The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-07-13
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Country-Nasuraf Advantage ---

Country-NasarafA dEanf"ges'-
Editors of the Register:
GENTLEMEN:-In a former communi-
cation, to which you generously gave
leading place in your paper, l called the
attention of those who contemplated a
removal from the State, to some facts
which distinguish Minnesota as good
"new State" for the immigrant. \ 81. = q
Iadesire, by your permission, again to
recommend Minnesota by reference to
other advantages which that country
offers to those seeking new homes in a
new country a
And frstaof the
30 - ~. +, rs IN CLIMATE. SAT-
The winters are cold, judged by the
Thermometer, compared with the winters
of Virginia. But while it is cold, the
air is dry and bracing, with bright
glorious sun, never, or seldom, prevent.
Inc the farmer from attending to all
needful out door business. My own ex'
perience is, tnat the winters, 80 far from
being an objection on account OF the
cold are a Recommendation, because OF
the universal health that prevails dur
ing the winter months, and the opportu
nity afforded by the splendid roads fol
agreeable amusements, for sleighriding,
visiting, and hunting Asa general rule
the snow falls the last week in Noyem-
Der, and remains on the ground unln-
terruptedly and permanently till the
opening of spring. In April the snow
has all disappeared, the ice has broken
up and left the river, and the farmer is
busy with his pillow and spring work gen
orally. During these winter months no
rain is ever seen in Minnesota. Hence
none of those damp, chilly winds are felt
there which, in islatitude SO generally
prevail in the winter season. That fear
full disease, consumption, is a stranger
to the prairies of Minnesota, ne less than
that other afflictiOn, the fever and ague.
During the winter months the farmer is
busily engaged in making his rails and
drawing them from the wood land to his
prairie field; in cutting his logs and
hauling them over the fine winter roads
to the mill for lumber; and in cutting
and drawing his fire wood to his door for
the years use. Meantime his stock has
to be cared Tor, well fed and we'll housed
The hay, which is cut and stacked in the
natural meadow in the month OF July
is drawn from the meadow to his barn
upon the snow, and there fed out. Thus,
in the winter time, the Minnesota farm
or finds work to do suitable to the sea-
son, and he does it, experiencing no in
convenience from the cold weather.
For productiveness, the soil OF Min
nesota is certainly unsurpassed. In the
production of wheat and oats it may be
truly said to have no rival in any one of
the Western States. Failures are rare.
Insects, that .devastate the wheat in
other States, have never yet infested
that fair land. Corn is usually planted
in May. and harvested in September,
but often not till October. Wheat is
sown in the Spring; and winter wheat is
rarely raised, The last week in April,
and first of May, is the usual time for
sowing. Harvest comes i'll August.
Twenty and twenty-five bushels of
wheat. thirty and thirty five bushels of
oats, is the average yield per acre. The
soil is a sandy black loan, with clay
sub soil, imparting rapid growth to all
kinds Of vegetation. In this, its compo-
sition seems to be admirably adapted to
the climate and latitude. Crops grow
apace and mature early so that damage
by frost rarely occurs. In the chicago
market, Minnesota Spring Wheat, the
last month, stood ahead OF all other de-
scriptious of wheat, and brought the
highest price In the same month, the
potato, in st. Louis was sci,
ling in advance Of every other kind. I
quote from the st. Cloud MINI } Demo
crat price current as follows: Wheat,
per bushel, 90 cents; oats, so cents; corn,
80 cents; flour, extra supertine, per bar
rel, $500; potatoes, per bushel, 30 cents.
Several millions of bushels of wheat
have been shipped South and East this
past spring, and yet So great is the
abundance raised, that the above low
figures prevail AZ the present time. One
DOLLAR however, IS the PREVAILING price
for Ebeat From these statebISnts may
fairly be inferred, the correctness of the
OPINION now generally obtaining, that
Minnesota is destined to take first rank
with the great States of the West, for
wealth and resources.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY.
First of all it is beautiful know of
no word that better expresses the idea,
The surface Of the prairie is undulating,
presenting, in the growing season, a
picture of silent beauty, most charming
TO the eye. The grass grows thriftily,
year after year, over the broad area,
with no twig or bush to mar the even
surface The prairies which vary in
size, are divided into two kinds, high and
low. The high prairie is cultivated
The low prairie, or what is called the
meadows, produce the grass or hay 1t
is red top, usually growing four feet
high, and yielding abnndantly. The
upland prairies are not so large, as in
Illinois or some parts of Iowa They
are surrounded by heavy belts of timber
and gemmed With many small lakes,
from whose clear and limpid waters can
be taken in any season, and abundance
Of fish. The settler builds his house in
the edge of the belt OF timber on the
stream that bounds the praisie, on one
Of the other side; or, on the shore of the
AXE where in either case, he has the
three essentials of tarm-wood, water
and prairie. ,.q .-.r.f-.
= II shoaid be borne in mind, that here |
Is no waste land-no mountain preci- |
pices-7no rocky shores no Inaccessible |
,hffs When the settler looks over his |
arm, his eye rests on no rod Of his pos |