SOLON ROBINSON, 1842 355 



a large prairie on a trip to mill. 1 You will also find 

 many other disadvantages that emigrants have to en- 

 counter in settling a new country, detailed in my former 

 articles of advice to emigrants. 



But the greatest disadvantage of all, is the extreme 

 fertility of the soil. And if you have energy of character 

 enough to overcome this, you will overcome all others, 

 and find more advantages than disadvantages. But 

 don't forget, that in all countries, the ease of procuring 

 subsistence is apt to beget indolence. This is the great 

 and almost only danger in the west. 



"What is the wages of farm laborers and carpen- 

 ters?" 



Average $10 a month; 50c. a day. Carpenters $1 a 

 day. 



"Is it necessary to clear up your wood land of under 

 growth for pasture?" 



In some groves when the country is first settled, there 

 is little or no under growth ; but by keeping out the fires, 

 it soon springs up very thick, so that it would be neces- 

 sary to grub out the under growth. Generally speaking, 

 however, the growth of timber should be constantly and 

 carefully promoted, and then in fifty years there would 

 be more timber in the prairie region than now. 



"Is your county well watered?" "Can you get wells 

 easy?" 



Yes, to both questions. Where I live, wells are from 

 15 to 60 feet. The first 5 easily spaded, then a very hard 

 compact bed of clay to within 10 or 12 feet of the bottom, 

 then fine beach sand. Stock water is obtained in creeks, 

 ponds and springs; but as the country becomes thickly 

 settled, a great many farms will have to form basins in 

 the clay after the manner much practiced in Kentucky, 

 or obtain stock water from wells. The water in wells is 

 pure, that is, clear, and very durable. It is generally 

 what is termed hard. 



1 Printed ante, 340-43. 



