South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-07-07
Letter from Illinois.
UREA. Ia SALLr Co J,,. .,

Sy VIII vi inLereft TO TIC mauy
readers OF your valuable paper.
In The trst place will try TO give you
oriet description of La Sale county
Illinois.
La Sale county was organized in 1891
with l4i congressional townships. n ter.
ritory los miles from north 10 south
aud 4S miles from east to vest. AMI Az
estimated population OF from Eve to Sc.
ven hundred. II lies near the center OF
the northern bali of tie State, aud ia
present area comprises thirty-two town.
ships, or i,l52 square miles. II is bouu.
oed on the North by the counties OF Leo
and Dokaib, on the east by Kendall and
Gruady, on the South by Livingston.
Woodford and MARSHALL, and on the vest
oy Putnam, Bureau and Lee. The soil
OF TIE prairie land is black mold. under
laid With yellow, marty clay, and excan.
along the Illinois Rive, the strea,ns
tavo very little bottom land. Timber
Is abundant on the bluffs aud alony The
streams entering the Illinois River
Oak grows chiefly on the low land. and
birch and cottonwood on the bluffs. Ca.
dar aud pine are abundant at some high
points. Among the Wild fInits are crab
apples, p'ums and grapes. while goose
berries cover the sandy upper bottom.
IL Is nov the second county in size
lIcLean Is the largesD anI population
IN The State with shout the second rank
as TO material wealth. The whole area
Is one OF thriving towns and productive
farms. Her educational facilities are
great. Ihe surface is undula,ing, with
"a considerable descent towards the I,li>
nois River. Tho Illinois runs nearly
through the center CT the county, and
has for tributaries the Fox aud the Bio
and Little Veriniilion. Tue scenery a.
long tho Illinois and Big Vermiliion is
! the granGest In the northern region oil
the State. The most noted point is
Starved Rock, with which Is associated
q famous Indian tragedy. It's location
is near Utica, aud The rock rises from
The illinois River to height Of 1876 #.
| with RAILROAD facilities La s;alie il as vel;
| favored as any county in tho State Tue
railroads running through the county are
lhe Chicago Rock Island aud Pacific,
Chicago Burlington and Quincy. Fox
hiver Valley, Chicago anu paducaG,
Chicago fekin and Southwestern and
Chicago and Alton.
Tie principal towns arc Ottawa. La
Saie. Mendats, Peru, Sir.lor Marsoiiles,
Earyille, Utica and Leland. The frs,
three claim about from 10000 10 1900
| inhsnltsnts. Tue others are thriving
| towns.
AT tho present time cr ps are looking
| we'll, especially small grain AMI GRASS
Corn is somewhat backward on account
OF late planting and cold weather. Far. |
neFs are busy plowing their corn. a
fair crop Of app'es is expected this sea-
soa, Cherries and peaches will be /
failure.
1t has boon rather wet seaaon up TO
tdi5 tine. We had cold weather ell |
spring, buc 1t has groan very warm nov.
The next thing to which I will cal!
your attention IL the subject OF Educa-
ton am gia tn see the people VI
Hampshire county so vide awake in tho |
cause ot education. Lot mo urge you
10 continue go. IL looks like business.
have been teacher among you & am
| teaching ncw)a have tried 10 advocate
The cause of elucstioR. Perhaps have
not Geen as successful "a some Of my
fellow teachers, bnt have tried % 40
my best. Permit me to say word or
tTo 81 the teachers, sc.
Teachers and friends Of eduCalion gen.
orally. ! earnestly solicit you 10 attend
The Tsschers institute which is TO be
held Ut CapoE Bridge the present year,
and il possible make it succcss. II
yen 60 10 york 10 earnest there IL no
doubt hat you will he amply paid by
the worthy and esteemed gentleman, |
Prof. Miller. And ftoln the active part
our worthy county superintendent took
in the Teachers Institute Iasb year. I
think IL cannot help but &c SUCCESS
ParoEte, spare no pains IN giving your
chill !ren every advantage OF eiucl'iop
you can. Shoy them the necessity OF
il, and urge them on. Remember they
are 10 tie the future rulers Of the land. |
! imagine you arc not the people TO dis,
grace youc future graves by negiecting
tho education OF your children in the !
present day. Children, avail yourselves
Of every opportunity you have to i'm
prove your education. Your future dos.
tiny depends upon yourselves. Rcmen.
her the old proyorb which says. "There !
is 20 excellence without great labor"
strive 20 gain tho highest bilze OF |
honor for yourselves and FOR your coun-
try" Don't let ilmpqhiro DC behind.
Allow ne TO insert a quotation here
from one Of our western paper8: How
Education IS tho hope OF America. 1t
is the onclny OF despotism, by bringing
truth broadly into the light OF sll usn
Tie fate Ok the ancient states gives US
.ba warning; and &c mu,t save our
country. developing 80 fast now, from
the evils OF so mixed people & bound |
| less ambitions Of corrupt men. by edu-
eating tie people 10 protect themselves
sgaiust themselves. or only great,
strong GENITAL power ~ despOtism can
govern them educated men alone can
save ds, - coutrOl the rest and point out
| the way "a momentOus occasions come"
And now, Mr. Editor, ia conclusion !
| will sag 20 goa sna Your many readers,
! Il have iutiu3sl upon your pages
( Which could have been filled by "a more