Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1898 — JENNINGS COUNTY INDIANA. [ARTICLE]

JENNINGS COUNTY INDIANA.

Itfl Location and its Great Advantages. In advertising our liist of farms we desire to call the attention of homeseekers to a few of the advantages of South-Eastern Indiana, and especially to Jennigs county, which is a part, and the advantages it has over other sections of this great country. There are fewer drawbacks in Southern Indiana than any other spot of green earth. The West has its droughts, cyclones, grasshoppers and prairie fires; the North its blizzards, floods and untold ills; the South its hot climate, yellow fever, worn-out lands, tax ridden communities, too much politics afid too many colored in proportion to white population. We have a diversified soil and mild climate, pure water and plenty of it, cheap lands and good miarkets, an enterprising population, good schools, churches, and all the features of a high civilization. Very few counties in the State have more railroads than Jennings. Nowhere in the county are you beyond the reach of the sound of the locomotive whistle or the ring of the school bell. We have in Jennings county over 75 miles of railroad track and 20 stations, several watering stations, power houses, round house and other property belonging to the different companies, all of which is appraised at their actual value, and the taxes derived therefrom go a long way toward paying the expenses of the county. North Vernon is a city of 3,500 population, is located at the center of the county and possessed of unequaled advantages in all respects, It is crossed by the B. & O. S. W. By., the P. C. C. & St. L., the C. C. C. & St. L., or Big Four, and the North Vernon and Louisville, a branch of the B. & O. S-W. The six roads thus diverging from North Vernon are necessarily trunk lines, and give it direct communication to every point reached by the lines of these great railway systems, and giving us freight rates to New York and the East the same as given at Indianapolis. Our railroads give excellent markets tp all towns in our county. North Vemon as a country town with its great railroad center, fine driving park, graded streets, street car line, water works, electric lights, enterprising people, fine churches and good "schools makes it a most desirable place to live. It has a steady and substantial growth. Several large business blocks have been built in the last two years, and more are now being built. There is not a vacant business room in the city, and dwelling houses for rent are in great demand. Four considerable streams cross Jennings county fronu east to west without high banks, and all fords on the main traveled roads are bridged with substantial iron bridges. While nearly every acre is sufficiently inclined to give drainage, there is but little land too steep for cultivation; but one acre in several hundred. Tbe surface is of beautiful undulation of slopes. Limestone crops out along the streams, and here also are to be found springs. There are but few farms but what are well supplied by springs for stock water, and the

best of water, clear as crystal, pure and cold, is found from 15 to 22 feet below the surface. Health is almost perfect; while others grow rich the doctors grow poor. While the climate is mild in the winter, the summers are not onpressingly hot. The temperature as shown by the maps of the census report, to be more equal than many points east and west |of us. Ours is the happy mean ; between the extreme of the north and the south. * . ■. Fruit and grain belong to this latitude. Apples are produced in abundance, an important fact of which the people are fast becoming aware, and the ' best verities yield abundant crops of perfect fruit. It appears to be the natural home of thd pear and all varieties give generous. yield of faultless fruit. Cherries and plums are also raised on every farm; but for a few years peaches have failed to make profitable returns. Grapes grow in profusion, no year ever brings a failure and rarely a short crop. Small fruits grow also, and

bear without failure and with .little cultivation. Wheat, oats, corn, timothy and clover are found on every farm. Vetnpn, ther county seat, North Vernon, a city corporation, Scipio, Hayden, Queensville, Nebraska, Butlerville, Lovett, Commiskey are all towns situated on the different railroads in Jennings county, are good shipping points and other railroad conveniences, and general trading points. The South-Eastern Indiana Real Estate Agency is one of the fixtures of North Vernon, and so recognized. It was established in 1872 and is the oldest and best equipped in Southern Indiana. During this time many have sprung up and died out, and they still continue to come and go, but we go right along always, ready to furnish all desiring them cheap and comfortable homes. All property for sale in Jennings county can be bought through this agency. We accept nothing upon an excess as we regard that unfair to the purchaser. We place property on the market through this agency at the owner’s lowest price and best terms, and if successful in introducing a purchaser we request them to pay us for our trouble. We handle nothing but perfect titles.

. Persons coming here to see us should come directly to our office which is in the Central Block only a few steps south of depot, or coming at night will find good accomodations at the hotels. The Kelley Hotel, J square east of depot, a $2 a day house and first class in every particular. The Commercial Hotel, s2* a day, is the most commodious and wellknown to traveling men as setting the best table they find on the road and being well furnished with comfortable beds. The other hotels are $1 a day each and are comfortable, clean and set good tables.

A few descriptions of farms for sale by our agency will appear in The Democrat each week. In writing please mention that you saw our advertisements in this paper. Alex Shepherd & Co., North Vernon, Ind.