SOLON ROBINSON, 1842 321 



is this : The time will come when all those 'millions of 

 acres of land, sustaining no material for fences,' will be 

 cultivated, and that, too, without fencing. 



The present generation may 'maul and haul' rails to 

 their heart's content, and perhaps the next generation 

 will follow in the footsteps of their fathers ; but the time 

 will come when the grand prairie of Illinois will be 

 brought under the dominion of the husbandmen, without 

 the aid of fence. I assert it now, as my sincere belief, 

 that, if a law having that object in view were to be now 

 enacted, it would ultimately prove of more benefit to the 

 state than would a present of ten millions of dollars. 

 And I believe, Mr. Editor, that this is one of the most 

 important questions that can be discussed in your col- 

 umns, and I hope the opponents of the 'no-fence system' 

 will pick up the gauntlet that I now throw down, 1 and 

 if I cannot sustain my side of the question, why — I will 

 ask you to help me. 



I remain yours, &c, 



Solon Robinson. 



Lake C. H., la., June 30, 1842. 



La Porte Co., &c. 



[Chicago Union Agriculturist, 2:68; Aug., 1842] 



[July 12, 1842] 

 Dear Sir — Since I returned from our late pleasant 

 tour through a portion of your state, 2 I have visited La 



1 The challenge was taken up in the February number of the 

 Prairie Farmer. See post, 363-66. 



2 On June 14, Robinson and John S. Wright, editor of the Union 

 Agriculturist, arranged for a tour of several days through the 

 northeastern Illinois counties in the interests of the Agriculturist 

 and the Union Agricultural Society of that region. Meetings 

 were held at Naperville, Aurora, Elgin, Coral, and Crystal Lake. 

 Where sufficient notice had been given, good crowds assembled 

 to listen to Robinson's addresses, and numerous subscriptions were 

 secured for the Agriculturist. Among the more prominent of Rob- 

 inson's listeners were "S. Johnston," probably Spencer Johnson, a 

 well-known grain and dairy farmer, a New Yorker by birth, who 



