Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-05-20
LETTER FROM DAKOTA.
The Ciimate-O q. 8. Troops at Yankton-Rus.
Sian Immigration Personal Mention.

-" VI tuO Outlcnb IHhtLcTs " gus
sip here, with my impressions of the
place. Many have requested per-
sonal letters of advice regarding the
country, and cautioned me against
gliding or coloring the picture too
highly. Now it must certainly be a
hard task to judge for others in so
impor -ant a matter as selecting a
new home, especially when so many
have erred in judging tor themselves.
Look at the numbers Of our towns
people who have removed, bag and
baggage, to other places, and yet
been happy to return to Lancaster
and call it home. Some went to
California, some to Iowa others to
the North, South, East and West, ev-
en- as far as England, Germany,
Louisiana and Colorado; and yet
liked Lancaster better than ever
When they returned.
Now, if any one should come to
Dakota also, and not liking it, re-
turn to Wisconsin,, it will not be q
very serious argument against this
country; but as such cases are rare
it may safely be set down that there
is something good out here, that
causes people to stay. For myself,
| am well pleased with the country
from the first, and when two or
three years residence shall have
qualified me to advise people of its
exact merits as home, the advice
will be given gratis.
A succession of cold, cloudy days
has made the spring disagreeable
this month thus far, and it is cons
mon remark that April and May ex-
changed weather this year. A few
huge snow-drifts lnger under the
bluff by the river, and some provi-
dent house-keepers have provided
ice"water for the summer, by cram
ming the cistern with snow. Grass
and leaves are very slow in start
ing, bu cattle do we'll grazing al
ready whereas, in the best dairy
ing part of New England l remem-
Der we were obliged to feed stock on
hay in most years till the Goth of
May and that was not bad eli
mate to live in.
This place has been what they
call "lively" by reason of the 7th
Cavalry Regiment being encamped
here but thoy have gone on toward
the Indian country, and the traders
and whiskey sellers mourn their alb
sence. The brilliant pageant rode
through the streets, as they took
their departure, headed by the well
known literary and martial gentle
man, Gen. G.. A. Custer. A fine
band was with them but it has been
recalled. The amount Of camp
equipage and food that must follow
them, will prevent their advancing
too fast, and if there are not hun
drcds ofthoir noble steeds and sharp's
carbines in possession of the Sioux
before fall, (saying as little as possio
pie of scalps,) then the loafers of
Yankton have not the gift of prophc-
cy. The splendid parades and their
views of the camp are offset by q
largo number of assertions, and a
wretched state of feeling seems to
exist between officers and men.
We look with considerable curiosi-
ty upon new colony of immigrants
which has begun to arrive. The
first lot, consisting of 100 persons, IS
quartered in some large rooms in
town, till they may buy teams, DC,
select land, and occupy it. The
whole colony will contain about TO-
600 people. They are Germans, and
a very fine appearing set Of people
well dressed, pleasant and intelli,
gent, far above the average. Their
history is very peculiar, and reminds
one of our Pilgrim Fathers. They
now como from near Odessa, on the
Black Sea, Russia, whittier their an
cestors emigrated for religious and
political causes about 80 years ago.
There, on Russian soil, they were per-
mitted to rear peaceful German ma
tionality, separate and undisturbed,
numbering now some $4,000. But a
year or two ago, the Gear insisted on
their becoming his subj ects and be-
ing liable to draft and as their
Quaker-like scruples prevented, they
chose repatriation instead, and have
left their homes to journey half
round the earth in search of free dom.
From their appearance and actions,
| judge we are about to receive q
large addition, of energetic, indus
trious religious people, all of wbom
have ample means TO start success
fully in farming, and some of whom
are said to be really wealthy. The
amount of money they may bring
will be no small item, but the unusu
ally valuable stock of healthy, moral
working men women and children is
a much greater acquisition. Where.
ever they may settle, land will rise
in value.