer on the journey than we
expected. We arrived at GAINESVILLE, on |
Friday evening, little tired and shop |
worn, but in good health and spirits.
Here let me stop to say good word
for Mr.. Harvey, who accompanied US on
our way West, and did everything pos
sible for the comfort of his passengers,
on train of eight cars, mostly Vermont
people. Among them on the train, was
Elisha White, well-known in your coun-
ty, always kind and genial. There
were other acquaintance on the train,
and the trip was very pleasant. We
saw some snow drifts in Michigan,
relics of the severe storm that passed
over the Western country, but found that
the storm was not as severe in this Sec
ton, but did some damages to fences,
buildings and fruit trees. The apple
crop here was very large, but the
heavy wind storms have so badly bruis-
ed them, that they are not marketable,
and must be worked into cider. The
cider makers say they shall put the
surplus cider into the cellars for vine
gar, but | am of the opinion that most
of it will be turned into human deprav-
aty in the end.
GAINESVILLE is beautiful and fine city,
its inhabitants mostly from New Eng
land. The first house erected here was
built in 1889. Mr.. Thomas Dixon from
Peacham, VT, his wife from DanVille,
built the second house, and they are
now inhabitants of the city which has a
population of several thousand. There
are many elegant buildings here, both
private and public. | may mention the
Court house built in 1870, which stands
on a beautiful spot, surrounded by
parks, walks, fountains and everything
that makes the spot lovely. The build
ing cost $4,000. The Institution
of the Blind, another elegant building,
cost $4,000.
have visited the country about the
city to some extent, and 1t is the finest
farming country ever saw. This is in
the rolling prairie country, and much of
it has been settled for twenty-five years,
and crops have been borne for that
length of time, without much attention
to replenlshing the soil with manure.
There is an appearance of thrift and
wealth here, and the land is held at
high prices. Of late, farmers in this
vicinity have devoted much of their
land to tobacco raising, this crop being
very profitable, but not always reliable.
The farms here are we'll fenced, and
the buildings are good. The wheat
crop is of little account here now, being
destroyed by insects. To give one a
little idea of the crops raised here,
will state that on the J. a. Blount farm,
containing l60 acres, where | expect to
spend the winter, the crops in 1886
were so acres of corn, now standing in
the field; 40 acres of oats, 10 acres Of
tobacco. the remainder in moving, pas
ture and orchards. The apple crop wa:
1000 bushels. The price of corn is
old 80 to 40 cents a bushel; oats q
cents tobacco from Z to 10 cents
About 1000 pounds to the acre is ar
average tobacco crop. Mr.. Blount ha'
very fine stock, and keeps 25 head o
Durham cattle, large horses, SO hog
and other animals. He recently sole
carload of hogs averaging 1926 pounds
for IL cents pound. l judge tina
these farms pay, but shall learn NOR
about it hereafter. Truly,
ISAAC K. DREW.