The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-10-06
Correspondence Of the News.
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
ATRIP TO ATCHIsON COUNTY.
BURLINGTON JUNCTION, Mo, 7
Sep. ii, 1881. (

Sep. II, 1881.
EDITOR NEws:-Again I take up
my pen, to give your readers a short
description Of the county of Atchi-
son, which lies Just west of Noda-
way county.
Last Thursday morning I mount
ed my horse, to take q rambIe
through the western part of Noda-
way and the eastern partof Atohison
counties. The morning was bright,
and all Nature seemed to be reioic-
ing in the genial sunshine of a
bright September day. As I rode
along over the broad prairies, I was
startled by the familiar cooling Of the
turtle dove, which brought to recol-
eetion the scenes Of my boyhood,
around the old home in the grand
old Buckeye State. Coming to the
Nodaway river, I crossed the slug
gish stream and wound my way
westward through the shrubby tim
Der that skirts its banks. At length
emerging from the pleasant shade, a
sight Of grandeur and majesty met
my eyes. Stretching for miles, as
far as the eye could reach, I beheld
broad prairie Of unsurpassed fertil-
ity. This vast area, but a few years
ago, was the home Of the bison and
the antelope, but to-day they are no
more to be seen. It is now dotted
over with the homes of enterprising
and thrifty farmers. Vast fields Of
corn, that will yield from 40 to 50
bushels per acre, can be seen on
every hand.
as 1 rode along 1 could not help
recalling the poets lines
"Broad prairies, decsed with flowers OF gold,
Like sunHJ oceans rou afar,
Broad lakes the azure heavens behold,
Rejecting clear each trembling s.ar.
Ali save the last two lines is true
Of this country, There are no broad
lakes here, but the prairie IS decked
with flowers Of gold at this season
Of the year.
I will now give you some facts
about the price Of land, rent, etc.
Land rates from $50 % so per acre,
according to improvements, Rsw
land can be bought for $50 per acre,
while improved land costs S25 to
$50 per acre. Several pretty well
improved farms were offered me at
S24 per acre. Land can be rented
for one-third in the crib or half in
the field, which is better than can
be done in NOdaway county.
Fruit is scarce here in Atcbison
the present season, as the cOnse-
sequence of a hard winter and very
dry summer, I saw quite q number
Of fine young orchards, which are
just beginning to bear and will in a
few years produce abundance of
fruit.
This county is well watered by
the Tarkio river and its branches, be-
sides other smaller streams. The
county is full ofnever-failing springs,
and water can be had at almost
any place by digging from 20 to 35
feet.
The schools of this county are
good, and are supplied with efficient
teachers. Wages about the same as.
as in Nodaway county, from S25 to
$40 per month.
ROckpOrt, the county seat Of At
Gibson county, is in the western
part of the county, It is a town Of
perhaps 1000 inhabitants. There
is talk of moving the county seat to
Tarkio City, a young town of hard
ly two years growth. It is near the
center Of the county, and would be
a good county seat.
I will close this letter by saying
that Atchison county is a good
place to get homes, and would ad-
wise my Highland county friends to
come out and look at the country,
for I feel sure that II they would see
this country they would never be
satisfied to remain in Ohio. I feel
ike helping the Ohio folks to secure
a home in the West, and any letter
addressed 80 me, accompanied by O
stamp, will receive prompt attention,
and 1 will give you all the informa-
ton in my power in regard to our
county. Yours Respectfully,
WIN. H. FARHsa.