Smyrna times., 1880-07-28
Where to Go in Going West,
PRACTICAL HINTS ABOUT IT--BY THOMAS ROCK
WELL.

July the Goth, has the following reference
to the above subject.
" | send you Il COPY Of the Elmira DaiJ
IIUcrtiSer, and have marked an article ell
titled Where to 80 in going West
think it is the best thing on that subject |
ever saw; the writer developing some
thoughts on holding foreign influence in
check tina. in my estimation our political
economists must soon take into grave con.
sideration. The cities OF Cincinnati st.
Louis and Milwaukee particularly have
swallowed the American idea, and now
foreign custom and influences control SO
ciety. For instance, take the matter Of
Sabbath desecration. ! asked in Cincinna-
ii, why don't you have better laws so as
to break this thing up?' and have been
told that the laws were good enough, but
could not be enforced because foreign in
tluence could out vote the American every |
time
"In previous articles have talked about |
the West and South ramblod over its !
area dropping general hints on various |
topics Of general interest. | will now en-
doavor to get down more to the practical. !
Not rs to the n,ochIS opcrntG; as to how to |
go, as to the outfit or route, or anything of |
That kind; but moro especially AZ to good |
locations generally considered.
As to the all-obsorbing question where to
20, would say: Keep well in the central
portions of the West; and bear in mind
that, in all the earlier settled States there
arc often far better chances to buy good
farms than way out on the frontiers and to
find good locations much better to your
! liking. Explorations for new bOnanzas are
chimerical. All is known of the gcographi.
cal outlines and mineral deposits, and az
! riculturai resources, that is necessary as n
guide to any and all the regions adapted to
their chosen occupations. My advice, in
! this article, is especially intended for those
seeking agricultural districts. would adj
wise all such to keep in central ranges. AS
yet, spreading out has seemed to be the
rule. Spreading out, especially from North
to South; You will fad extremes of climate
influences Of heat and cold, and wet and
dry, changes in habits, morals, and un.
COngenial influences 10 which you are
unused, into which you do not readily fall,
and which mark you, to those around you,
rs if you were OF other nations, and make
=
Go where you will, do not try to know too
much or you Will thus become laughing
stock to your neighbors. They take your
measure very rapidly, and you have much
TO learn by experience that you need not
learn 20 if you arc tpaChablc. Eastern
farming and Western farming are two
different institutions. In the East 20
ahead, in the West follow.
" want to say somewhere, and viii say
right here,-don't get your ideas too high
in reference to enormous crops. | have
seen some enormous wheat crops. The
best that ever came under my own obscr-
t vation went thirtytive bushels to the acre.
t Fifteen bushels of wheat to the acre is the
) average yield Of this great staple, all
through the Western States and it is one
of the most uncertain and expensive crops
5 to raise, go where you will. Yet it is the
I farmers best bank. In my advice about
+ going West place, first and foremost, a
j. correct national policy. The nation, which
T. has its centre well filled up with its OWL
:, loyal subjects is prepared to protect it
e flanks from foreign interference and inva
,. sion. And long seasons of peace and in
= dustry bring their sure reward in materia
II prosperity, with frugal management at ever
e moderate gains. 1t is not the much in
vests, that paves the way to fortune. AM
!, true conservatism creates the peaceful
g flow Of enjoyment and wealth.
r, mo other country, like our own, open
1T its centre with great national highways an,
er invites and precipitates the subjects q
ar other nations as citizens and lawful heir
1T into its central realms. Our nation ha
lg been doing so, is still doing so, and is thu
e. placing. centrally, faggots that will, not III
likely, hereafter ignite and fire the natio
II. into contending factions that will endange
I'd and overthrow it. To state the fact is
ey sufficient hint at the principle involved.
a. will treat this subject at length in anothC
o. chapter, ere long.
lie For agricultural purpose the centri
ne portions of the country excel all other
lie Being with a doubtful national polio
he made free to all. our country is now beir
up embosomed with foreigners, and for I'll
M. want Of an established conservatism, oil
nl own native.born citizens of the West a
ge becoming stragglers among foreigners
ne their own native land, and are to-day on
nd nationalized by rivals from European cou
liy tries, who, hitherto, ought to have bet
ro- limited by latitudinal lines. Hence, | a
or wise Eastern people to hold themselves
icy central ranges so as to map Americans her
~" Inc great w eStcTI plains are, as yt
Mt but sparsely setted And here is the ce
an tral wedge that must hold open the centr
Tor way that masses Americans and holds
RS bay foreign rivals. The Monroe doctri
av- needs to be practically enunciated heI
IN And every Eastern man here helps to e
ere force it, and to hold the key that preserv
lad the gateway that shuts in what he ought
to keen, and fastens out what we may n
safely admit on an equal footing with o
ial. native. born American citizens.
ow "Further than this, advice about local.
oor is superAuohs. 1t is subject to the tai
flu. of selfinterest; matter of personal choi,
{ it of tastes, likes and dislikes; and to t
.th. tenure of kinship. friendship, and neig
th borly alliances. 1t may be gagged BY
on. mans native locality, the state of
rls, health, and his power of endurance.
of the healthy, robust and strong-those W
live can endure the rigors of Northern wint,
ice, by all means keep in the more Northe
range of States. The more feeble-tht
ion. wishing to improve health, should get W
hat South on the great plains. AS you
iris West you will find laws and people mu
day as they are East on tho same range till y
ing get to the Rocky Mountain chains a
ars, rivers that divide the North and Sou
cca. east Mississippi, west OF that cease. Her
esh. here we have West and North and Sol
combined in one unbroken field, eve
the where about equal for agricultural pur
rent ses. Here nature has formed ne natu
re- q barriers, and Americans meet in an sN
best field; and the national spirit of freed
rave and the sectional one of slavery here f
or a came face to face on plain where the c
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