Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-04-29
AMIDST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.
Tennis Melvin Tells Of Famous Country
Vernon Beats II for Farming.
ONEIDA. N. Y. April 25. 1eOs.

ONEIDA. N. Y, April %, 1908.
! To READERS OF THE CENSOR have
passed several months in New York
state, and although | am not pleased
with this country | can't say that
dislike it as a whole. Oneida, the town
am now in, has 10000 population and
is located in central part of state on
the New York Central railway, also on
third rail line running from Utica on
the east, TO Syracuse on the west, a
distance of about 60 miles, the fare be-
ing rs cents each way. There are 112
passenger trains running through here
daily from New Yook to Buffalo and the
west. Much of the freight coming here
is shipped over the Erie canal which
runs from Buffalo to New York city,
distance of over 400 miles. Weather
in this locality is usually fair with some
rain, averaging about 81 inches. The
past winter has been moderate with
considerable snow, the thermometer go-
ing not lower than 10 below zero.
Though the factories in this section
have been running on short hours and
even shut down for two or three weeks
at time during the past winter, they
are gaining now, and though they are
not running full time nor full handed,
they are gradually increasing forces
and working from eight to ten hours
more each week. Oneida is the head
quarters of a number of large factories
such as the National Casket company;
the Lee Chair company, which makes
all the chairs for the Larkin Soap COM
pany of Buffalo, and have a force of
about 500 men.
As farming country it does not
compare with the west, as the farms
are all small, averaging from 25 to $50
acres. The land is hilly and stony.
Considerable fruit, such as apples,
pears, peaches, and grapes, are raised
The stock farms are few and far be-
| tween in this section, but farther east
there are a number of large dairy
farms, so am told. Hops are grown
extensively, farmers raising frem 10 to
90 acres and they receive about 33 cents
per pound for the crop.
Before coming to Oneida spent some
time i'll Ithaca, a small city of 20, 600
population including the students at
tending Cornell university Ithaca is
pretty place located on Cayuga lake.
body of water forty miles in length.
Though | have never been in the Ad-
irondack mountains, | expect to be
De IHeEG soon. AIN LOlu IL Is one Oh Lfle
prettiest and most healthful places in
the country. The woods are full of
game and the many brooks have an
abundance of fish, such as California
and brook trout, pickerel and some pike.
There are hundreds of lakes through
these mountains ranging from mile
in circumference to mile and half
in length. These lands are owned by
the state excepting few tracts sold to
individuals. A wonderful trip to take
is from Albany to New York on the
| Hunson river, a distance OF over l50
miles, the fare being 81. so at day in
cluding meals, or 81 at night including
berth. The Hudson is without doubt
the most beautiful river in the whole
| United States. | expect to take this
trip about the middle of June.
While travelling through this country
one is kept busy admiring the scenery,
rivers, creeks, lakes, falls, etc. They
are wonderful to behold. Train service
| is of the best and with the numerous
| trolley systems one can make excellent
time in travelling On the steam roads
the rate is cents per mile and on the
| trolley roads it is even less. have
been located here in a photograph gal
lery for some time, but will next locate
in Little Falls, town of 15, 900 people
sixty miles distant. Though Iget lone
some for old Vernon county, it probab-
| ly will be at least two years before |
shall return home. Yours very truly,
TENNIS MELVIN.