The Hartford herald., 1875-02-10

chores of Massachusetts,; and mingled with
these were representatives fromnearly ev-
cry country in Northern Europe
Villages suddenly expanded into cities;
towns sprang up on watercOurses; magnif-
lcent schemes were formed for future az
grandizement; money was abundant and
excitement, speculation. and fortune-ma-
king were almost the sole pursuits of the
masses. Then came the great financial
crash of 81. What a ehangel SpeeuIa-
tion collapsed; money disappeared; immi-
grafton ceased. In brief. it is difficult to
exaggerate the extent and vital character
of this revulsion. Princely fortunes van
ished like shadowy dreams With men
rated among the wealtbiest it was nosnow
a question OF meeting maturing obliga-
tions or composing cherished scheme Of
the future, but the more urgent one Of
averting present starvation from their fam
lilies. Fast horses were pnt to the plow,
tyiish equipages disappeared. and expects.
ant fortune-hunters sought by unwonted
labor to earn an honest livelihood. In
this respect the great misfortune of 81
proved blessing The people, thus made
wiser, turned instinetively to the unreck-
oned wealth of the virgin soil, and their
labor has had its reward.
TYPOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION.
| In Minnesota are found neither the il
limitable prairies which distinguish Illi-
nois, nor the vast forests of Kentucky and
Ohio, in which the early settlers found it
so difficult to carve homes, but a charm
ing alienation of wood and prairie, upland
and meadow, characterize the topography
of this State. The general surface of the
country is undulating. similar to the roll-
ing prairies of the adjoining States of To-
wa and Wisconsin; with greater diversity,
beauty and picturesqueness impaired to
the scenery by ripping lakes, sparkling
waterfalls, high bluffs and wooded ravines.
THE LAKE FEATURE.
The number, beauty and varying charm
of its lakes form very marked feature
of the scenery of Minnesota These love-
| ly little sheets of water are found dotting
its surface in nearly every section of the
State, sparkling on the open prairie, hid~
den in the depths of the primal forests,
and gllstening like gems of beauty among
the ragged hills of the northeastern por-
ton. They are from one to thirty miles
in diameter Some of them are circular
in. form-others of an exceedingly irregu-
lar outline.
THE NATIONAL COLONY.
This enterprise was founded in the
spring of 1872, by DR.. A. P. Miller. of the
Toledo Co. Blade, and Prof. F. r. Humis-
ton, Of Cleveland, Ohio The chief town,
Worthington, was laid out the year before
and few houses erected. The National
Colony is located in Southwestern Minne-
sofa and Northwestern Iowa Iteompris-
es twelve townships in Mobiles county,
MINI, and three and a half townships in
Osceola county, Iowa, the land being un-
dulating prairie, watered by streams and
lakes, and having a soil of sandy loan
from two to four feet deep. There are
some fifty "lakes" (so the Colony Compa-
ny would inform inquiring emigrants, but
in reality there are only six, 0kabena,
Ocheeda, Indian and Graham being the
principal.
is the chief town, situated on West Ola
bena lake, beautiful sheet of water, hav-
ing a circumference of about seven miles.
1t is, withal, a charming site for q city
At some points the gently sloping sward
is kissed by the sparkling wayelets, while
at other places the water is deeply over
Swallowed by abrupt bluffs of sandstone.
The principal buildings are the Okabena
Mills, erected at a cost of 900, having
five run Of stone; the WorthiDgton Hotel,
built at a cost of sl4, 900; the Methodist
Block, costing $1,000 Worthington has
a good graded school, with three depart
ments, now in operation; and the Semina-
ry, which was compelled to suspend be-
cause of the grasshopper invasions, will be
resumed at an early day.
| Wholesale TOTAL ABSTINENCE.
Aside from the natural beauty Of tn e
country, and the richness of the soil, the
National Colony is founded upon a strict
ly temperance basis. Not drop of intox-
icating beverages are sold within its limits,
, being excluded by the charter. As re-
suit, it has drawn together a class OF So
Der, industrious, intelligent and refined
people. We are entirely free from the
''frontier ruffianism" which usually char
) acterizes western settlements. Here hum
dreds of Christian men and women have
come to make their homes, that they may
bring up their sons and daughters entire
ly free from the baneful influences of the
rum traffic.
THE GRATIFYING RESULT.
This important feature, together with
: the natural advantages of the location,
D and healthfulness Of the climate, has
r brought to this county-whieh i've year;
: ago was pathless Wilderness, 900 peo-
l pie, notwithstanding the fact that for The
j past two seasons the crops have been al
4 most entirely destroyed by grassboppers
Last season these pests left US without de-
f posting their eggs, and the prospects arr
. favorable for a season OF unexampleC
|. prosperity next summer.
e CHANCE FOR 'sPEc."
: If any of your stockholders desire Il
s make "hne spec" let them come in her
n with some Of the bluegrass" stock mex
= fall.
AN INVITATION AND WARNING.
To persons desiring new homes in tn
4 West, | would say: Come to Minnesota
o. where is grown the best wheat in the Uni
h ted States, California not excepted; wher
YOU will be free from all the curses pro
/. duced by whisky; where you will have un
:, eaualel school advantages; where you vii
ss be within reach of ST. Paul, the chief cit
!. of the New Northwest, and, also. of SiOu,
q City, another excellent market There
public land for those desiring it. and rail
n road lands are cheap Only beware c
\ transactions with the National Colon
20 Company 1t is an unmitigated humbu:
NO but the country is all right. People heI
have the true Yankee grit Without an
serious disadvantages, this country posses
ses the fOllovinO favorable Doints: A pul