Litchfield enquirer., 1857-05-07
The following letter from gentleman formerly
Of New Milford. and now residing in Minnesota,
we think will interest our readers.

of New Milford. and now residing in Minnesota,
we think will interest our rasders.
HAMILTON, Elkhorn Pest Office,
Fillmore County, Mineyota-
Dear Sir:-Lands here are sold by preemptions
which has populated rich County thicker. and
with race more energetic and intelligent, than
nerhaps any new county ever saw or dreamed Of.
Aud now, Congress has given to Minnesota a vast
quantity of land for Railroad purposes. and we ex-
pect The President will after the sefertions for
that purpose again open our Land Offices for Pre-
emplions. when The balance will be spet diiy taken
IN by seilers at III IS per acre. Such lands are
| worth from So SO to $1,000 per acre as soon as
preempted, besides the improvements.
We are likewise favored in Minnesota Ivy having
one eighteenth part OF all the land in our TerIt"-
~ given US for the education Of our children. lie
School section Of GAO acres dj''n!ng our tow"
and nv land, would bring if sold thfs week IRON
! 81 900 TO s1O. 600. and l presume VIII advance
SO p.r cent in one year. think 1t Is safe 10 say
that the average value ofthe school lands In Mine
so,a can not be less than IS 90 per acre, wh, n We
are state and perhaps more
With regard TO the capabilities of the people of
Minnesota, | would say. tina. think them eqaal in
intelligence ard greatly superior in energy and
courage TO the in the old Eastern States and
when We consider that the enterprise. of the East
ern States. we'll AS OF England, Scotland Dem
mark. Norway and Germany are here inrermingIrd
with the live Yankee TO lead off and give, ias h+
always does) direction to the whole rnass,
think no State or Comfy can 60 ahead Of Nine
sofa. with equal facilities
Our place hamilton, il Fillmore County ,iouoh
only began last summer and fall, has a reputation
as good point, and all the requisite f.ci tiles for
an inland Town of the first order. Unlike most
other fast places in the West We have la en- de-.
ciIcd stAnl against the sale or use of Whiskev
and other intoxicating liquors. and The conse quence
j., that our town and the Prairie around US is ram
idly filling up with men of the right STAMP. and
we noW have small frame church, with regular
meetings once week, and have an excellent
School kept in our place averaging over ,hirry
scholars. The Church sands upon the exact
ground where two years ago hand of the Sio.x
Indians encamped, and the same spot four wears
ago in full possession of the red man, the elk
the bear and the deer. One year ago, i, was
common TO see the deer bound across the half sec-
lion which now embraces onr town-plAt. and whi,h
is now peopl.d by 100 inhabitants. The heal,hi
ness of this county cannot be surpassed anywhere.
and its fch soil, beautiful groves and wide-spr.ad-
ing prairie, watrrrd by thousand springs camno,
fail to inspire the wish Of the traveller 10 purchase
80 40, or 100 acres Of the land which will be sure
to advance so per cent per annum in value for
years 10 come. Such Is Southern Minnesota. and
such are some Of its prospects. Our winters here
begin about the same time as in Connecticut, and
DItdk UP the Idot vi bUOuSH Ine past TWO
winters have been colder than any ever felt in
Connecticut. yet consider them preferable for
comfort and health 10 our winters in the East, the
weather being much stradrr, coughs and colds
less frequent. and health generally mueh better.
People Of consnmp,ive habits in moot eases get
we'll and hearty in year or two, and ague and fe-
yer is always completely rxtirpa.ed in reasona .
hle time. and there has not yet appeared any sick
ness or disease which be considered a prevail
ing one in the inland country. Now il there are
any young men Of Industrious habits Who want 10
ge, 80 acres Of land. good opportunity will pre-
sent itself as soon as the RAILROAD selections are
made, and the Land Offers again openod for pre.
emp,ions. which will probably be in three or
four months. A man can preempt. borrowing
$500, 10 pay for his land. and sell 80 acres as
soon as he pleases. at 5000 to $500 Men Of
means can buy decided land with comfortable Log
Houses on them. and 10 acres broke and fenced
for 500 dollars for 90 100 acres, with good
n-ighbors in sight. Schools and Churches, Miller
and Mechanics shops are being bniI, he5e with
radidity that assures that no eastern man can
doubt but that hi. children can be as we'll educated
here and cheaply as in any Of the Eastern
States.
That the above statements are f.cts and. only
reasonable dedme items, two years residence in So
Minnesota assures me and heartily wish that
such men as referred 10 in This letter might come
and see for themselves aud he henei,ed by the
chances. which everywhere. for Ike present offer
themselves to settlers in this country.
March 9th. 1857.