AND WHERE TO FIND ONE. 87 



Mr. Benson, of Jamestown, N. Y., gives a gloomy account 

 indeed of those who intend to try to buy a farm. The idea 

 of giviug one-half of all raised, besides hauling rocks, cutting 

 so many broad acres of brush, building pig-pens, making 

 sheds, &amp;lt;fec., all for the privilege of living on a poor farm 

 (Mr. B. assures us that none but poor ones are offered foi 

 rent) looks more like a joke than a reality to a Western 

 man. 



&quot; I am not accustomed to writing letters for publication, 

 nor am I in the habit of giving advice, but after reading 

 such gloomy accounts as those given since the inquiry was 

 first made, I determined to try my hand at it. And now 

 I would say to all those who have the pluck to try to get 

 a farm under such disadvantageous circumstances as Mr. 

 Benson speaks of, to pull up stakes and come to Illinois, 

 where we will bid him a hearty welcome, where there are 

 no stones to pick, nor brush to cut around stumps and in 

 fence corners, and where, if you persist in renting, your 

 landlord will ask one-third of the grain raised, pay all 

 taxes himself, and furnish you with house, fuel, &amp;lt;fec. But 

 still a better way would be to buy a farm for yourself, 

 should it be only 40 acres. Mind, our lands are not en 

 cumbered with rock, brush, &c. But your whole 40 acres 

 is a perfect garden spot, and all the stock you may have 

 can roam on the prairies at large, which are covered with 

 a luxuriant growth of grass of the best kind for either 

 pasture or hay. 



&quot; Now, you will probably be ready to inquire what such 

 land can be bought for? It will cost from 83 to $10 per 

 acre, unimproved, and from 85 to $20 improved, and this 

 on almost any time the purchaser may desire. The Illinois 

 Central Railroad Company have, as you are aware, obtained 

 from the general Government a large grant of land to aid 

 them in the construction of their road, which has been 



