Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-02-02
A BELMoNTER ON THE WING.

BELMONT CHRONICLE-The G. B. 4
@. railway passes through Bureau coun-
ty, Ill. As we took our seat in a COM
Portable Horton reclining chair, for
which this road is famous, the through
cars being seated with them, we found
our elbow neighbor to be an old resi-
dent and intelligent farmer of Bureau
county. Recollecting that many of our
old-time neighbors of Belmont county
had migrated to this spot in the far
West. we considered ourself in luck. k.and
Immediately after "scraping up" an ac-
quaiRtance, we diligently set to work to
interviewing our neighbor from Bureau
county. According to our informant
this county contains about SO square
miles of rich surface, yielding diversif-
ed products of immense value. The
northwestern portion of it is what is
known as swamp land. largely redeem
cd. Native grass grows in this region
tall enough to hide man on horse back,
and being very nutritious affords a large
tract of valuable pasture. Peat is found
in considerable quantities and makes
excellent and cheap fuel. 1t is dug from
the earth to depth of or 10 feet, sliced
off like putty, and corded in layers. COW
cred with boards, and in this manner
dried by action of the atmosphere, while
protected by the covering from the
rains. When dried it is ready for use.
Coal is also found in large quantities,
and can be had at the mine at about 6
cents per bushel. The wheat product
of this State has declined radidly in the
last decade, and to-day Ohio seems to be
ahead in the average yield per acre.
Bureau county will average about 45
bushels corn per acre, and gives good
yield of oats, and a better yield of grass.
The school system of the State is pc
culiar, and said to be successful. The
county superintendent plan prevails
here. This official issues certificates or
licenses to teachers upon examination,
held by himself in the county town, the
tenure OF these certificates being subject
entirely to his will and pleasure. He
visits the schools, either in person or by
proxy. and determines by these visits rs
to the progress made by, or peculiar fit
ness of each and every teacher in his
county. There are two grades of certi-
ficates. The first or trial certificates are
issued for six months; the others during
good behavior, and the will of the coun-
deputies are paid out of the school fund
by commission on the amount collect
ed, he being custodian OF this fund.
There is a college fund accruing from
lands set apart for township high
:hool and college purposes, of which
he is also custodian. These two funds
are distributed to the several sub-dis-
tricts in proportion to the average at
tendance on the schools, and are not
controlled by the polls, as in our State.
The schools growing ont of this system
are said to be very excellent, and / be-
lieve Illinois stands high in educational
facilities.
Northern Missouri il an excellent
stretch of country, having many advan-
tages, and comparatively few disadvan-
tages. When one crosses the Mississip-
pi river at Quincy, and for many miles
beyond, he is not fayorably impressed by
the view had from the railroad, but the
thriving towns by which the route Of
the Hannibal & St. Jo. railway is dotted, |
speak in tliunder-tones Of the immense
riches of the country it traverses; but
the truth is, the best country does net
Immediately abut on this thoroughfare,