316

STATE OF AGRICULTURE, PRICE OF LANDS, PROVISIONS AND LABOR.

The state of agriculture has improved greatly within a few years past. There are farms in the vicinity of all our larger towns, in a good state of cultivation, and our farmers every where, either have already, or soon will have good substantial houses, barns and out houses. These are not only commodious and substantial but sometimes even elegant. In New Connecticut, almost every farmer has an elegant dwelling house. In that part of the state, we see more framed than brick houses; in some parts, though, brick houses predominate. In the remainder of the state, brick is preferred as the cheapest, most durable and best. The materials for brick are near the spot when they are needed; the wood to make fuel, and burn them, needs to be cleared off, and the farmer and his sons can make the brick without hiring any of the work done. Within a very few years, after the farmer had settled down in the woods, we generally see around him a well fenced, well cultivated farm, with good buildings, and a good orchard coming forward. In a few more years his children will be grown up, married and settled on farms of new land like the one on which they were brought up. Thus the forest recedes before us, and a highly cultivated country smiles far and wide around us.

Farmers in parts of New Connecticut, in Washington county, and along the upper part of the Scioto country have, during twenty years past, turned their attention to dairies and the manufacture of cheese. The business has been profitable, but enough is not made yet for our own consumption.

The apple tree flourishes in all parts of the state, and cider is so abundant some years, as to sell for only one dollar a barrel. Many apples are carried down the Ohio river to New Orleans, and the lower country.

The price of land varies from one dollar and twenty-five cents, to one hundred dollars an acre.

The price of labor is fifty per cent. higher than in the Atlantic states, and provisions are about fifty per cent. cheaper than there.

Mechanics of all sorts get higher wages, and where they settle in towns, as they mostly do, they get rich in few years, if they are industrious, and well understand their business.

Laborers by the day, month or job, can always get employment, high wages and prompt payment, in cash, on our public works our roads and canals. It will continue to be so for ages, because this state will never cease to improve the country by canals and roads. Every dollar laid out thus, by the state, will pay an interest that will forever make it the duty of the state, to proceed in her internal improvements. So that any young man in the East, who wishes to become a good substantial farmer, may come to Ohio, get employment, buy a farm, pay for it, own and improve it, and be an independent citizen of this great and growing state.

Manures have been but little used yet, in this state. Such is the natural fertility of the soil, that farmers have neglected to make use of their manure. Compost is unknown to our farmers, and plaster of Paris is, as yet, but little used. That many parts of Ohio would be the better for manure we doubt not, nor do we doubt but that when the lands are more worn by cultivation, that manure will be used by farmers. The best soil is doubtless one that contains sand enough in its composition to prevent its baking or becoming hard after a rain, and which also contains clay enough in it, to retain sufficient moisture. That our hilly region, whose soil is composed of such materials as these, possesses within itself a mineral richness, scarcely equaled any where else, is certain; hence, all our hilly region has deceived every one, almost, who saw it covered with a forest. Such lands are coming into high repute for farms; and whole counties, once deemed poor, are settling rapidly, and will continue to do so for a long time to come. Their soil is as good for grain, especially wheat, as any portions of the state, formerly supposed to be preferable.

42*

THE RAISING OF HOGS, HORSES AND CATTLE.

In these branches of a farmer's business, our people have very well succeeded. In a country which produces so easily and so abundantly, all the grains and grasses, on which such animals subsist-where there is so little winter for which to provide where the snow lies only a few days, at a time, and then is not over three or four inches in depth, all the domestic animals can be supported with ease, on the abundance of food which this country furnishes. Formerly, vast droves of hogs were driven every year over the mountains, but since our canals are made-since the steam boat moves on the Ohio, Mississippi and the lake, our people kill their hogs at home, salt them and carry them off in barrels, either to New Orleans, or to Cleveland, thence, to Montreal and Quebec, or to New York. Horses are still sent off in droves to market, either to the east or to the south.

So of our cattle, they are fattened and driven, sometimes, all the way to Boston to market. The value of all these exports we do not know, nor have we the means of knowing, but it amounts to millions of dollars annually, for our cattle, hogs, horses, mules and sheep. Great pains have been taken to improve the breeds of all these animals, and companies have repeatedly sent all the way to England to get better hogs, horses and cattle. The evident improvement of the whole breed, shows that those who have done these things, are public benefactors.

THE STATE OF THE PRESS.

In 1435, John Gutenburgh of Mentz, was carrying on a law suit, in Strasburgh, with a burgher of the place last mentioned, one Drizen, about a copying machine, which Gutenburgh had invented.

That copying machine was A PRINTING PRESS, which has done more for mankind than any other invention. By this machine of Gutenburgh's, mind can move minds, and render

earth, air, fire, water, aye, even immense tracts of space, far as the telescope can discern, tributary to man's comfort, knowledge and happiness. Aided by Gutenburgh's copying machine, every new idea, useful to mankind, soon crosses every sea and every ocean, and finally, pervades every part of our habitable globe. It was this copying machine that enabled Martin Luther to spread his doctrines over christendom, and to assert the rights of conscience, and the liberty of speaking and writing our opinions, upon all matters in religion, science, politics and literature. This machine has prostrated error, wherever it has had free scope. It is the friend of genuine liberty, of justice, of human happiness and human glory. Through the aid of this machine, the scriptures have been spread, are spreading, and will continue to do so, until the light of the gospel shall shine on all lands, enlighten all nations, and render all men happier and better. Happy will it be for mankind, if the Press continues to be unshackled, as it now is, in this country. May those who use it, never descend to licentiousness-to the servility of panders, for the men in power, nor become the tools of aspiring demagogues, either in church or state. The Press multiplies copies of books, and renders them cheap, and accessible to all readers. Ideas beget ideas, which are the parents of others, in endless progression. One invention leads to other inventions, enabling man to overcome time and space, and turn to his use and benefit all the elements. He conquers the whole world, rendering useful to him earth, ocean, air, and every plant and every animal. He is enabled to make the very stars in the deepest vault of the far blue heavens useful to him. And whether he travels back, down the long lapse of ages past, or rise on the wings of his enraptured imagination, and fly into the most distant regions of futurity, his wanderings may be all recorded by a pen, and by the Press circulated all over the world, and their remembrance be perpetuated forever.

*Two hundred years ago a New Testament cost two hundred dollars-it

costs now ten cents.

In this way, he may be said to overcome death itself, because his thoughts are immortal. They live to ennoble, to animate, and bless mankind. The spirit of an author will forever hover around, and take possession of the inmost souls of his readers. Kingdoms, states, and empires, may rise, flourish, decline, fall, and be almost forgotton, in the dim distance of oblivious eld, while the inspirations of the man of genius remain green, flourishing, and entire, unimpaired and indestructible.

May those who conduct the Press, elevate their ideas into pure regions of thought, and fly, always there. To them, in a very special manner, are committed the future destinies of mankind. They are the lights of the world-shining, not for themselves, but for the whole human family. By the aid of these lights, all can see their several paths through life. As these lights increase in number and brightness, men will see clearer, farther, and better all around them, all over the world, until time shall end. Until then, may the Press be free, pure, and useful.

The first newspaper ever printed northwest of the Ohio river, was issued at Cincinnati on the 9th of November, 1793, by William Maxwell. It was entitled "THE CENTINEL OF THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY"-its motto, "Open to all parties, but influenced by none." This paper, after changing its name and owner, in 1796, was continued until 1800.

In the autumn of 1810 The Western Spy was commenced by Captain Joseph Carpenter and Ephraim Morgan. It continued to be published by them until the death of Captain Carpenter, in February 1814. It passed through various owners" hands until its title was changed into the National Republican, which name it still bears. It is printed by James H. Looker and edited by Charles R. Ramsay Esquire. It is published weekly, tri-weekly and daily.

The two oldest papers in Cincinnati are published at large establishments, and have a considerable influence on the public mind. Soon after the state constitution went into operation, John W. Brown established a paper at Cincinnati: It