The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-17
What U. L. See Saw in Spencer County.

What u. l.. See Saw in Spencer County.
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis journal:
If you would appreciate the improvement Of
any portion of the State 60 back after third of
a century has made it's mark. Those who live
and grow old the surroundings change, hardly
r ce the change, but go and come again. and
the improvement is the more perceptible After
more than third Of century's absence l am
here in Rockport. There is little of the old left,
and so much of the new that could not have
known where l am had I been dropped here
without notice. New and large houses. new
and graded streets, and graded wharf through
the bluff bank, and the railroad, give the air of
genuine and ambitious city, while the
country around has even changed more
than the city. This morning, "Jack" Mason,
friend OF more than thirty years ago, took me
in his buggy to show me around. was expect
ing changes, but not such. Large farms where
thirty-fve years ago were mere truck patches,
and beautiful dwellings where were only cabins.
But what surprised me most was that type of
civilization which should make Marion county
and many other counties that put on airs blush
They fence in their stock, not fence it out hence
you ride miles along a road between the rows of
corn and fields Of wheat right up to the very
edge of track. And they like it, all but cattle
dealers. One Of these gIumbled. He says it is
hard to keep drove of them from trespassng
when en- route to market, but he has to stand it.
growl or growl.
They are threshing wheat now and it is "fair
ly good for the region" But wheat is not their
forte. Tobacco to the right of you, and tobacco
to the left of you tells their taste, and it is said
there is money in it, Spencer county leads in
this staple, the warehouses testify, while their
only pork house has been ito LETT for years
Not many Of the old timers are here now; it
seems so, at least so many newcomers are seen
on the streets, and in the churches l came
across ''Col" Jones' the veteran editor who
batting his offensive partsanisrp" is clever
fellow, formerly. But the poor man is
getting old, and does not seem to know it, for he
talks and acts like a boy just out of his teens.
General Veatch lives on his farm near the city,
and plays farmer for living He is in comfortable
circumstances, pecunarily, or landy at least
superlntends his farm in person, and works as
much as man of his years ought to. But the
General is not very old, not too old to be the
next TO vernon of Indiana If the Republicans are
wise enough to nominate him. His home life,
his war record, his official fidelity and his per-
sonal habits and acknowledged ability all fit
him for a good candidate and a model officer. met
Rev. d. D. Talbot, late of Meridian street nj.
E. Church, and Rev. l. n. Thompson, late of Ames
Church, indianapolis, today. They are in good
health. Mr. Talbot is working the Rockport
district as presiding elder for all that is in it,
He is good preacher and judicious officer and
the churches under his episcopal eye are
doing we'll Mr.. Thompson, though quite
gray headed, is juvenile in spirit and vigorous
in body and much beloved.
The politics of this county are mixed. BY some
inscrutible providence it is Democratic hundred
or so of late years. notwithstanding the general
intelligence and thrift of the people. If I had
the management of the next campaign | would
put the boot on the other foot easy enough, not
only to the county, but in the senatorial dis
trict also. The majority in the county was less
than 100 last year, and less than 400 in the dis
trict, which can easily be overcome by proper
unifyng of the forces that are opposed to the
present form of Democracy. The prohibition
vote is a unit in this county. Dwiggins got
one vote, but he ahead of his ticket, for St
John got none. There was a strong ST. John
movement during the campaign, nearly every
Democrat in the county being in favor of every
Republican voting for him, but somehow they
didn't, and hence he got just none at all. But
as am rot managing the campaign, I refuse to
be held responsible for failures. U. l.. SEE.
ROCKPoRT, July H. 1885.