Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-06-28
Letter on Timely Topics from
Illinois

MULBERRY GROVE. LII, June %.
EDITOR GAZETTE:-Enclos find
post Office order for one dollar fol-
another years subscription to paper,
which comes to me every week ard on
being opened is never laid down until
all news is carefully read. Especially
did l enjoy the old soldier news Of
last week. How 1 would like to at
tend one of your memorial services.
wa somewhat amused when read
Marshal Leech's appointments as aids
on memorial day, as he had more
names than they have in line here on
decoration day. as the count all told
was 10 old soldiers. l hope the peo-
pie of the South will not forget to give
the soldiers who fought for the South
the choicest flowers on that day and
not like l see 1t here in the West,
where the grave of soldier Is marked
with small flag and a small bunch
of flowers, and close by some child's
or citizens grave will be covered over
from head to foot with the very incest
of flowers. That is the way they do
their decorating and let the old sold
iers go.
Last spring we had so much rain
that the farmers could do nothing In
the way of farming and about the
middle OF May it turned very dry and
hot and we have had one Of the
worst thoughts known at this season
Of the year in this section. Gardens
and pastures would burn any where
you would throw a match, and this be-
ing a milk producing country it
makes it very hard on the farmers
who are all in the dairy business,
some on a large scale and some only
milking a few COWS. We have five
milk stations in this county that take
in milk for shipment to st. Louis, and
one that condenses its milk. Altogether
they take in one hundred and seventy
five thousand pounds of milk day
and this is only about one-halt OF the
county, as the other half is not reach
ed BY railroad. The milk will average
about $1.25 per hundred the year
round, so you see it brings In lot OF
money during the year.
Fruit is almoat a total failure in
this section. Some few apples, peaches
and small fruit we're all right until the
dry weather ruined them. l have
received two or three letters from par
ties livirg In Rockbridge making IN
quiries about this country. | would
say to my old friends back there, Stay
where you are, for il was not 80 old
now l would go back South some
where and l think it would be old
Virginia. This is too old a country
TOO start in unless you have plenty oil
money and you can live anywhere II
YOU have that article. II were going
West would go farther west than
Illinois for location. There is only
one thing about this country,.:we have
no negroes here except around Green
vile, the county seat, II one comes
to our town he is invited to walk on,
and ne walks. If it were not for bis
vote he could not be tolerated In this
country anywhere.
l see from the papers you are
beginning to have some political ex'
citement in the old mother State
Well may the best man win, although
the name Swanson sounds we'll to my
ears as l think messed and bunked
with his brother two years In the old
18th Virginia Regiment, and ifthis one
is as good as my soldier friend he is
good one.
must close, wishing you and the old
GAZETTE many long and prosperous
wears. w. r. WILSON