The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-18

and; cottonwoods $500 per thousand.
These cuttings" are tightly packed in
barrels; and sold at such low rates, that
settlers can find no excuse, if they do not
raise trees.
Although this village of Morris, might
be considered 1.-The jumping off place."
on the very borders OF civilization; we
nevertheless found here comfortable
hotel at the Central House, with clean
beds and good table, And in the
tlemen of the village, headed by our old
friend Major Overton, fortnly Of Wright
Co., now practicing law here, assembled
in the dining room, and with violins and
flute discoursed melodious music And
when we dropped asleep in cur own
bed room, toward midnight, we could
still hear the airs from Italian operas
ascending in the still night where only
few years ago butfaloes bulls were the
sole musicians.
On Monday morning, at Z, o'clock.
accompanied by E. T. Archibald, ESQ,
of Duudas, and by his son, Hon. Jno. M.
Archibald, State Senator from Rice
county, and our own son, we started
forth to spy out the land.
No words can describe the glorious
beauty OF that morning atmosphere -
the choicest champagne of Widow Cli-
quot's brand, could not be more sparkling
or exhilirating. As we rode over these
magnificent prairies, wide-stretching
around US, like sea, we could not but
pity the denizens of the great cities Of
the east
''Those close and crowded cities, where the
sky
Looks like an angry father, mournfully."
There is nothing in the Centennial Ex-
hibition at Philadelphia, eqval to this
display of great, rich, green fields, only
awaiting the coming of the army Of
laborers to turn their black fertility into
uncountable generations of golden crops.
The time is not far distant when these
wastes will literally swarm with busy,
prosperous. enlightened and cultivated
people.
We first visited Douglas station. Here
there is nothing but depot house and q
section foreman's dwelling. The site
OF this future town, between two lakes,
is very beautiful. The lake to the east
is more than Il mile in length, tringed
with trees, and full of geese. and ducks.
In fact the whole country is alive with
game. The waterfowl are nesting
around every lake and pond, while cur
lew snipe, aud piover abound. We saw
several sand-hill cranes. as large,appar~
emily as turkeys, with more plentiful
supply OF legs. An immeuce badger
came out OF his mound and rose to a
point OF order on his hind legs, where
upon the senator from Rice county
took the floor with a shot.gua and pre-
sented some arguments which quite
took the badger off his feet He moved to
adjourn sine die and did so. The Sena-
tor placed him in the back end of the
wagon and we rode thenceforth sur
rounded stink and glory.
We know no better way to describe
this country than to use the language of
Z. I. Archibald, Esq than whom no
better judge OF wheat, -four or land is to
be found in Minnesota.
Said he: '.ycu may talk about the rich
lands OF Rice and Dakota county, but
they are not TO be mentioned in the same
hour with the praries OF Stevens
county,
This. we think, will be the conclusion
OF every intelligent person who exam-
ines them.
/ We visited the beautiful home of
Charles Wintermute. five miles from
| Douglas. in the midst Of a charming
grove. and overlooking handsome
lake well-stocsed with fish. Mr.. Win
termute hitched up his horses to his
buggy and accompanied US to view the
water powers Of the Pomme de Terre
river. We visited the flour mill Of Henry
Johnson. an intelligent Scandinavian.
He has been running his mill eighteen
hours a day tor year1past, with q prof
it Of from Si5.OO TO 5000 per day.
Here We saw wheat left for CRISIS, which
made Mr.. ArchiDalds eyes snap. .sAh
said he, Il could make -four of that"
We took dinner, picnic fashion, on
the shore Of lake, reclining in oriental
fashion on the wagon robes, and we
returned to Morris about o'clock in
the evening. after one OF the most en-
lJoyable days We ever spent lit was in
deed "red letter day
We left Morris for St. Paul the next
day. taking dinner at the Spottswood
House at Willmar, kept by c. c. Spots
wood, Esq. He is doing rushing busi-
ness, and making more money than q
national bank. He deserves it;-for be
has attained that highest art known to
American society he knows how to
keep hotel
immigration is pouring isto Stevens
county at rapid rate. On Monday las(
James McGowen and a party of eight
persons left Lake City with thirty iii
horses. He will break land close toDou1
las, Capt. S. u. Phillips, --leit Lake City
on the 9TH Iay to 90 overland to Doug
las with five men and twenty-four
; horses also 70 break land. On the 23d
inst. we shall send up six men and
eighteen horses. We could enumeratl
dozen ctherss who will break land
near Douglas We think /: safe to saJ
that >, 900 acres will be broken this yea
: around that depot and these will nAx