Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1873 — Observations at the Seaboard. [ARTICLE]

Observations at the Seaboard.

Seven death’s flrora cholera are reported by Indianapolis papers to hate occurred in that city last week; and fonr of these were in one family. The mortality at-ChicagO is said to have increased one third last week. Mr. Sol Thornton came home last wepk from visiting his children at Evansville, and says that cholera is prevailing there to _» «ut alarming extent; the newspapers will say nothing about it, but deaths from that disease are pt daily occurrence, and many people are leaving the city on that account. At Lafayette there wore two fatal cases of cholera on Monday. The repeated warnings to the people of Rensselaer and Remington of the near* approach of this ravaging pestilence ought not to be unheeded. Prompt and thorough sanitary measures should be adopted before our loved ones drop -away victims to the No amount ~of-regrets at that carelessness which neglected to heed titose simple rules that give immunity from cholera will restore life to its dead. People of Rensselaer and Remington, heed these warnings! Clean away the filth that lias accumulated in your alleys and streets, and about your dwellings; fill up or drain all pools of stagnant water, use disinfectants—lime, chloride of lime, coal tar, carbolic acid, a solution of copperas in water, or something of that kind—with liberality wherever foul stenches arise; be careful in your diet, avoid alcoholic drinks, and keep your persons clean. Mr. 11. R. W. Smith, of the editorial staff of that paleozoic relic known as the Cincinnati Enquirer , is with his interesting wife (who was formerly Miss Jennie Paxton) visiting relatives and friends in Jasper county. Mr. Smith, though an excellent gentleman, is in no manner even the most distantly related to red-headed Deacon Richard Smith of the Cincinnati Gazette, famous throughout tbc world as the only pre-eminently and truly good man in Cincinnati even as ancient Lot was pre-eminently belter than his neighbors the wicked inhabitants of Sodom; and for this circumstance Mr. 11. R. W. Smith is very grateful to his parents, his parents’ parents, and their parents and ancestors as far back in creation as there is historical record when people were aroused at the antics of that good Smith’s progen ators as they were exhibited in peripatetic menageries by pre-Adamite Barnums. The Enquirer has had no politics worth mentioning for several years, and since the cholera broke out in Cincinnati a contrite and devotional murmur, like the distant wail of a lost infant -mule, meanders through its editorials, which leads us to think it is seeking remission of its awful load of accumulated sin. Since receiving The Union as a regular exchange there arc indications of a change of heart going on and we hope it may thoroughly reform, and become an ornament to its native city. About this season of the year the following sensible advice from the American Sportsman is well to heed: “In carrying a gun it should never be in such a position that any injury can accrue to any Ixxly or any thing by an accidental explosion. No matter in what state the hammer may be, either down, half-cock, or full, the barrels should be either so elevated, depressed, or turned aside, that no accident can arise if the charges in both were to explode accidentally. Carrying a gun with the muzzle down is objectionable, from the likelihood of the shot working the wadding loose. Tire great object, however, is so to carry it that no danger can arise, and that the gun may feel easy and ready for service. Over the left arm, with the right hand upon the ‘grip,’ is as good a method as any. In going over a wall,-jumping over a wide ditch, cliinbihg rails, gates, etc., a gun should be invariably taken off the full cock. Whether soooting alone or in company, this rule should never, upon any account, be deviated from. It may happen that the barrier to be passed is so easy that there seems to be no apparent necessity for this precaution. At the same time let it he remembered that a foot may slip, the hand may'suddenly loose its hold and many other such unexpected accidents mav take place, causing danger in that which otherwise would be secure and safe. As a preventive, therefore, it snouid be made an, invariable rule, and habit will soon make it au unexceptionable one, to h j down the liaminers to half-cock when an obstacle of any kind is to be crossed; and in taking it off the full cock it must not be neglected to hold the gun upright, or at such an angle that should the thumb slip from-the hammer, and an explosion follow, no harm can result.” And we would add, no person of good sense will ever point the muzzle of a gun atanother in playfulness. Do not do it under any circumstances whatever, no matter if you have just discharged both barrels and know there are no loads in it Such fun is too foolish to l>e fuu at ail; , and the accidents

which ol recent years have followed where people in sportiveness of tins kind ought to be sufficiently horrible to deter all sane persons from it. Jasper county soil seems to bo peculiarly adapted to the culture of grapes. The large fox grape, which is tbc parent of the varieties most extensively cultivated north of the Ohio river, was indigenous to this region and may still be met occasionally making luxnrient growth and bearing profusely on fho prairies bordering sloughs where fires have not burnt them out, or they are not tramped to death by cattle. Being natives of this soil and climate grapes do well if only planted and left to take care of themselves; but when properly cultivated tbc yield of fruit is enormous and sure. And tbc care of grapes is but little more than that bestowed upon corn by good farmers, while the profits are much greater. They should be planted in rows running north and south eight lect apart and ten feet asunder in the row, and trained to trellises six feet high; or they may be planted six or eight feet apart iu the row and trained to single stakes six or seven feet high. Ihe latter method is usually preferred by those who cultivate grapes in large quantities and for profit.— t After a vineyard is planted its cultivation consists in plowingbetween the rows as for corn, keeping out weeds and grass, training the vines to their stakes, or trellises, keeping, them judiciously pruned, and in the fall lay them on the ground and co'ver with straw, coarse manure, leaves or a furrow of earth. Treated this way they will produce crops as certain as corn that will give a net profit of $l5O to SSOO an acre from the third or fourth year after planting, and will constantly grow belter during the natural life of him that plants, the life of his children and their descendants for several generations. But if people do not desire to grow this delicious and healthy fruit for market, there is bo reason why all who own a small patch of ground should not have plenty for their own use during its season. Either buy a dozen or so three year old vines, if you arc in a hurry' lor lruit and can afford the expense, or if you wish to economize and can wait two or three years longer get cuttings next spring of your neighbor when he prunes his vines, plant them where they are to grow, mulch with old straw or chips, and keep free of weeds. After the first season, if you buy rooted vines, or after the third season, if canes are set out they will commence bearing. The varieties best adapted to this locality of those yet introduced, are, the Concord, Hartford Prolific, Clinton, Delaware, Isabella, Catawba and lona. The White Martha is also recommended by some, and there may be still other good kinds that Ure writer-Iras not seen in cultivation here. The loiia produces large and handsome bunches of fiuitthat would sell readily in market; the Delaware bears smallish, rich, sweet fruit in compact clusters, and to our taste is the best flavored grape in the above list; it is not quite as hardy as some of the others, yet its excellence repays all the extra care it requires and it should be found in every collection. But the Concord is recommended over all other varieties as being the hardiest, the surest cropper, and most likely to give general satisfaction. In our garden are seven vines of Concord grapes, five years old —six of them trained to six foot posts, and one trained against a smokehouse —that will certainly produce 200 poitnds of fruit this fall, if no accident’ happens to them before time 1 of ripening, which would readily bring ten cents a pouud at the garden if offered for sale; this would be nearly $3 a vine, or at the rate of more than $2,000 an acre, where vines were planted eight feet apart eaeh way. In another column will be found an article from the Remington Journal advocating the construction of a railroad from the coal region of Warren county, through the splendid agricultural and grazing lands of Benton, Jasper and Porter coantics, to Michigan City. If built this road xvould pass through Jasper county almost due north and scqitb about six miles east of its west line, having for stations the towns of Remington and Rensselaer. At Rensselaer; the- county seat of Jas-. per county* wonld be found some of the finest mineral springs in Indiana together with a flowing well of white sulphur water, the medicinal properties of which are of a high order. If a railroad was constructed to this place so that people

could conveniently come .here this might be made a favorite summer resort without very much capital being expended) Rensselaer is situated on the falls of the Iroquois river. At this place fledges of limestone come to the surface which makes excellent lime when properly burned, and is good for foundations of buildings or pike roads. Three miles southeast of Rensselaer is a vast quarry of the best quality of sandstone —easily worked when first quarried and which becomes exceedingly hard when exposed to the air and weather. For building purposes, abutments to bridges and the like it cannot be excelled in durableness by any material in the world. Twelve or fourteen miles north of Rensselaer, in Jasper county, this line of road lvould enter the bog iron ore region, which is a vast deposit of not Ijss than 150 square miles in extent, and rich in mineral of superior quality. These lands are among the most valuable in the State of Indiana, but owing to the fact of their distauce from furnaces and coal, and the present , extortinate tariff charged by the railroads to take the ores to furnaces at Indianapolis and the southern part of Indiana, they can be bought now for from $3 to $5 an acre. Let a road be built by which the coal of Warren and the counties south can be brought directly to these iron lands and they will readily sell for S2OO to SSOO an acre. There is not a doubt of this for the ore has been smelted and found to be of splendid quality. In the fall of 1872 Mr. John Collett, member of the Indiana Senate from Vermillion county, made a hurried geological reconnoisance of Jasper county, a report of which is published in the “Geological Report ol Indiana for 1872.” lie spent but a portion of two days in tbe county, and his observations were necessarily hurried and imperfect. Below we publish an extract from that part of his report which treats of the mineral deposit in this county, with the observation that he vastly underestimates the extent of these deposits: “Bog ores of iron are abundant in the northern part of the county. The area of deposit, after careful examin-r ation, being estimated as follows: Range 5, towuship 30 500-acres Range 5, township 32 1000 acres Range 6, township 30........ 500 acres Range 6, township 31 1500 acres Range 7, township 30 700 acres Range 7, towuship 31 500 acreß Range 7, township 32 500 acres “Many other beds of smaller area are known to exist. These ores are collected in a soluble state by the water of sloughs and ponds, in the center or lower part of which they are found in comparatively pure layers, deposited as the waters are evaporated in dry seasons. The beds are generally from one to two and a half feet below the surface of the ground, and from five to six inches thick (with a reported thickness, in some places, of two and two and a half feet.) In 1870 Mr. L. Glazebrook dug and shipped from San Pierre station, on the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago R. R. 500 tons of ore, part being from Jasper county and part from Starke county. Other parties dug and shipped from the same point from 300 to 800 tons The price obtained was $3 per ton delivered aboard the cars, which paid well for diggiug, and less than three miles hauling to the railroad. The ore was taken to the Planet Furnace in Clay county, hut on account of the high rates of freight ($3 per ton, as I am informed), imposed by the railroad the business was abandoned. The ore is pure, and makes, by admixture with the rich ores of Lake Superior, a very desirable quality of metal; and with reasonable freights, large quantities of the ore would be in demand. “The area of the bog ores of iron is large and the quality good. Means of transportation is ail that is required to develop a large income from this now prpfitiess treasure.”

We lefi Francesville on time but were detained at N. A. & S. crossing twenty-five minutes for train on L. S. &M.S.R. W. Passed thro’ good country in Laporte and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, with apparently fair crop prospects. — Laporte and South Bend are thriving towns. We arrived at Toledo, Ohio, about daylight, and frequently had fine views of Lake Erie with its numerous water craft until we reached Cleveland, where we breakfasted. Prom here to Buffalo the railroad hugs the lake. Crop prospects in Ohio and Pennsylvania present no better appearance than in Indiana. Corn is not so good. Arrived at Buffalo at 1 o’clock, p. m., and changed cars for New York over the Erie railroad. Buffalo has a population of about 120,000, so our Railway Guide says; and the harbor is lively with vessels. They have good accommodations on the Erie and Lake Shore railroads.— Night overtook us at Corning. We passed through rugged country, with fine hill and mountain scenery along the Susquehanna river, which the railroad follows for a long distance. I asked a gentleman who got on the train at Portage, what such laud was selling for—a large portion of it is quite hilly and covered with dwarf pines—and he said front* 330 to $45 an acre. -It is chiefly used for pasturing dairy cows. I could not help realizing the great difference in price and quality in favor of Western prairie land. We passed through many tjiriving towns. Arriving at Jersey City at 7 o’clock on the morning of the 10th

we took passage on board of a ferry boat to cross North river, as it is called, but which really appears to be an arm of New York bay. The sea breeze and new scenery were very relresbing to us all after our long ride on the cars. We landed at Battery park and took an omnibus for the Astor House, which is centrally located in this magnificent city of nearly 1,000,000 population. After breakfast Mr. Dwiggins went out to see his railroad friends, and Ora and I took a short walk over to the National Park Bank. This bank employs eighty clerks, and is the finest bank building I saw in the city, except that of Drexel, Morgan & Co. who have a magnificent structure on Wall street, near the United States eubtreasury building. Alter returning to our hotel the whole party went Up to A. T. Stewart’s retail dry goods store on 4th Avenue. This palatial structure covers one entire block and is seven stories high. Its internal arrangement seems to be complete in neatness, order and system ; 1,400 persons are employed iu this establishment. The shopping portion of our party reported done at 4 o’clock x*. M., when we returned for dinner and rest. After dinner Mr, Dwiggins, the children and myself went down to Battery park. Here is Castle Garden where all the immigrants are landed and instructed what to do. Representatives from nearly every nation on the globe can be 6een here. This park is a favorite place for recreation, and thousands come here to promenade and enjoy the bracing sea breezes. The fine view of the city and the bay with numerous vessels floating on its waters, together with the refreshing breezes, make it very pleasant to pleasure and sight seekers, On the morning of July lltli by invitation 1 went with Mr. Dwiggins to the office of the Continental railroad company,, where we met Mr. Abbott, Judne Cole, General Kibbey, and Messrs. Wood and Holyoke, officers of the company. They were in session and* appeared to be consolidating Borne local interests along the line with a view to a better basis for monetary negotiations in Europe, where Mr. Abbott says he is going in a few days, and hopes to be able to put the company in funds for active work. They are a weighty board in avoirdupoise, and our townsman is decidedly the baby in this respect, but not in energy and work, judging from their make-up. Hope their Troy weight may become as ponderous, thus securing the speedy construction of our much-desired railroad. the kindness of Mr. Abbott I visited the Stock Exchange, and spent about an hour there. It is interesting to witness the strain and excitement here manifested after money, the lever that moves the world for weal or woe. Most of the active operators seem to be men from twenty-five to thirty-five years old. A gentleman told me few men can stand the wear and tear of such life very long; they die yottng, and but few succeed in amassing wealth. Visited the United States subtreasury—in the gold department one hears the constant jingling of the money of the world; millions arc received and paid out daily. Afternoon we all went to Central Park, where we spent about three hours. Nature and Art seem to have combined to make this place attractive beyond description. The park contains 862 acres; its length is two and one-half miles, and its width is threedourths of a mile; there are nine and one-half miles of carriage drive, six miles of bridle path, and twenty-eight miles of walks; the highest point is 156 feet above tide water; the new reservoir is thirty-eight feet deep, and contains 850,000,000 gallons; the ramble contains thirty-six acres, six lakes and ponds, a menagerie, museum, and a meteorological observatory. Among tbe animals the sea lions and sea cow seemed to attract most attention; they are loaned by Mr. Barffinn. Spent the forenoon of July 12th with the children visiting several places of interest. The main streets and thoroughfares were so crowded and jammed with the mass of humanity and vehicles that we made slow progress. Weather is very hot. Afternoon all went down to Fulton street pier and took a boat ride to Haarlem and back—a refreshing trip of an hour and a half. Had a fine view of Brooklyn as well as New York. Passed Blackwell’s Island where are located the penitentiary, the asylum for reformation of inebriates, poor farms, soldiers’ home, and many other benevolent and reformatory institutions. These boat excursions are very enjoyable, and many people patronize them. Our programme for Sunday was to take a pleasure trip on steamer up the Hudson to Cornell and back, but being a few minutes tardy we found tbe steamer bad left. Tardiness is one of the great evils of our degenerate age, and we were rightly served. We then hastily arranged a new bill for the day, and took street ears for Dr. Chapin’s church on sth Avenue, expecting to hear big talk, but fouqd his house closed. Examining a paper we learned he had gone to Europe with sixty other great Doctors of Divinity of this city, who leave their admiring flocks without shepherds until their return. We walked round Croton reservoir and park, near which Dr. Chapin’s church is situated, and saw what we could. Here, on sth Avenue, are the costly aristocratic residences of the city. Afternoon crossed East river on ferry boat to Brooklyn, thence took street oars and visited Greenwood cemetery. This cemetery, js nearly a mile square,

and Nature and Art have joined hands to make it a charming place for the sleep of the dead. It would almost seem an honor to die and rest in this beautiful place until tjie Resurrection day. Wo were told that the monuments erected here in memory of the dead that lie beneath them, cost from $40,000 down. In our ramble we came across the elegant monument in memory of Janies Gordon Bennett, who did so much to bring the journalistic interests of our country to its present status, and plucked a bunch of fitchias growing in the enclosure for a keepsake. This cemetery is visited every hour of the day by the hearse, thus constantly adding to the numerous company that sleep in its bosom. * A visit here gives food for meditation and thought. July 14th was so hot we did little else than pack up for our departure for Old Orchard beach. Got ourselves and baggage to pier 28, North river, where we got on board of ocean steam ship Bristol ot the Narraganset Steam Ship Company, Fall River line. Ship started at 5 p. m. This appears to be the favorite line of travel from New York to Boston. The ship is very handsomely built, is commodious, and has every comfort and luxury the traveler can desire. A band is engaged to give music to those who iove it. W 6 met Mr. Falley, of Lafayette, Ind., on board on his way to Boston to lay in a stock of goods. The evening is cool and pleasant, and our party is in high glee, delighted with the scenery and change? in mode of she would like to go to Europe. Reached Newport, R. 1., at daylight and got on Old Colony railroad lor Boston, fifty miles distant, which we reached at 8 o’clock a. m. Tuesday, and found train did not leave for Saco, Me., till 12:30 p. m., so Mr. Dwiggins, the children and myself went to visit Boston Commons, said to be one of the finest parks in the world. Saw the historic elm under which General Washington is said to have camped. Its foliage looks healthy, but the trunk exhibits many marks of decline. The trunk is enveloped in water proof canvass and encircled with large bands of iron; its main branches are all hooped. The trunk is not so tall, but is large and the top is large and well spread. This tree was nearly destroyed by storm in 1832. It is protected by an iron fence. Left Boston at 12:30 p. m. and arrived at Saco at 4:30 p. m. and took conveyance for Old Orchard four miles distant, where we arrived sound and well, and found friends well and glad, to see us. The country through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and .Main o is very broken and illy adapted to agriculture. Saw but a very small breadth cultivated. The people draw on the West for provisions.— They have excellent water power and manufacture largely. Great deal of the land is worthless and abandoned. A gentleman we met oii the cars said it would make a rabbit weep to pass over it. If friend McCoy was to Bee it, think he would have a more favorable opinion of 32, 7. Season has been very dry in these States, and the cry is for rain. The woods and around was burning in many places as we passed. Found rooms engaged for us at the Moulton House, 4 which is a new hotel with quite ordinaryHactiommodations, except the table which is very fair. Hotel facilities are not sufficient for the accommodation of all who come here. The sea is calm with a beautiful beach on which to drive or promonade. Find people here from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Canada—none from west of New York State except our party. Nearly all of them look heaithv and happy, and there is a decided prominence of the fair sex. There are ten hotels here with a capacity for about 1,200 guests. The resident population is not over 100. The pleasure season lastsfrom ten weeks to three months. The amusements are bathing, walking and driving on the beach, dancing—there are two dancing in the hotels and two outdoor platforms—two ball alleys patronized by both sexes, croquet, swinging, picnics, etc., etc. The country is very barren, sandy and rocky; the wood.growth is hemlock and dwarf pine. The Methodist denomination of Maine have purchased 35 acres here for a camp meeting ground. They divide it up among the different conferences. The Boston and Maine railroad company is said to have assisted in the purchase. There are picnic parties here every day from towns and cities near by. Boarding is from $1.50 to $4 per day. , On Wednesday part of us went to Point of Rocks four miles distant in a small schooner. This is a delightful, elevated point of land of about 150 acres, running out into the sea, and has fine fishing* facilities. We caught three scullions and thirty-seven dinners. The cunners are a nice gani'ey fish to catch with hook and line, using clams for bait; This neck could be made a magnificent place with proper improvements. The owners will not sell ahy part of it. I am told they have been offered SBO,OOO for the 150 acres. Fish are very cheap here and we are feasting on them and. growing fat. Mr. Dwiggins and myself have gained four pounds each in weight since our arrival. We bathe in the sea daily and ean eat enormously. Alfred Thompson. The Porter county Fair will be held at Valparaiso this year on the Ist, 2d and 3d days of October.