258 HOW TO GET A FARM, 



turer, and the laboring man, find surer rewards of 

 industry. With 12,000 common schools, 21 col 

 leges, 48 academies, and a liberal fund for the sup 

 port of learning, Illinois offers the means of edu 

 cation such as few States can boast. All the 

 conditions favorable to prosperity are to be found 

 here. 



From publications made by the Company, most 

 of the facts and descriptions contained in this chap 

 ter have been compiled ; such, at least, as refer to 

 their lands, and to the statistics of climate and pro 

 ductions. The climate of Illinois is healthy, and 

 the mortality is less than in almost any other part 

 of the country. The immigrant seeking a location 

 regards the healthfulness of the district as a matter 

 of primary consideration, and Illinois, so far as its 

 sanitary condition is concerned, ranks with the most 

 favored States of the Union. The vital statistics 

 collected in 1860 show that in this State the deaths 

 per cent, to the population were in that year only 

 1.14, while the average of the whole country was 

 1.27. Extending 380 miles from north to south, 

 Illinois has all the varieties of climate to be found 

 between Boston, in Massachusetts, and Norfolk, in 

 Virginia : in the southern part, the genial climate 

 of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, and in the 

 northern section more nearly resembling that of 

 Pennsylvania, Southern New York, New Jersey 

 and Connecticut. 



The soil in the different parts of the State presents 

 very marked characteristics. Frpm the latitude of 

 Chicago as far South as the Terr,e Haute and Alton 



