Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-20
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We are having an unusually nice winter
here. Many eastern people have mistaken
idea in regard to our country and climate.
They think it is a thinly populated prairie
country, the land Of billiards. and cyclones
We used to have hard winters, blizzards, etc.
but since the groves aud trees have grown
they afford protection and seem to break
the force Of the storm. We have had no
snow to speak of this winter, and the ther'
mometer has not fallen below zero since the
first of December. Spring will soon no here
ind with it comes the busy season for the
farmers.
All kinds of grain can be raised here, but
corn and oats are the specially. Iowa is
known as the great corn state. Hundreds OF
thousands of bushels are stored in cribs now
and the farmers are in condition that they
can hold 1t for higher prices. The oat crop
last year averaged about sixty bushels to the
acre.
Land is rapidly advancing and now sells
from $50 to 500 per acre according TO dis
lance from market.
The country is settled by an industrious,
intelligent class Of people. We have good.
comfortable buildings with all the improve
merits up TO date.
The public roads are laid out about SO feet
wide running at right angles, and having
cross. roads at every mile Tue schools are
situated two miles apart. We have An excel.
lent school system here. Our western peo'
pie take great interes, in the cause of educa-
zion. Quite large per cent of our country
scholars take higher course IN HIGH School
Academy aud College. The country schools
are being graded as much as possible The
course now is about years and embraces a
thorough education in the common branches.
AT the close OF the course the pupil may II
he desires, take an examination in those
branches and receive diploma which admits
him to high school. About 80 per cent OF
our teachers are ladies. The wages are very
fair, ranging from $50 to az per month. In
some counties ladies have been el, cted to the
office OF superintendent They also have
held other county offices, although they are
not permitted to vote except on school
matters.
Grinnell our nearest trading point Is q
very pretty little town of about 1000. 1t Is
the seat of the largest and abest congrega'
tional school west of the Mississippi river
Iowa College. In 1882 the buildings were
entirely destroyed by cyclone, but were
immediately rebuilt -four in number) with all
the modern improvements. They now con-
template erecting Y. NJ. c. A. building.
In connection with the college is fine mu-
steal conservatory.
Grinnell has a complete system of water
works. They also have just finished aging
niue miles of sewerage. 1t is lighted by
electricity and the business portion of the
city is heated by steam heat plant The
business part is entirely Of brick and stone
and with the exception of one building ia
freproof
The largest church (congregationaD has a
membership of over 1000, and cost about
$4,000 A new $4,000 church is now be-
ing built
Grinnell is situated at the junction Of the
Iowa Central and Rock Island railroads and
is ther etore quite shipping point, doing
business enough to keep up four banks.
Last but not least 1t ia strictly temperate
town. There never has been saloon within
the corporation. 1t Is impossible for q
stranger to get liquor Of any kind without
Identification and signing paper certifying
for what purpose it is to be used.
We wish the ladies of Thurmont success
in all their enterprises and in the part they
are taking in the CLARION AS ladies always
get the credit of knowing what is going on
we will expect all the news Of the town.
We are very much interested in our native
village, and always look forward to the COM
ing of the CLARION Sometimes we are dis
appointed on opening the paper to find it
filled with advel tisements, and only about
column and half of news. Since the ladies
have taken hold of newspaper WORK We will
look for reform. Yours for women,
Chester Centre, la. MRS. MARY HAYS.
P. S.-Since receiving the above letter,
word has reached me of the death of DR.. G.
F. Magoun, ex president Of Iowa College
the Gladstone Of Congregationalism. DR..
Magoun was the first president and retained
that Office for twenty years, when he was
succeeded by Geo. A. Gates the present In.
cumbent. The success of Iowa college and
its elevation to the highest rank among west
ern colleges is due largely to the power and
impress Of it's former president, DR.. Magoun,
whose untiring energy and zeal, combined
with vigorous intellect and forceful pulpit
utterance, placed him in the front rank Of
western educational;sts. A. J. N.
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