The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-16
COnquering a New Country.
THE MISUNDERSTANDING LIFE-uON
THE EMIGRANTS ARRIVE

''Carlton' writes from the wilds of
Northwest Minnesota to the Boston
JoUrnh
Wooded praires, oak openings, hills
and wales, watered by lakes and ponds
such is the character of the region lying
south OF Otter Tail, where we are travelling
to-day. Over all this section the water is
as pure as that Surgling from the hill-sides
of New Hampshire.
minnesota is one of the best watered
States in the Union. The thousands of
lakes and ponds dotting its surface are fed
by never-failing springs. This one feature
adds UNNECESSARILY to it's value In Illinois,
Iowa and Nebraska, the farmer is compell-
ed to pump water for his stock, and in those
States we see wind-mills erected for pump
ing; but here the ponds are so numerous,
and the springs so abundant, that far less
pumping will be required than in the other
prairie States of the Union.
I'VE came upon a Dutchman who has
taken up one hundred and sixty acres near
by our camp under the presumption act.
He has put up a log hut, turned few acres
of the soil, and is getting ready to live.
His thrifty wife has flock of hens, which
supply us with fresh eggs. This pioneer
has recently come from Montana. He had
beautiful farm in the Deer Lodge Pass of
the Rocky Mountains, within seven miles
of the summit.
"I raised as good wheat there as 1 can
here, he says, thirty bushels to the acre.
"'Why did you leave it?'
"I couldn't sell anything. There is no
market there. The farmers raise so much
that they couldn't hardly give their grain
away, unless they carried it hundred
miles or more to the mines
"'Did you sell your farm?'
"'No, left it. 1t is there for anybody
to take
"'Is it cold Thereof
"tNo colder than it is here. We have
few cold days in winter, but not much
snow. Cattle live in the field through the
winter, feeding on the bunch grass, which
grows tall and is very sweet
"Here was information worth having
the experience of a farmer. The Deer
Lodge Pass is at the head waters of the
Missouri, in the main divide of the Rocky
Mountains, and one of the surveyed lines
of the Northern Pacific road passes through
it. We have thought of it as cold, in
hospitable region, blocked with snow in
mid-wnter, a place where a railroad train
would be frozen up and buried beneath de-
scending avalanches; but here is a man who
has lived within seven miles of the divide,
who raised the best Of wheat, the mealiest
potatoes, whose cattle lived in the fields
through the winter, and he left his farm
for the sole reason that he could not sell
anything. Montana has no outlet; no mar
ket for grain except amid the mining pop
ulation of the territory. The miners are
scattered over a vast region. A few farm
ers in the vicinity of mining camp will
supply the wants of the place. Farming
will not be remunerative till railroad en-
tiers the territory. What stronger argu-
ment can there be, what demonstration
more forcible, for the immediate construc-
ton of the Northern Pacific Railroad 1t
will pass through the heart of the territory,
which is yielding more gold and silver than
any other territory or State.
"Ths farmer says that Montana is des-
tined to be great stock-growing REGION
Cattle thrive on the bunch grass The
hills are covered with it, and millions of
acres that cannot be readily cultivated will
furnish pasturage for hocks andl herds
This testimony accords with statements
made by those who have visited the terri
tory, as well as by others who have resided
there.