Connecticut western news., 1886-10-13
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1s. 1886
OUR MICHIGAN LETTER.
To Me Editor ot the Ne,rs:-

To he Editor of Me Ners:-
 It is noted in The Connecticut West ern News that you have been enjoying frosts down in Connecticut and other in- dicahons that the winter Is coming, while here we are still enjoying mild weather and have had but one frost, on the morning of October 3, and that not Q severe one, for not leaf has fallen, ol even changed color. Our summer was very warm and very dry up to the latter days of September. In consequence oi the drouth the sowing of wheat has been difficult and considerably delayed. Or dinarily wheat sowing Is completed dur ing September, but this season, in con- sequence of the extreme dry weather, making it very difficult to cultivate and prepare the ground, the sowing has been delayed, and when September closed not more than one-half of the wheat was sown. The ground is now in good con- dition and the weather favorable; our farmers are all busy and in few days the wheat crop will all be in the ground and it is believed the average will be larger than last year.
 Our corn crop will be short this sea- son, certainly not more than two-thirds of crop, and this because of the dry weather in July and August Our fruit crop IS large, we have more apples than ever before and the same is true of grapes. On the whole, we have enough to eat and expect to get through the winter in good condition, with large surplus, especially of wheat, for our eastern neighbors, which we will be glad to exchange for the manufactured goods of New England, for we acknowl- edge that you can excel us in manufac- lures, but we can beat you bad in farm ing and grain raising. Give us free trade and fair exchange and we will all live and prosper. Our state and county fairs have mostly been held within the last 20 days, during rainy and unfavorable weather; now the fairs are over the weather is delightful.
 In The Connecticut Western News of September 29 appeared notice of the death of Isaac French at Falls Village Isaac and the writer were school-fellows in boyhood and both acquired all the book learning they ever possessed at the old school-house which stood oppo- site the premises of the late Sewall w. Abbott, near what has since become Amesville. It is more than 50 years since the writer has seen "Ike" French, as he was familiarly known in boyhood how many changes have taken place in these years to both of us. Isaac French had not refined or cultured nature, but he had warm and honest heart in his youthful days, which it is hoped he never lost. Peace to his ashes.
 In looking back half century at my early life in Falls Village, how few are living now who then resided there-how many new names now appear in the list of residents. A good many of the old family names still appear in Salisbury and Canaan descendants and representa- tiVes of olden times, but in addition are many new names and faces that are ,but little observed by the old inhabitants yet person raised on the soil, who Jeff there in his early days, is struck forcibly by the change and cannot but think New England is changing population almost like the great west, field where change is proverbial and fully expected Has foreign emigration good deal tt do with this great change in the popula tion of Connecticut and of New England generally? Rwb.
 Nles, Mich., October '.