Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-29

THE REu RIVER VALLEY OF MINNESOTA -
The following letter to the Chicago 4drsHce.
from a resident Of several years standing Of
the part of Minnesota selected for the Red
river colony, viii be found Of interest to
those who are, or who may become, inter
ested in that promising enterprise: First. in
regard 10 soil West Of q dividing ridge that
separates the waters flowing into the upper
Red river from the waters flowing west into
the lower Red river (within which described
territory lie the Red river colony Iands,) the
soil Is very rich IN every sense of the word.
So far as l know land / have frequently
traded from the junction Of the Red river
with the B0ise-de-Sioux TO Grand FORKS,
every quarter section has lasting water on il,
and Is covered in summer with q fabulous
growth of grass and heritage. The climate
Of this part of Minnesota greatly surpasses
anything l have ever experienced. True. our
winters are long ana have low range of
temperature, but they are free from moisture
and sudden changes. With respect to its
prOductIveness, from my own experience of
three years, I am satisfied that, for the
various crops adapted to this latitude, it
cannot be surpassed by any country south or
east Of Minnesota. The summer of i $50 was
free from the least particle of frost from Aprd
26th until October I4th, making one hundreil
and seventy one days. During this time |
planted on raw sod, broken the 23d day of
May, corn which matured in four months,
and was dry enough to grind when taken off
the stock IN September. Tomatoes sowed
May Sd We're ripe August 18th; water-melons
planted May 26th ripened August 18th
potstoes planted the 4th of July, for an'ex-
pertinent, grew to one pounds weight The
eastern part of this portion of country is
well diversified with timber, and the south
western part mostly prairie, with groves,
and frequent streams coming from the big
woods, affording ample means for conveying
timber to the Red river. | have travelled
somewhat, having been in all the States
most of the territories, both Central and
South America, and the British provinces in
North America, and must say that know Of
no place that holds out such inducements to
the energetic young man as this does. The
proof of the above statement is found in my
having come out and settled here before there
was any prospect of the building of the
Northern Pacific railroad, and although am
not unaware of the benefits TO be derived by
the settler from that greatest of enterprises,
yet would not change my home here for
one in any new country l know of, even if
there were no railroad here. For stock ras-
ing the Red river cannot be beaten. Our
native meadows produce from two 10 five
tons of hay 10 the acre, Of such rare quality
that IN December, 1869, | took pair Of old,
hard-w0rked oxen, and fed them on hay
alone, and on the 9th day Of April following
they were fat enough for beef in any market.
Wildf fruit, such as plums, raspberries, straw
berries, gOOsebeEries, currants, blueberries
and cranberries flourish here in abundance
Fish of excellent quality and inexhaustible
quantities are in ali our streams and lakes,
affording ample opportunities for sport for
those inclined that way. In the spring and
fall, Wild fowl and other game abound in
vast nocks, afording the sportsmen any
quantity Of game Occasional herds of
moose, elk and deer are met with. The last,
but bv no means the least, Of the advantages
of this region (and on this subject l speak
adyisedIy, having been for over twenty years
a practicing physIcian,) Is the heathfulness
of the climate. Never has q case of miasmatic
disease or pulmonary consumption originated
in the country | came here IN the employ
of the Indian department as physician to the +
Chippewas, and have had opportunities for +
studying the effects of this climate on natives
born and reared here, and find less predis +
position to functional arrangements of the
vital organs among them than is the case with
any other people | have seen; and this, in +
the face of my experience among the natives |
on the Pacific slope, where the greatest pre- /
disposition for such arrangements prevails, +
is conclusive evidence of the benefits in the
matter of health derived from long residence
in this climate Temporary residents, thou
sands of excursionists, and the engineers and
laborers on the line of the Northern Pacific
railroad can attest the benefits they have
derived from our Red river valley.