Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1870 — Letter from Mr. R. B. James. [ARTICLE]

Letter from Mr. R. B. James.

We take the liberty to publish the following extracts from a j>riprivate letter written by Mr. 11. B. James, a former citizen of thia place, and who is now journaying Kansasward. Thq letter is postmarked from Peoria, 111., and is dated ■Saturday, May 13th: “We camped on the east side of the Illinois river, at the lower ferry, east of Peoria, last night. Came over this morning and are now enmped on a small clear stream a couple of miles west of the city, where we expect to spend the coming Sabbath. As you know, we left Logansport on Tuesday, May 3d, and Remington on Friday, Slay Oth. Came to Goodland for dinner and at night staid a milo east of the State line. Found plenty of game—ducks, plover and various kinds of snipe, &c. Saturday night.stopped on Spring creek, seven miles east of -Gilman. We have been in some emrirt showers, but thg wagon covers are impervious to rain. The roads have been slippery in places. We have kept near the line of railroad and have been in but one bad plaae, this was a soft prairie. All of us are in good heart and health.

“As we were too late (sundown) for the ferry last night, tire boys indulged in angling, baiting with parts of birds, and caught eels—good fat fellows—and several catfish.— Our route from here is towards Farmington, Quincy, on the Mississippi, and thence perhaps to Boonville and Sedalia, andso on to Fort Scott. We expect it will take us five weeks yet. “On general subjects, I would say that the winter wheat crop about Monticello, and from there to Logansport, is in general a grand show. About Chatsworth in Livington county, 111., there are no fences. Thousands of acres of spring wheat are all run together, with no apparent division lines—and not an ox, hog or sheep to be seen—the crop looks splendidly.— Most" of the corn is already planted and much of it is up in good order. Near Chatsworth is a garden containing five hundred acres of beets in one patch. They were planted with machines about sixteen to twenty inches apart, I should think, and the rows of young plants could be seen for many rods from the road. A sugar factory is erected in the town whiejumanufactures sugar from these beets. They say the raw sugar has an acid taste when new, but will then sweeten flour for bread—when refined it is equal to any sugar made. Fruit looks well everywhere, and the prospect is fair for a full supply of all kinds. In the cattle region of Woodford county the best stock is the rednecked cattle with white or roan bodies, same as those in Jasper county. “Respects to all the friends.”

Children have measles in Winamac and give them around liberally. A reaping and mowing machine factory is talked of at South Bend. The Spiritualists are to hold a convention at Hobart beginning on the 27th. Ligonier, Noble county, boasts a peert and lively baby which w eighs only two pounds.