The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-01
THE CITY OF LlTCHFIED.
IT'S GROWTH AND PROPERTY.

Editor Anti MOnOpOllst:
In my peregrinations in behalf OF the
great reform.journal, the ANT1'MoNero-
LIST, have found my way to this place
Six years ago there was no Litchtleld.
Its site was then an open prairie. It's
growth during those seven years has been
simply astonishing. 1t is now the largest
and most prosperous town west OF the
BIG Woods; the coun.y-seat Of Meeker
county, and the commercial center of a
large and fertile area of country.
II contains five churches; five dry
goods stores, lat which the ladies, dear
souls. fix themselves up to so to the
churches; and it is curious fact that
there would be no churches if there were
no dry goods stores;) three hotels,
where the husbands discuss politics and
hard times while the ladies do the shop
ping and praying y two groceries; two
hardware stores; one brewery and one
Good Templars Association to counter
balance it one boot and shoe store; one
furniture mandatory; three wagon
manufactures, turning out over 2oO
wagons each year and three blacksmith
shops.
The town is the centre of great wheat
region, and hence we find in it three elc-
vators capable of holding $4,000 bushels
of wheat, and a grist mill with six run of
stones. Here, too, we find the great es-
tablishment Of Butler, Campbell & White,
selling more agricultural implements than
any other place west Of the Big Woods,
and conducted by three of the best fell
lows in the werld.
Here, too, in this town six years old,
We fnd a nursery owned by g. W. Fuller,
four years old, (the nursery, not Fuller,
consisting of twenty acres, and contain
ing 10000 CRAFTS of fruit trees, $4,000 ev'
ercreens, and 10000 trees Of other varie
ties. Does not this speak we'll for Mime
sofa enterprise? There is no excuse i
the people do not adorn their homes ans
raise orchards.
The Masons and the Odd Fellows boil
have hourishing lodges here, and are doins
good work.
/ am under many obligations for kind
ness shown me by Hon. Andrew Nelson
State Senator from Meeker county, al
able and honest man, and creditabl
representative of the great Scandinavia
race. Also to w. NJ. Campbell and E. 4
Campbell, two deservedly popular an
rising young men ). bound to make thel
mark hereafter in the politics Of the Stat
Also to Jesse v. Branham, Jr., kint
hearted, genial, whole-souled, able maj
He is now Worthy Master Of the Goo
Templars' Lodge, and every man ".
knows him wishes him success in life.
The population,,of this county is large
Scandinavian; and they prove themselv
to be here, as elsewhere, an industrio'
and honest race. Their intelligence
proved by the fact that the ANrI-Mono
oLlsr has large circulation among thei
No higher testimony could be given
their favor.
The one drawback to this region is t
sweep Of the winds. which descend wi
unbroken force from the mountains
-Iontana. The people should do more
the way of tree planting. They shou
erect groves en- all sides Of the town
break the force Of the wind; and pla
trees all along the streets. A strip
trees, thickly planted, few rods vic
along the whole north and west side
the town, would add one hundred I
cent. to the comfort Of the people, a
pay for itself ten times over in the saw
Of fuel each winter. With trees enou
this region could be made one of the M
delightful in the world. Every fa
house on these prairies ought to h'
thick belts of timber around it. lei
ss-morrow for Long Lake. Respectfu
yours, A. d. IAisES