The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-18
4 VISIT TO STEVENS COUNTY.

On the 9th inst, we made visit to
Stevens county, to prepare for breaking
several hundred acres OF land this year
upon our farm near Douglas; and as
many of our subscribers are already in
tereste or likely to be in that region we
will give some account of our trip
We left the ST. Paul and Pacific Depot
in ST. Paul at 7.30 o'clock 4. N. The
weather was delightful. We found the
cars crowded - many were going to the
upper country.
At DeGraff, the center of Bishop Ire
lands colony, we found that little had
as yet been done An emigrant house
had been erected and one dwelling house
was under way.
Benson we found full of life and ac-
tivity. 1t is the most prosperous town
on the road. Over five hundred thous-
and bushels of wheat will be received
there before August next OF last years
crop. The emigrants for Bishop Ire.
lands colony make this their entrepot
and depot, and the result is that new
houses are springing up in every di-
rection, new stores are being opened, the
hotels are overhowing, and the ground
AlOuuA LILO OCROt 10 CONCICA Will 1ClCS
Of lumber, plows, wagons, reapers,
etc. If Bishop Ireland does not hurry
up his town-site enterprise, he will find
the sceptre departed forever from De-
Graf to Benson. As we approached the
depot we found the platform black with
people. We should Judge there were
| $50 persons present, most OF these be-
longed TO the Bishops colony We
learned that tract OF country embrac.
ing four townships. or one hundred and
forty four square miles, had all been
sold to emigrants, and that there would
be a family this summer on every eie hty
or one hundred and sixty acre tract
This of course implies a large business
for the towns, and large accretion to the
town population. in the way of mer-
chants, mechanics, professional men,
laborers, etc.
As We advanced toward Stevens coun-
ty the land seemed to rise there was
less meadow and more wheat land
Hancock is surrounded by magnfi
cent country which is rapidly settling
up We noticed many new houses be-
Ing erected. Hancock is certain to
develop into an important trading point.
Morris we found quite transformed,
since our visit on the 10th Of last No.
vember 1t has doubled in population l.
is dotted all over with new and un paint
ed houses. During the last six months
there have been erected new buildings
as follows Mr.. Monroe. the elevator
agent. has put up a neat little home for
himself and wife. Mr. Shoemaker has
erected new dwelling house. Mr.. Phil
lips has also bull. house. Mr.. Todd. a
lawyer from Clarke. has moved il and
erected house. Harry Wells. OF Wolff
i Wells. merchants. has built himself q
homestead. Dir. Perkins. lately OF Red
Wing. has erected large and handsome
hotel. aud has opened livery stable
Mr.. Concr.st has built house. and
opened variety store. Two saloons
have been Quilt, one by Mr.. Callahan
and the other BY Ole Bake. s. p.
Schofie.d has opened . blacksmith and
wagon shop. Mr.. Folsom. OF the Cen
trail House has cellar dug for large
addition to his hotel. Mr.. Pierce lately
OF Milwaukee. has erected neat-look-
ing barn, one end Of which il finished
off as q dwelling, ia which he and his
!" la.C AT - e. -Ltlnk
handsome brick house.
In tact. the town looks prosperous ard
the people are al sanguine Of future
success.
We met mere Hon. Leonard B. Hodges
ex-tree-pianter OF the 81. Paul and
Pacific K. K. Co.. one Of the most enter.
prising and valuable citizens Of the
state. Mr.. Hodges tells Us that the sale
OF trees from the nurseries which he ha:
charge OF will far exceed ANYTHING in
the past. To use his own language
"the man tnat bought 1000 trees las,
rear buys 5 900 this year." few year:
will revea. the full value # the grea
work in which Mr.. Hodges Is now er
gagged the paintings which now look
no bigger than fre-Weeds will then tow
er slots As groves o. trees. beautifyinf
the country. modifying the climate ans
adding new source Of wealth 10 tn.
resources Of the people. We are glad Il
learn that N-- Hodges proposes to oper
great nurseries on the line oil the road
and thus keep up the supply oil trees
He sells .-cuttingss now at the foIlowin.
rates white willows $i.jD per thous
and, lomsaEdy popiars e2.9o per thoas