Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-11-16
JoTTINGs FROM IOWA.

Mr.. EDTToR-As i have few min
utes of idle time, thought perhaps some
of your readers would like to hear from
me in the worthy old CHRoNIGE. So
will endeavor to pen few jots, which
think will interest my old friends.
Then will begin by saying that we had
a very wet spring and fore part of the
summer so much so that we could not
plant our corn until late-some of it as
was so wet that we could not work our
corn but one time. Still, we are having
dry and late fall. so that the corn is
curing out toleaably well, and we are
going to have better eOrnsthan we ex-
pected a month ago. Ihave seen sever
al sound ears of corn this fall that meas
ured almost ID inches in length. This
is one of the best corn countries that 1
have been in since left old Belmont
Some years we can raise 30 bushels of
wheat to the acre. But this is not as
good region for wheat as it is just
across the watershed, on the Mississip-
pi slope-the land sloping toward the
Mississippi river being the best wheat
region in this or any other State.
As to the healthfulness of this part
of Iowa, it will compare favorably with
any other section of the State. OF
course, if you want good sound health
here or elsewhere, you must take the
best care of yourself. A great many
come West and get sick. and return and
lvillify the country as being unhealthy.
when the whole fault was with them
selves, in noS taking proper care OF
themselves till they became acclimated.
The wheat is all threshed here, and
the average per acre in Adair county is
about 1212 bushels. And we have as
good crop of potatoes here as 1 ever
saw any place-and as far as garden
vegetables are concerned, we can raise
as large and as gOod-lavored vegetables
as can be produced anywhere in ths
Uuion. l raised beet, of the dark
blOOd-red variety, that measured feet
9 inches in length, and inches in diam
eter. Now, if you doubt tnis statement,
if you will come here, can prove it.
Our metropolis, FOntanelle,) is situa-
ted on the banks of the Nodaway river,
a short distance from the great water
shed between the Mississippi and ths
big muddy-the Missouri river, and 1t is
surrounded by a variety of soil, and the
thrift of the town shows that the sur
rounding country is settled up with an
Industrious and enterprising cemmuni-
ty of citizens. Its trading capacity will
he somewhat iessened, if they exteRd
this branch of the c., b. s. @. r. r. Bus
even if they do, it will still leave our
town in the center of a trading and rich
community. The business houses hers
remind me of going into Mr.. A. Arm
strong's store room on the banks of th5
Captina creek-and like him, the mer-
chants here seem to understand the
wants of the surrounding country.
There is very little difference in the
cost of living here and in Ohio. The
greatest difference l see between here
and there is, that all the migratory birds
that see on their travels, are going
south. Then our altitude here is suci
that we can see the lightning in the
winter season, from the southern thun-
der storms, that we of the northern
States know nothing of. The price Ut
stock and merchandise as a general
thing. is about the same here as it is ia
old Belmont
This county is going to make one of the
best fruit-growing cOmmunities within
my knowledge. 1t will be noted, at M
distant day, as being the banner county
in America for the cultivation of tha
wine grape, as well rs the raiSII
grape. Well, you might say that, with
our prohibition amendment in force, ths
of the grape could not bo
to offset that, We started
II creamery in Fontanelle the past suGi-
m<r, which, so far, has done successful
business. So we will turn our attention
to the production of milk. in the future
and when we want drink other wa
ter,we will go to the Fontanelle creame-
ry, and imbibe our fill of buttermilk in
stead of wine.
This part of Iowa is good place tn
raise sheep, as the winters are not So Sc
we're here as they are farther north.
Mr.. Editor, is it possible that l will
have to return to my old voting pre-
,inct, in order to keep the politics of
Ohio in the right channel? 1t is an ever
asting disgrace to the good old Repub-
lean party of Ohio, to let the State 60
Democratic, and more especially when
he temperance question is the grand is
ue between the parties. l tell you.
iever want my offspring to stand before
he world and proclaim that their drunk
Dness and debauchery were brought on
hem by my casting vote against the
emperance cause. And certainly. there
re men who so voted in Ohio this fall,
hat when their children charge their de-
'auchery to their fathers voting with
he Democracy, and against the temper
nee principles in the Republican party,
will cause them to shed the briny
ear. More anon. BELMoNTER.