Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-12-21
dryer and .purcr than irrcor
responding ATTITUDES in N. Il
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES.


In reference to the agricultural advan-
tages of Minnesota, perhaps a brief ex-
tract from letter written by Dr. Chea-
die and published in the London Railacay
Reciec, in November, 1865, will give
condensed view of the matter. Speaking
of the Western States, generally, he says:
Minnesota for example, the most nor
therly and the richest of them all is like
one great park. Farms are almost ready
made to the settlers hand. He builds his
house and fences his fields with timber
from one Of the neighborng woods; the
deep and fertile soil Of the praires lies
ready for the plow without obstruction;
a portion Of this he prepares without DIFF
iculty for his grain and root crops, and
the rest affords an inexhaustible extent of
pasture for his Hocks and herds, which
grow fat on the herbage on which myriads
of buffalo grazed in times gone by"
This has been wheat growing State,
and is well adapted to that, but many Of
the farmers are turning their attention to
a more profitable investment than that,
viz: stock growing and dairy business
1t requires a smaller capital for large
increase from this bu' mess than in any Of
the older States. The pasturing costs
comparatively nothing, and the hay only
the cutting. The cattle roaming over
these rich plairies keep fat and healthy,
and the great demand from the pineries
and the forts, west, keep up the prices so
as to make it wonderfully profitable
business.
The estimated cost of keeping COW in
Minnesota is $3.50 per year. Many
large capitalists are putting their money
into large farms, and turning their atten-
tion to practical farming as the best in
vestments of their time and capital.
RAILROADS
are reaching out into every section of this
rich country, opening it up for the settler
and affording home market for all his
produce. In 1862 the first railroad was
put in operation in this State, and Janua-
ry lst, 1870, there were completed 7S0
milos,--lS4 Of this having been built in
1869.
But space will not allow me to speak
further of the general condition and re-
sources of this State, as | wish to refer
more particularly to Southern Minnesota,
and to Fr2eborn county, where some St.
Adams gentlemen have made largo invest
mens in real estate, which they are open
ing up for settlement, and Offering to dis
pose of, in quantities to suit purchasers,
and upon terms which make it desirable
place for eastern men going West.
FREEB0RN COUNTY
is on the Iowa line, 80 miles west of the
Mississippi. 1t has an area Of 460, 800
acres, was organized in 1856, and now
has population of over 10000. This
county is gently undulating, with soil Of
an excellent quality, one-fourth clear pra-
irie, one-half oak openings, and nearly
onc-fourth natural meadow of first quail
ty, and one township of heavy timber.
Mr.. Wheeock, in his official report of
this and Of other counties in this vicinity,
says:
The soil of the valley bottoms is allu-
vial, very deep, and astonishingly fertile.
Upon the slopes, ridges, and pralries
where it is derived from the magnesau
limestone which it overlays, it is scarcely
less So"
This county is finely watered with over
80 lakes, three rivers, and a number of
creeks, which contain an inexhaustible
supply of fish. Wood sells here at from
$3.50 to $500 per cord. The assessed
pr perty in this county in 1868 was 1884,
S29 III 1868, it was 81 ,204, ,733.
en- ID A Nc TnWNSuIp
Alden, where the real estate of Messrs.
Burton, Braiuerd and Others, lies, is in
the western part of this county, ten miles
north from the Iowa line, and ten miles
west from Albert Lea the county seat OF
Freeborn county. The Southern Mime
sofa Railroad runs through this village.
That road is now completed from La
Crosse to the city of Wells, which lies i'm
mediately west of Alden, and it will ex-
tend in the spring to Winnebago City, 20
miles further west and eventually across
the State. Six miles north Of Alden is
Freeborn village, but since the railroad
passed through Alden its business interests
all center there and it will eventually be-
come absorbed in the growing village Of
Alden.
Five years ago Alden had 6 voters, just
/, the lowest number required to organize,
1t Is now a village less than year old,
..:.y la eG.. L.l1kncA sall;,o