2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2020
Expansion of the West letter, 4pp. 4to., written by L. E. Mitchell, Rockford, Ill., April 29, 1855, to his uncle back in Vermont, reading, in part: "…something of an idea of the western world…I am well satisfied with the country…there appears to be a general excitement among each class of people, the farmer, mechanic & tradesmen all partake of the mania each one fighting for a fortune. The farmers for a few years back have not been blessed with a market…they now have a market for everything they can grow…the consequence is they are getting above board and begin to think that they are independent and well they might think so for they have land worth calculating. It is level and free of stone, no stumps…a man with a pair of horses can plow from two to three acres per day with little trouble…the soil will produce year after year…a man can put in forty acres of corn, twenty of wheat and two of potatoes and not exert himself…the crop is from forty to a hundred bushels to the acre of corn, twenty to thirty of wheat, two hundred of potatoes and forty of oats. The price is, for corn 10 cts., oats 48, wheat $1.75, potatoes #1.11…you had better send your sons down here to buy corn…as soon as navigation opens you may look for a plenty of johnny cake timber down east. The weather for the last four weeks has been delightful…the fruit trees are in bloom, grain is up…I board at Mrs. Brackett's…Mr. Brackett and Auker are in Missouri working on a road. Anson is in the grain business and is doing well…there are all kinds of people out here…most of them are from the east. Every country has a delegation. About the towns there is a sort of strife to see who shall make the most money. Speculators are afloat and they do not hesitate to nip from every farmer that comes to town provided they can. This class are making money as fast as they could wish. Money is worth twenty percent. The banking business is good…they could coin money as fast as they could in California years ago. The idea that this is not a healthy country is all false. I can see no reason why it is not…the water is much better than I expected …I shall not return to Vt…L. E. Mitchell." Also included is the original stamped transmittal cover. Light toning, else VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.