229 



day's drive. Teams are usually loaded both ways, bringing on their return pina 

 lumber, or goods of various kinds, all of which are received through the abovo 

 ports. A plank road leading west from Racine, has been constructed through 

 this county to Delavan, with a branch diverging south-west towards Geneva, as 

 far as Burlington. Two plank roads from Milwaukee have also been constructed 

 to near the eastern hmit of this county, and will doubtless be extended into, if 

 not through the same. One also from Kenosha, leading in a south-westerly 

 direction, has been built as far as Fox River, and it is proposed to continue it into 

 the southern parts of the county, with a branch towards the centre. The rail- 

 road west from Milwaukee will pass through Whitewater, and the north-western 

 portion of this county. The common roads, for a new country, are quite good, 

 the ground being generally favorable, and the material for their construction 

 usually convenient and abundant; and considerable labor is annually bestowed 

 upon them. The facilities to market for the farmers of this county are good, 

 and add greatly to the value of land, and the wealth and prosperity of the 

 county. 



On the whole, Walworth County, like the most of Wisconsin, has all the ele- 

 ments of agricultural wealth. If our farmers would perseveringly turn their 

 attention and industry to the dairy, the growing of wool and flax, the rearing of 

 horses, cattle and swine — if they would have the prudence and courage to do 

 ■without what they do not really need, and are not sure they can pay for when 

 due — if they would buy less and sell more, and instead of making haste to be 

 rich, be content with the slow but sure returns of agricultural thrift, they would 

 in a few years, for the most part, feel little of the pressure of hard times, and 

 would be in comfortable, and many of them, in affluent circumstances. 



Statistics. — The following statistics compiled from the Western Star, may 

 be of some use and interest. I cannot vouch for their correctness. They purport 

 to be taken from the census of 1850. Number of farms in Walworth County, 

 2,001 ; number of acres embraced in same, 254,286 ; number of acres improved, 

 106,460; number of acres unimproved, 147,826; number of families, 3,042; 

 total value of farms $2,695,994; average value of each farm, $1,347; average 

 value of real estate to each family $886; average of real and personal to each 

 family $1,327. The town of Elkhorn, comprising four sections, and the village 

 of Elkhorn, is not included in the above. 



The following is taken from the assessment rolls of the several towns, after 

 being equalized by the supervisors in the year 1851 : 



Total number of acres assessed, 336,100; total valuation of same, $1,505,352; 



average value per acre as assessed, $4 47. 



C. M. BAKER. 



