Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-01-03
LETTER PROM IOWA.
Western Customs Compared With Eastern
-ChangeabiIity of Western Soil.

western customs compared with Eastern
-Changeability of Western Soil.
MARsHAILTowN, Ia, December 27, 1889.
To the Editor OF the JobaS,oton Democrat.
This Western country is place of.
great possibilities. With its hundreds of
thousands of acres of itch farming land 10
looks now as if its resources in raising
provisions can never be impaired or ex-
hausted. The past season. which has
been one of the dryest ever known. has
demonstrated the wonderful fertility of
the soil for standing the drought, as good
crops have been raised, Notwithstanding
there has been scarcely any rain since the
early part Of June. The soil also holds
remarkable amount of moisture without
injury o growing crops.
A change in the nature the soil, how
ever, seems to be taking place as wheat
can scarcely be grown - all, whereas ff-
teen and twenty years ago nearly every
farmer raised thousands Of bushels.
High elevators standing idle in every
town are grim reminders of an industry
that is past, and in their stead are great
corn bins. cattle sheds, and hog pens
where the present products of the farnS
are taken to market. Shrewd farmers
say, however, that the soil is
again returning to a condition such
that wheat and like cereals
can be' raised to advantage.
This is the home of the parents of Captain
Anson, of the Chicago base ball club. and
upon his return to a visit to his parents
here tonight the boys turned out to do
him honor in great style. He is indeed a
fine looking specimen of manhood as he
moves modestly amongst his friends and
admirers.
The people of the West have character
istic which those in the East would do
well to emulate, and that is the spirit of
kindness and courtesy which is shown
everywhere. This is particularly notice
able in merchants. If you step into n
store aud declare your intention of only
buying a.paper of pins you are treated
with as much courtesy as if you were
buying fifty dollars worth of goods. And,
the same method prevails in whatever
circumstances you meet the Vest
erner, whether he is at home or elsewhere
Truly this is an argument in favor of hold.
ing the Worlds Fair in Chicago. nc tho
effete nations of the Old World micht
take lessons in politeness from a nurelv
democratic standpoint, by mingling freely
with the. people here.
In the corridor of a hotel here q newo.
boy maintains a stand for the sale of Chi.
cago and other daily papers. He is ab.
sent most of time but when anyone wanto
paper lie selects what he wants n,ts
down his money, and takes his change
from the pile of nickels and dimes lving
on the counter. l was very much sur.
priscd at the method, as | saw peonle
from the street step in and get their pa
pers in that way, ana as no one seemed 10
exercise any provision over the matter
ask ed the proprietor whether he was ro-
sponsible for the care of the papers. He
replied that he was not and further that
neitper he nor any. of his employes
ever pretended to note whether parties
getting papers need the proper chance
and yet when the uewsboy came TO
get ms papers he invariably found the I
correct amount of money with his papers.
Fancy this BENG done in JnL,sIor.,, ~,
other eastern cities, and then YOU will be
able TO form m idea of the strong differ.
ence in the hearing Of the people When
tell people that the bodies of many
the citizens of Johnstown yet lie buried
in the sand in and around the town, they
are amazed, and express their horror at
the idea, and say emphatically that
sufficient fund ought to be raised to re-
cover the bodies of all the dead.
JoHN T.. STRAYEE
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