New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-18
SOCIAL INFLUENCES OF THE GRANGE.

SOCIAL INFLUENCES OF THE GRANGE.
POOR IMMIGRANTS NOW wELL-To-Do FABMERs-
MINNESOTA MORE PROSPEROUS THAN OTHER
WESTERN sTATEs-wHEAT, LUMBER AND OTHER
INDUSTRIES THRIvING-THE GRANGE MORE &C
TIVE SOCIALLY THAN POLTTTCALLY-TIIE GRAN
GEIs LEANING TO BE BETTER FARMERS.
f,eoM NE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ST. PAUL. Mimi, Sept 23.-Main strength and ig-
norance have done wonders for the farmers of Min
uesota Less than quarter of century ago the
country now comprised within the limits of this
State and Dakota Territory was wilderness inhab-
it'd only by about 5000 white and halfbreed traders
aud was supposed TO possess soil and climate Mt
terly incapable of supporting an agricultural popu-
atlon. Since that time immigrants from the East
and from Europe, often coming from the poorest
and most ignorant classes have taken up the lands
along ts railroads and beginning with nothing. the
majority OF them have built for themselves comfort
able homes surrounded themselves with many Of
the comforts and luxuues of life, and are to-day
y,ell-to.dn farmers To-day Minnesota alone is the
homo Of half a million prosperous people, and main
strength and ignorance have done it almost all.
The growth of the Farmers movement In these
Western States is principally due to the cireUun-
stances of the people. Corn at from twelve TO
fifteen cents bushel in Iowa and at from twenty to
twenty-five cents in Illinois would in time convert
the rich praiIies of those States into stock ranges
and sheep-walks were there other way to dispose
Of the crop than to sell it at those prices man
WHO has a valuable and highly cultivated farm will
not plant it many years if the crops won't sell for
enough to pay for raising them, and an agricultural
community that does not find farming profitable on
the rich praires of the Mississippi Valley Is very
soon convinced that something is wrong either In
their methods of culture their manner Of living or
Na.t. NurlNag 70
middle men and the consumers. To catch the spirit,
therefore, of the Farmers movement in any State
and TO interpret correctly its various phases, it Is
necessary understand the condition of the reope,
TO know what kind Of crops they raise, what the
cost of production is and what returns the farmer
gets for his toll.
MINNESOTA TIE MOST PROSPEROUS OF WESTERN
FARMING STATES.
find more signs of material prosperity among the
agricultural population Of Minnesota than in any
state have visited since came West. The wheat
crop which is this year nearly all stacked in good
condition Is the staple crop of the State and is the
largest and best in quality ever produced. Nobody
with whom have alked estimates the surplus for
exDort from the State at less than 100000 bash
els and the present indications that the most of
n will bring TO the farmer at the nearest railroad
station abont 90 cents bushel Making full allow
ance for lower grades and all possible losses this
crop alone cannot fail to bring into the State more
than 900 cash. of which 100000 or SsoOoOco
will DO clear profit, after paying for laDoI' rent OF
land seed and deducting the wheat USED Dy the
people Of the State Not only is the crop larger and
better than ever before, but it VIII make
more and better -four than could nave
been made Of it in any previous year
Ever since arrived at Dubuque, have heard the
people of every place have visited talking OF new
."middIings purifier" by the use of which the
"middhnRs" which have always been known TO
contain the best and whitest -four, but which the
nnliers have heretofore been unable to separate
entirely from the bran, are now not only saved and
the amount of -four obtained from bushe of grain
thus greatly increased, but also raise the grade OF
the -four The finest and most expensive fours
Heretofore made in the West have been produced by
the St. Louis mills from the fancy grades OF Winter
Wheat raised in Central and Southern Illinois,
Missouri iaudi other States which are not t"o far