The Republican journal., 1892-06-09

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Ow-
ing to the heavy rains Of late business of
all kinds is at standstill throughout this
section of the country. Much of the land
is inundated with water. The creeks have
overlooked their banks and the roads in
places are covered with water to depth
of three feet, which makes travelling very
difficult as we'll as dangerous. Crops of
all kinds are suffering severely Wheat
and rye sown last fall looks almost worth
less, where it has been covered with water
several days. The oats and potatoes plant
ed nearly all rotted, and the land will be
used for some other crop. Farmers al
most despair of getting their corn plant
ed. 1t is much past the usual time for
planting, but it is impossible to do any
blowing. 1t will be several days before
planting can be done, should we be favor
ed with fair weather. Rain has fallen on
all but five days thus far in this month.
The oldest inhabitants say they never saw
it 50 wet as at present. The Maume river
is very high, but no damage is reported
thus far.
Grass Is growing very fast and there is
a prospect of a good hay crop. The
clover will he harvested about the middle
of June. The fruit crop. with the eNcep-
ton OF peaches, promises to be good The
principal crops here are corn, wheat
oats and rye. Very few potatoes ol beans
are planted. and JIc Idvolitt baked beans,
so common in the east, are seldom enjoyed
here. Some of the farmers raise sorgum
and manufacture their molasses, but |
call it inferior to that made from cane.
Many of the farmers here appear to be
quite wealthy-those who bought govern
ment land and cleared their farms. The
land was bought for SID and - 80 per
acre, and farms now sell for from $50 to
sl23 per acre. 1t requires vast amount
of hard labor to clear and drain a farm
here and get it in condition for crop,
but when all is completed they are very
productive and yield bountifully. The
land is divided into sections and half sec
tons, of 640 acres to the section. This
brings the roads on a straight line each
way and at an equal distance apart, which
makes it much easier for a stranger trav-
cling them.
Grelton is a little village of $50 inhabi-
tants, thirty miles southwest of Toledo,
l,, T,1nl - 7 IL ityr
railroad. Ten years ago there was a dense
forest where the village now stands. The
railroad is doing a large business, Judging
from the freight trains that pass over 1t
daily. Heavy trains loaded with cattle,
hogs and poultry from the west, fire.
quently pass on their way east. Railroads
are very numerous in this State, Attending
line facilities to travellers and shippers.
The oil field in Wood county, twenty
five miles east of here, is place Of much
interest to an eastern man. The wells are
three OF four rods apart. They use five
inch drills and sink Them to depth of
100 feet. The oil is run in pipes from
the wells to l.,rge receiving tanks and is
then pumped through pipes to Chicago,
Toledo, and Cleveland, where it is refined.
Much of the oil runs to waste, which is
burned on the ground, causing large vol
umes OF smoke to arise which one might
mistake for a burning city many miles
distant \ disagreeable odor from the
oil and gas is waited many miles. The
land is rented for sinking the wells. In
some cases 50 per acre and one sixth of
the oil is paid. New wells are continually
being sunk and are covering a larger terri
tory People think the business will be
successfully carried Oh in this county at
no distant day.
At Bowling Green, the Shire town OF
Wood county, five large glass factories are
located, which manufacture all kinds of
glass ware. 1t is a very pretty sight to
see the workmen take the melted glass
from the furnace and blow pipe and
mould it into every shape imaginable.
After the dishes sre blown they are put in
immense arches and baked. then taken out
and examined and the imperfect ones
thrown into the waste to be melted over.
All the rough places are ground off, and
they are then ready for packing. 1t is a
very unhealthy place to work, being 50
hot. The blowers work by the piece and
earn 81 and - per day. }. f. HALL.
Grelton, Henry Co., Oh 10. May 10th, 1892.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
The ninth annual convention OF the
Waldo County W. Q. l. u will be held