The anti-monopolist., 1876-06-22
WEST OF THE BIG WOODS.
Editorial Correspondence

line of theiSt. Paul and Pacific Railroad, I
know no better way to get rid OF the
blues than to see people busy. Industrious
and hopeful and he who travels along the
main line now from Darwin to Morris
and beyond will have an opportunity OF
seeing good many Of this class. All
through my trip. found it to be as
Captain Frank NJ. Thornton, of Benson
said to me, when | asked him what new
items he could give ne in regard to his
own and surrounding country. "Well
as set off | can say that we are over
flowing with prosperity" and the Cap
tain's handsome, cheerful face was in
full accord with an answer that was
made manifest to me afterward by dull
statistics that never smile. Benson and
Morris have fully doubled their popula-
tions and quadrupled their trade since
last fall, while thousands of acres OF the
magnificent prairies on which they are
located, are being broken up. Inc
CHEEKY tap of the hammer is heard from
early morning to set of sun IN theso
towns, as they grow up to meet tnelr
present and future prosperity ana 1or
twelve miles back on each SIDE OF the
railroad.-in some places much further
and for many miles along its length, the
prairies are dotted with plows busy cut
ting through the virgin soil.
have not seen, during my trip any
thing to come near Mr.. Dalrymple's six
mile furrow as reported in the papers,
but there are plenty of mile burrows.
One may Judge of the immigration into
this portion of the state by the following
official figures which Captain Braden OF
u. S. Land office, at Litchfield, was kind
enough TO furnish me- For the first ten
DAYS in the present month, June, there
were entered Homesteads, 80, Timber
claims, 81. Filings, 1873.
Total number in ten days, BIG. And
mentioning Litchfeld reminds me that l
am going over the ground too fast. IL
would be indeed great mistake to in
vite my readers to travel with me to
swift and Stevens counties and skip over
Meeker. No indeed the train must leave
us for a little while at Litchfield, the
country seat of Meeker county. There
is no county west of the Big Woods to
compare in beauty with Meeker and
Litchfeld is becoming perfect gem set
in its sheltered praries. Its pretty pub
lie park well stocked with young shade
trees, that are already beginning to
throw their protecting shade around
gives to the whole town refined look
and intimacy with its citizens agreeably
verifes this pleasing impression. more
than like Meeker county and its citizens
but, intentionally. will say nothing
more of it than it deserves. There IS nt
county in the state so we'll diversified
with timber and prairie, one third OF l
is timber two thirds prairie. but all ove
this prairie-vsible from every point
are beautiful groves of healthy timber
covering hundreds OF acres of land AM
encircling sparkling lakes. we'll stocke
with fish.
As general rule the soil is excellen
in many portions OF the county rs ric
as one could ask for with clay sub sol
then again there are some tracts OF light
er soil with sand sub soil, but, find tha
experience in farming in this china,
has modified. in great measure. tn
severe Judgment farmers were wont
pronounce against land with sand
sub-soil that it is found that where tt
sub-soil is course or gravelly, the Ian
will not alone produce heavy crops b.
be likewise very durable. | think tn
from the settling of Meeker county
the present time, the number OF goo
crops produced on farms with clay su
soil and farms with sand sub-soil. =
pretty well balanced.
The land in an around Litchfield tor
short distance is sandy and for the gu:
ity of wheat it produces II is not surpa.
ed in any part OF the state while the vie
one year aud another, has been As go
as in any other part OF the countr
There is not. OF course any governme
lands in Meeker neither are there A
great tracts Of railroad land but in sor
townships there is considerable. a
there is \ large quantity of speculate
land. for sale in different parts Of ,
county. at prices averaging perha
nine or ten dollars, suppose that ,
best OF the spectators lands are ab,
$la an acre, high price when {
compares it with the prico Of railrt
land. bought with bonds. but. for n
with good means and wishing 10 Sci
down in beautiful country and in