The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-15
arty. And now for few notes by the

party. And now for few notes by the
| way.
Soon after leaving Minneapolis, the
land is of poor quality, yet it is inter-
spersed with beautiful lakes. Elk Gov.
Austin was on the train, distributing
fish at different stations, to be planted
in these lakes, and if the fishery BUSH
ness proves success, these lakes in fu-
ture years, will afford rare sport to the
angler, besides furnishing considerable
sustenance to man. Delano, in Wright
County, showed signs of smart place,
stores, churches, printing Offices, sc.
Between Delano and Litch6eld, the soil
is generally good, and the farms are
well cultivated. Much Of the land is
covered with a heavy growth Of timber.
Saw immense piles of cord wood beside
the track. The lakes are numerous,
adding much to the beauty of the
scenery. Litch6eld is the largest town,
and the smartest place for trade since
leaving Minneapolis. It has level sur
roundings and some pretty fields,
though the soil is not very strong.
Swede Grove, Atwater and Kandiyohi
are smart towns, surrounded by good
land, but Wilmar is the common Gen.
ter of much the best section on the
route. Most of the land, for fifteen
miles each way from the town is excel
lent, and particularly so west of Ben
son, where it is nearly q perfect level,
much resembling the prairie on the
route Of the Illinois Central, from St..
Louis to Chicago, though the soil is not
so good. On our return, Saturday,
they were holding a cattle fair at Will
mar; nearly 300 head of cattle were on
the ground. Wilmar was alive with
business. Kirkhoven, Benson and
Hancock are nice towns. We arrived
at Morris during a heavy shower, and
were soon in comfortable quarters at
the hotels.
May %, our company divided into
two parties, and thoroughly examined
| the soil at several different points in
the town. Deak;n's farm is not behind
any other in town, and, considering the
energy which the Judge and his son
manifest in developing it, we are as
sured that it will become valuable one.
The section entered by j. Perkins,
Esq.,, is we'll watered and possesses 9TH
er good requisites for a stock farm.
The soil at most points is of fair quail
ty, though 1t is much inferior to the
soil of our beautiful town of Feather
stone. The sod is hard to break and
the soil below the surface is not easily
penetrated. It contains alkali, and has
q hard pan underneath. Mr.. Meach.
am and Mr.. Billlngsly think it closely
resembles the soil in some parts Of
Kansas, and that it will stand neither
the drouth nor the wet. The water
in Morris is poor, and caused sickness
to several of our party. We noticed
| several acres in different sections of the
town, which were broken two years
ago that have not been seeded, also
some pieces that were seeded last year,
and fallow this season. Morris has
good hotel accommodations. The
Central House, kept by Folsom, is a
temperance house, the table is well sup
piled, and the charges reasonable.
Groceries ard dry goods can be pur-
chased there nearly as cheap as in
Red Wing. We noticed good supply
of improved farm machinery for sale.
They buy some wheat at the ware
house. L. D. Perkins and the NOVEL;
brothers took their teams and their
plows along with them, and have com.
menced breaking in good earnest.
They are young men of energy, and
their operations will probably prove a
success. The balance of our towns
men returned wiser men than when
they left home and we think that here:
after they will be better satisfied with
their homes. Trip says that he cal
ways thought we'll of his farm, but
having seen this much OF the outside
world, and noted the difference he shall
hereafter regard his home as near a
paradise as he can ever expect to find
ON the EARTH" Billingsley saws he is