The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-06-02

.RA1l'lfoND.
RAYMOND, STEARNs Co., MIMI
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i 81 May 2Sd, 1870.
ED1ron JonNA1--If farming vas to be
our occupation in The future, give me the
climate and soil Of Minnesota. Winter here
does not 'linger 10 the Lap. Of spring.
not very long, he don't. When she give.
him notice 70 ,qpit, be gathers up bis icy
robe and departs instanter. The Eastern
and Middle States are in this respect sad
~ at q discount One week is sufficient
for the transit from the sleigh to the pillow.
But it 'sesms thatseach returning spring is
an improvement on its predecessor. Seed
ing commenced one week earlier this
.spring than last, and that Was ten days
ahead Of the year preceding. When was
somewhat younger than am now, farmers
in Central New York. commenced blowing,
one year. the frstweek in April, and twas
considered by all something remarkable.
Probably it is rare thing with them now,
and I suppose it will be difficult to make
them believe that up in this high latitude it
is q common occurrence. The first week in
April found as seeding and since that time
warm weather has continued with scarcely
any abatement, and the weather at present
writing is such that crops are growing as
if by magic. predict bountiful yield Of
all kinds of grain in this section the present
season. It used to be fashionable to plant
corn in the States below US about the tenth
Of May, but here think We can change
the programme some. We have corn in
our garden that is four inches high, planted
the 10Th Of April, and see no reason Why
field corn could not have attained the same
height if planted at the same time. sup
pose the chap that you saw turning up that
'.plank road" soil in Pennsylvania will
hardly credit this, but if he or any
one else in that yelow-clay region had
some Of our warm mellow soil to cultivate,
they would open their eyes Iii not their
mouths) with establishment to see things
growing.
Having written thus much about the
bright side of Minnesota, let me touch a |
little on, not the dark, but the windy side. |
This country is some on wind; you. know
(sayiug nothing about .its writers, and is |
celebrated for it, brasing atmosphere but
I think Tuesday night last was : little |
more bracing than necessary for the nerves.
For two days the wind had blown fresh
and strong from the south, and towards
shutdown it was: difficult for pedestrians to
hold on 10 mother earth. .zls- IL
Prophets said that the wind would change
when the sun went down. And 80 it did
from q stiff breeze to a perfect gale,
and by ten o'clock personal property Of
various kinds began to fly. Buildings trem-
bled in every joint Upper rooms were at
= discount. Easements wer Q much sought
after, and rumor has it that nino-tenths
Of the inhabitants on the pra,ries found
lodgings for the night under ground. One
woman with whom the writer is pretty
we'll acquainted declined to 60 below. She J
was the only person, so for as can learn,
in town that stood at her post during that |
fearfal night. At daylight people began
to emerge from their subterranean abodes,
each ono expecting to Bee his mel ghbors
houseless. But only two houses were un-
rooted, that I have heard Of those are in
the adjoining towns. The result of the
gale is as follows All the small buildings
and miles Of fences are laid low; doors
burst from their fastenings; windows
smashed, and: people badly frightened,
but nobody hurt. One thing is certain,
however, that if the heavy editor Of THE
JOURNAL had been travelling over our prai-
RE: at that time, he would have found him.
self in the vicinity Of Hudson Bay in short
order. There is only one thing that would
have kept him dowuson terra firma-the
big dinner that he ate at the tavern Of the
Ohio dutchman. ! -
Respectfully yours,
L. b. RAYMOND.