Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-19

teal letter written by DR.. L. I. Mann, and pub
lished in Philadelphia paper, said to have the
largest circulation in the world. Such letters,
plainly written; summary of facts, are calcu-
lated to do much good. The Doctor, We are told,
intends to direct his attention to agriculture, of
which science he is an enthusiastic admirer:
Correspondence of the Dollar Newspaper.
ST. PAUL, M. T., July %, 1854.
DEAR SIR-In former communications l have
given my reasons for wishing to give Eastern read
ers correct information regarding the climate, soil,
and productiveness of the Territory Of Minnesota.
will now give some practical facts upon the yield
of the soil, point upon which, till recently, l
was not we'll "posted."
Our farmers are about closing their wheat har-
vest. | have been for some two weeks almost
daily riding over the country, and had very fine
| opportunity to collect correct information. In
| the Cottage Grove district about eighteen miles
North of ST. Paul, the East side of the Missis-
sippi the natural state of the wild land is smooth,
open prairies, alternating with belts of oak tim
Der. The farms are generally so arranged that
| 60 of timber. The clear land is not nominally,
but absolutely clear and smooth. On the Fuller
ton farm there is 160 acres Of such land, every
inch of which may be ploughed without the least
obstruction; his timber, SO acres, lays on one
side, in a body, and this is the condition of very
many farms in this Territory. We use, in farm
ing, all the labor saving machinery we can; Our
reapers, by which two men and four horses can
cut from twelve to fourteen acres of wheat per
day, work charmingly on this smooth land. The
first breaking Of the lands requires four hOrses,-
they plough about eighteen inches from two to
two and half acres per day is the average
Fencing is an item Of expense. Rails, in this vi
entity, are easily procured, though some prefer
lumber at from twelve to fourteen dollars FER
thousand. We never fence fer stock; only the
farming lands. Our fields enclosing from fifty to
one hundred acres, owing to the improvements.
Such lands as | now speak of may yet be rur-
chased for from 50 so to 81 per acre. There arc
in thia vicinity cottage GIOve) no more public
lands. The 81 % per acre lands Government
lands) arc on the west of the Mississippi.
We grow summer and winter wheat, corn (prin-
cipay the yellow flint dcnt,) oats, barley, mil
LEI, hemp, potatoes, all lcgumnous plants, of
which the gardens show not only great variety,
but a quality superior to anything have ever
| seen.
The wheat now harvesting, of which have
made a fine collection of specimens in the straw.
will average about thirty-eight bushels to the
acre. On the Vansl yke farm, it is said to be
| forty five bushels; on others, not over forty
some as low thirty bushels to the acre. The
other crops, the oats, corn, mllct, &C., bear the
same proportion. It,may be our crops, are lit
tie better this year than the two preceding years
have been here, but think the difference is not
much, if any.
Our expenses in putting in these crops, is just
the expense Of ploughing, and sowing, &c. no
more. We use no fertilizer Of any kind. There
are vast straw heaps on our places, which when
rotten we will propably draw, cut and spread.
| The soil will Out-last one mans life time.
The expense of reaping is just 81 l-2 cents per
acre, that of thrashing but few cents per bush
e,-all done by machinery.
In regard to the market, our territory, beside
the Mississippi, has a large navigable tributary;
and steamers in abundance. Add to this, the
| connect with the great thoroughfares East, for
which Congress has given us very liberal do
nation of lands, that the present, and increas-
| ing cheapness and readiness of transportation,
will hold the ratio Of the present prices of pro-
duce but a fraction below those of the East.
Aside from this, our home market will for years
| to come, consume all our agricultural surplus.
A farmer can crop one hundred acres of wheat
| here with no more expense than it would cost in
| Pennsylvania to crop thirty, provided he avail
himself of all the improved appliances. 100 acres,
| 80 bushels per acre, 5000 bushels Minnesota
yield. 80 acres, 80 bushels per acre, 900 bushels
| PENNSYLVANIA Weld. One dollar per bushel Penn
sylvania 5000. 90 cents Minnesota, 50, 7OO-df-
ference in favor of Minnesota $l,S0O. The DIFF
ference is even more. Take the difference in the
interest on the prime cost Of the land, the ex
pense of manure, the expense of subdivisonal
fencing, the difference of wearing OF plough,
teams, wagons, &C., on those finty lands COM
pared to our loamy soil. l believe, adding all
these items in our favor, the difference of profit
is greater than have set it down.
The eGreat West'' is the great blessing of our
nation in more ways than one. Here a man, how
ever poor, with health and industry, may come
in time to possess a farm in fee simple. The mo-
ment he lands he can find employ at the most ex-
orbitant rates. We need laborers, and have the
cash to pay. This man soon makes purchase,
and that inspires hope he will some day have
home of his own, and thousands and tens of
thousands of such men, now wealthy people of
the West, FILL Offices of great responsibility, and
have full share in directing the affairs of this
nation. The very men who should be in the coun-
ellis of nation, for they in earnest, are prac-
teal, and know what it is to live Carlyle says,
life to them is practical reality, great ear
nestness.
The population of st. Paul is about $500,
has four weekly and four daily papers. Mer-
chants are prepared to supply all the demands Of
the country. Good oxen are worth from 800 to
$3.50 per yoke. A fair span of horses about $500.
Flour selling at 81 so; Pork sl6 per barrel
More anon. NJ.