350 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



show a good trait of character, and they will repay you 

 for your liberality, ten fold. 



"Is it generally healthy?" 



This is the most important of all questions. I answer 

 that I do sincerely think the prairie country, generally, 

 is a very healthy one; yet all new countries are subject 

 to fever and ague, and portions of the west, particularly 

 near large streams, have been severely afflicted. 



Where I live myself, it is high rolling prairie, and 

 groves, clayey soil, and pure well water, and is decidedly 

 healthy. I believe that all similar situations are equally 

 so. 



"Can the dairy be made profitable?" 



I will give the data for each one to answer this ques- 

 tion according to his own notion of "cyphering." 



The price of Cows, I have given. Cost of summer feed 

 nothing but salt. The winter feed will be fully paid by 

 the calf. The price of keeping being only $1,50. The 

 prairie grass produces the best of milk, for butter and 

 cheese. The average price of the former, I think, is 

 about 7c. and the latter 4c. Upon this data, can the 

 dairy business be made profitable, I think, is easily an- 

 swered in the affirmative. 



"What would be the expense of transportation of a 

 horse team on the lakes, or traveling expense by land?" 



The passage of a horse from Buffalo to Chicago, is the 

 same as a cabin passenger. Last season, $18. The ex- 

 pense by land for a pair of horses with a moderate load, 

 I think, will average three cents a mile. 



"Is the land stony, if so, what kind of stone?" 



No, not generally. There are scattered boulders of 

 granite all over the prairies, and some parts of Illinois, 

 for instance at Juliet, 40 miles west of this, the land is 

 underlaid with limestone. 



"What kind of wood is most prevalent?" 



Oak of various kinds; next hickory. In some places 

 beech, poplar, ash, walnut, sugar maple, &c. &c. abound. 



