Old and Nciv Homes. 195 



sists of twenty-five thousand acres of level land, then covered with pines 

 and scrub-oaks, and inhabited only by charcoal-burners and wood-choppers. 

 The enterprising spirit who undertook this grand scheme was Mr. Charles 

 K. Landis ; and when, in August, i85i, he first began to lay out the streets 

 and avenues of his future town, he was ridiculed as a madman. Yet he 

 proceeded in the work, offering the most liberal inducements to actual set- 

 tlers, and refusing to sell to mere speculators. The tract was laid out into 

 five and ten acre lots in the town ; and outside were to be had larger farms 

 of all sizes, so that various capacities and fancies could be suited. All 

 who came were obliged to build houses, and plant ornamental trees before 

 them, within a year, at the same time observing uniformity by locating at 

 a certain distance from the street. Neat cottages were soon erected, of 

 tasteful styles, yet in great variety ; and within three years there had thus 

 been built a town of six hundred and fifty houses, containing some four 

 thousand inhabitants. At the same time, the projector of the enterprise 

 was busy in opening and grading new streets, building bridges, clearing up 

 the forest, and establishing a multitude of improvements for the general 

 benefit of the settlers. Sites were given for churches, schools, and a public 

 park ; while hotels, mills, and stores sprang up to meet the demand. The 

 growth and prosperity of the settlement exceeded even that of Western 

 towns • and the mild and favorable climate was all that could be desired 

 for fruit-raising. There was a constant succession of strawberries, rasp- 

 berries, blackberries, peaches, and grapes. All were busy here ; no drones 

 were to be found: and carpenters and masons found ready employment in 

 putting up new houses for the rapidly-increasing population. 



All this was in full operation when our friend went there to look for a 

 new home ; and he was completely astounded at what he saw and heard 

 around him. It was at the close of winter, it will be remembered ; but 

 already many new dwellings were under way. There were fine, substantial 

 churches and schoolhouses, and ev^ry thing else that is usual in a town of 

 its size, except rum-shops. Even the hotels had no bars ; for, by a vote of 

 the people, such things were decided to be unnecessary ; and, by a special 

 act of the legislature erecting this tract into a township, the citizens are 

 authorized to forbid the traffic in intoxicating liquors. Perhaps it was this 



