Connecticut western news., 1874-06-26
Through the West.
IContinued.l

lC0n0nued.l
 In former letter we referred to the Min nesota bottoms. This is belt of land ly- ing on both sides of the Minnesota river, extending from St. Paul to Mankato, dis tance of nearly ninety miles. This strip of land is from one half to two miles in width and is but few feet above the bed of the river, and in freshet is always overfowed. These bottoms are very rich, but they can not be cultivated on this account but on them grows immense quantities of hay. In the spring they produce the earliest grass, and cattle from the uplands go there to feed. Farmers from the surrounding country supply themselves with all the hay they need to carry their stock through the winter. Undoubtedly this crop is of as much value to the farmer, and perhaps more, than as though the land could be cul- tivated and wheat, corn, oats, &c., raised thereon, for the farmer is never at loss to know where he can obtain his hay for the winter. No matter how dry the season may be, the crop IS sure to be good one and cuts three, four and five tons to the acre.
 Monday, the 18th of May, we took the early train for Owatonna, the county seat of Steele county. We stopped at this place for the express purpose of seeing and investigating how Touring mill is run by wind power. In former communication we made an error in regard to the cost of a ten foot wind mill: we stated the cost to be sixty dollars whereas it should have been three hundred dollars.
 There are three large fouring mills in Minnesota run by wind power. One at Freeborn, one at Owatonna and one at St. Charles. The one we visited in Owatonna is sixty feet in diameter; forty-fiye horse power and has three run of stone. It has been built several years and is doing fine business The quantity and quality of flour made per amount of wheat ground, compares favorably with any steam or wa ter mill, and they are less likely to get out of repair. True there are calms on these prairies sometimes, when of course these mills cannot be used but the time is not lost, as the stones can be picked and sharp ened and calm on the prairies is general ly of short duration-not more than one day in the week.
 In this western country water mills as a general thing are not easy of access. They are always found in some deep ravine, and it is worth mans life to get to them. It is different with wind mills: They can be built in the heart of the wheat growing dis tict and thus save carting the grain for miles. These mills are so constructed as to fold their own sales when wind storms of great power sweep oyer them, thereby pre- venting them from running any faster in a hurricane than in good wind. This ope- ratioL is brought about by governor simi- Jar to those on steam engine. The profits arising from these mills are greater than by either steam or water mills, owing 10 the small amount of repairs on them.
 The proprietor of this mill took "a great deal of pains to show us through and explain the little intricate parts con : nected with it's workings, all of which would be too long to explain in this letter. We passed the night in this place, and at 10 o'clock A. M. we took the train for Charles City, where we arrived at 6.30 P. M. Charles City is very handsome town; has 25OO inhabitants, but is considered dull place for business. It has very pretty park in the center of it, but it is neglected by the town and devoted mostly to base ball pur- poses.
 We promised some time to speak of 8 former resident of Salisbury which we found in this place. We refer to the Rev. Richard W, Keeler, who was pastor of the M. E. Church at Lakeville eighteen years ago. He IS now known as Dr. Keeler, also as presiding elder of Charles City district. When he left Salisbury he went to Mount Vernon, Iowa, and became president of Cornell College. From there he removed to Davenport and was principal of school for five years. He then became tired of teaching and again entered the work as a minister, and soon after was appointed El- der. Dr. Keeler stands six feet two inches in his boots, weighs two hundred and thirty pounds and does not refuse to eat good meal when set before him. Mrs. Keeler is the same good little woman she was many years ago. She and the Doctor remember with much pleasure the years they spent in LakeYille, and wished to be remembered to all their acquaintances in Salisbury.
 Yours truly,
 R. B. MITCHELL.
 Charles City. Iowa, June Srd, 1874.
 ITO be continued