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owned has realized $17,000 from the different
sales. The late Nathan Cook
paid $2.50 per acre for 500 acres, or $1250.
His heirs sold the same farm without
improvements for $30 per acre or $15000.

Space forbids my describing the numerous
magnificient mansions, hotels and
general development. But the highly
improved farms of the Cooks, Snouffer,
Codwise, Cavin, Dr. W. A. Waters, J. B.
Diamond, Briggs, Walkers and an indefinite
number of others forbids their
names being omitted.

But we must hasten to the county
seat, Rockville, while passing finely cultivated
farms. The Rockville depot has
more daily arrivals and departures of
passengers, than any depot on the line,
while the village is advancing rapidly
in building extension. The street on
the west side of the village has magnificent
building lots adjoining, which are
being rapidly utilized. Also the extension
on the southeast side to the Fair
Grounds and depot, reflecting great credit
on the enterprise of her citizens.

Her churches, schools, town hall and
Montogomery county bank rank foremost
in the county.

The Fair Grounds, the creation of the
public spirited citizens of the county
and Rockville, has now attained a position
surpassing any former period in its
history, largely due to railroad facilities.

Also the county and village have learned
a necessary lesson—that the general
interests of each can only be promoted
by the mutual co-operation of both.

A little patience on the part of
Rockville will with the rapidly increasing
population and wealth of the county
build a court house corresponding with
the demands of the village and county,
which for prudential reasons has not
been undertaken heretofore.

Leaving Rockville the railroad passes
improved farms and numerous newly
erected cottages that adorn the entrance
of the railroad into the Capitol of the
Union. JOHN T. DeSELLUM.

"The Unfruitful Montgomery
County," Continued.

In my last communication, I gave a
compendium of data and facts relative
to the remarkable development of our
county in agricultural products since
the war.

I now give the advance of our county,
Physically, intellectually and morally,
during the same period.

Physically, the improvement of the
soil has called into existence improved
machinery, superior breeds of horses,
cattle, sheep and hogs, etc. And the
farmers of to-day well know that in all
the relations of animated nature a full
physical development of animals is indispensible.

The wagon and plough requiring
heavy draught horses; the plough to
turn down the vegetable or organic matter;
to restore the vegetable and mineral
loss of the soil, by former shallow plowing
and washing of the land into gullies.

Also a pair of Percheron or other improved
breeds can now convey or transport
as great a load as formerly required
four ordinary horses.

In the foregoing remarks I have spoken
of the importance of development
in the brute creation. I will now refer
to the physical condition of man. And
say compare the savage to civilized man,
or draw the contrast between the digger
Indian of the Rocky Mountains
feeding upon reptiles, or whatever
chance may throw in his way to the
well fed farmers and their families in
the United States, the latter physically
having no superiors and to-day they
form the stamina, and bulwark of defence
against anarchy and crime. Also
in their convervative habits, and physical
labour, we realize the future safety
of our land.

I now come to intellectual man, and
for his mental development he is largely
dependent on a healthy condition of
the body. The brute creation exceeds
man in physical or muscular strength.
Yet here the analogy stops. Though
admitting the truth of the poet—when
he says

"Reasoning at every step he takes,
Man yet mistakes his way;
While meaner things whom instinct
leads
Are rarely known to stray."

This is however the exception not the
rule, and proudly may the citizens of
our county realize the fact that physically
and intellectually the native talent
only lacks training. While the advance,
since labor has been made honorable—
is most gratifying. No county in Maryland
has surpassed Montgomery.

In my recent essay I gave the assessable
value of property in Montgomery
connty, according to the census of 1880,
at $8,266,038; while the statement of
1886 of the clerk of the Montogomery
County Commissioners states the
amount of taxable property at $8,847,013
or $580,975 more in 1886 than in 1880.
And according to the accelerated ratio
of increase in the previous five years,
the census of 1890 will show considerably
over nine millions of taxable property.

I have given statistics, not theories
as proof of my data, and recapitulation,
while a knowledge of our vast natural
advantages is now being better understood,
appreciated and utilized than
at any former period in the history our
county.

It is said, "what the intelligent minds
of their generation are elaborating the
succeeding generation will utilize.