Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-06-19
BlGELow, NoBLEs COUNTY, Mimi,
lime 8. 1873

June 8, 1878.
EDITOR HERALD IL was formerly
a resident of Grant County, but last
year came TO south westers Mime
sofa and located near Bigelou station
on the Sioux City and ST. Paul rail-
road. was drawn to this section
by the fact that colony known as
the National Colony is locating here
am so well pleased with Minnesota
that | wish to give through the Her.
aid some facts concerning the State
in general and this portion in partic-
ular.
OF the State | need say little, as
vour readers are familiar with most
that is claimed for it. That 1t Is
destined to become probably the
leading western state, is believed by
intelligent Minnesotians generally.
AS an agricultural State it equals IL
linois or Kansas; as numbering
State it excels Michigan as q manu-
featuring State it Is destined to lead
every other western State for it
abounds in rivers having good water
power, and in commercial position
it exceIs every State except perhaps
New York, for four of the great con-
tinental transportation routes came
to a focus here and fifth will before
long have terminous in this State.
cannot but agree, therefore, with
those who claim that ST. Paul is des-
tined to be second Chicago.
The climate of Minnesota is pro-
verbally one of the most healthful
on the globe. 1t is almost specific
for lung and bronchial affections and
is-almost absolutely free from mall
asious diseases. The State abOunds
in robust men who came here sick
and in rich men who came here poor.
The winters are cold, but they are
very little, if any, colder than those
of Wisconsin, as you are aware, and
last winter no colder than the win
ter in Illinois and Michigan. There
is heavy snow storm occasionally,
but those storms come always IN the
winter and not in the spring, as they
sometimes do in Kansas, when they
freeze men to death in the furrow,
unroof houses, suffocate and freeze
the inmates, and kill stock by the
hundred. All this, of course, abates
SO the country improves. The great
snow-storm in 1886 in Illinois killed
twice as many people as were des-
troyed by the snow-storm OF Janua-
ry last in this State.
But now as to this particular part
Of the State, between Mankota, in
this State, and Sioux City, in Iowa,
lies are of the finest rolling prairie
in all the west. 1t is over $50 miles
in width from north to south, is wa
tered with beautiful lakes as well as
streams and has a soil of rich, black,
sandy loom from two to four feet
deep. 1t is called the cream and
garden spot of the prairie. 10 the
heart of the beautiful prairie region,
National Colony is locating, embrace
ing the greater portion Of Mobiles
County and three and half town
ships in osceola court y, Iowa. The
enterprise originated with and is
managed by DR.! A. p. Miller, of To.
ledo, and Prof. r.. f. Humiston, for
mcrly Of Cleveland. Ohio. They
made thorough canvass of the
west along the lines Of all the i'm
rortant railroads and selected this
location as the best we offered be-
cause of its rich soil, convenience to
market and freedom from consump>
ton and ague. The enterprise was
set on foot in the fall Of 1871, but
it was not until the following spring
that the Colonists began to gather
in and possess the lands. Since that
time there has been a steady and
heal thy influx, and so marked has
been the success of the Colony in
every respect that the President of
leading western railroad pronounced
best managed and most successful
colony enterprise undertaken in the
west.
The Sioux City and St. Paul rail-
road crosses the colony lands and
keeps US in daily communication
with both cities, there being three
postoffices on the road within the
colony limits. This road, under the
control of its President, Hon. 4. +.
Drake, and its general manager,
general j. w. Bishop, has taken
rank already as leading trunk line
of the west. 1t carries more pro-
duce into st. Paul than any other
road, although the lands along its
line arc newly settled. When the
extentions now building are complet-
ed, it will afford almost an air-line
from the Union-Pacific to Lake Sue
perior. This route being from $50
to 200 miles shorter to New York
than the present route by Chicago
it must become a favorite route with