ing will be found to exist, no matter whether he contemplates engaging in agriculture or not. In endeavoring to show all how to get a farm, it was important to inform them where it might be had. On both points they will here find abundant information; the action must be taken by themselves. An effort has been made to draw attention to the great but unappreciated value of the numerous tracts of swamp-lands which are to be found among the centres of population in all the older States. The subject might have been further elaborated by suggesting the application of organized capital to this enterprise on a large scale. It has been thus organized and applied in Europe; but our country is probably too young, and land too abundant, for an extensive undertaking of that character to be entertained. Particular reference has been made to the vast quantities of cheap lands for sale in the three States. of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The information touching these lands and their productions, has been derived, in some instances, from correspondents on the spot. In others, as in Delaware and New Jersey, my account is mainly from personal inspection. I could reach them conveniently, and had the fullest opportunity for making a very thorough examination. I conversed with many per sons who had settled there from other States, saw their improvements, as well as their crops, and received candid replies to all inquiries as to how they liked their new locations, and how they were succeeding. The facts thus acquired are reported without suppression or exaggeration. I have travelled over most of the Illinois Central Railroad, and seen the astonishing improvements to which that great enterprise has given birth. Europeans, in common with Americans, are familiar with the wonderfully liberal terms on which the Company are offering their fertile lands to actual settlers. They have made thousands of industrious families the possessors of noble homes, and will enable other thousands to become equally independent. I have given a connected history of the Company's lands, with some items of information heretofore unpublished, which will be useful both to foreign and domestic readers. It is known that foreigners are now seeking this country in larger numbers than for several years past. This coming stream of immigration promises to expand into greater volume than ever. Multi tudes of these are ignorant of our true condition, and need correct information. The majority are in search of land. Even our own citizens are deplorably ignorant of where to find the most eligible, and how to secure it. The facts contained in these pages have been collated with especial reference to the wants of both these classes of inquirers. Some pages, not mentioned as quotations from other writers, may be recognized by the reader as having already appeared in the columns of different newspapers. All such were written by myself. Where the labors of others in the same field of inquiry have been used, the proper acknowledgment has been made. CONTENTS. Poverty no Hindrance Government Lands-Free Farms- The Homestead Law-Its Friends and Enemies-Settlers in Wisconsin-Germans in the Union-Immigration-A Number of Free Farms-Population, Present and Future— What makes Land valuable-Prices balancing each other- More Opinions and Experiences-Some Objections-Addi- tional Light-Encouraging the Young-A personal His- tory-Getting an Illinois Farm-One Example-Good Exhausted Farms always to be had-Thriving Tenants- Owners anxious to sell-Bartering Farms-A lucky Begin- ner-City Owners-Taking Advice-Where to search- Wanting the Best-The Poorer Lands first Cultivated, then the Richer Ones-Value of Swamps-History of three of them-Cranberry Swamps of New Jersey-Power of Ex- ample-The Mississippi Swamp Interest-Wealth follow- Getting the first Thousand Dollars-How to save-Man |