The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-17
BISHOP IRELAND'S COLONY.

BISHOP IRELANDS COLONY.
We are glad to hear that the charitable
and public-spirited attempt now being
made by Bishop Ireland to found col
Ony on the main line Of the St. Paul &
Pacific Railroad is meeting with brilliant
success. The rush of applications for
land has been so great that the Bishop
has found it necessary, we learn, to ex-
tend the boundaries OF his colony over
almost all ofSwift county, and emhrac-
ing distance of thirty miles along the
railroad. We quote an extract from an
article in recent number of the 'No1tA-
Western Chronicle from the pen Of Bish-
op Ireland:
THE LAND.
have chosen a. the field Of operations four
townships in Swift county. The village Of De-
Graf, which ia found marked on all late maps
Of Minnesota, is situated in the very centre of
those tow Dships. | have made the selection
with much care, after due consultation with
parties fully oorversant with that district of
country and with the qualities OF farming
land in general, and after personal examination
Of the townships finally chosen. The m3in
line OF the st. pauland Pacific Railroad passes
through the lands OF the settlement; ira fns to
and from St. Paul and Minneapolis stopping
daily At De Graft This village is l23 miles
west Of st. Paul. 1t has already post office;
in y few weeks the railroad company will lave
put up large immigrant depot, where imyuS-
grants will lind temporary, but comfortable
quarters, while waiting to select their farms
and erect houses; ground has already been set
apart for church, which the pastor, Rev John
McDermott, will commence to build early in
| the spring.
rus PRICE or rHs LAND
Fortunately most Of the land in the four
Townships il vet vacant. Thefew settlers who
already occupy parts OF it are for the most part
lrishmen and Catholics. The vacant land be-
longs half to the St. Paul and Pacific railroad,
and half to the general government. Through
the kindness Of Geo l., Becker, President Of
the road, have secured the control Of all the
railroad lands for the term Of two years, no
settler being g'allowed to purchase an acre Of
them. during that space OF time, without my
permission. At the present price Of the St. Paul
x Pacific Railroad land certificates, this land
can be had at 81 40 per acre. Or course, thoss
land certificates may after some time enhance
| in value; hence the importance for our people
| TO take early advantage OF the low price at
which they are now selling The Government
land, as long as II will last, can be had for
ing acts. The homestead law gives eighty acres
| to every actna. settler, and the tree planting
act, one hundred and sixty acres TO any ope
| planting forty acres with timber
,rA,,rv or rur so,r
- inA
| Inc so'i ~ ths settlement y Q, the psst qaal-
NY, wei. saalnsa , Lo' growing nnsal ana osn 9:s
| meadow tracts scattered throughout the DIR
lnc.. peculiar !acnl,ss 1. 'of Or, SOCK rninng. ne
genera -. 1cter ol lns iand y 8enHy -rohln6
pralrIs. Ihere y an abundance o. waIer. ~
% I'mpeI, lor I'll, in,i IA construction ~ puIp0sos,
.s 1 l.ilJan III asysr ~ .,a - ~ ..,n nn, Z. s 49,.
- s,;. .A.r, "a ~ ;.h ~. t:a., ~ s..e 2 n0
.9a .ns.r Vs. 80, anu ~ WIN l,'s .1 . usS -,
them.elv-s have grown sufficient timber i, .
t~ independent in this matter, even Of ths
railroad.
We ., re. e ~ MINI, Minnssosa large nod'es o timber
.sn them man,s nYii IN i @ res, \. cic.s ~
fore he has been able 70 opxn ! farm 81 .any
riz4 Moreover isc,s are too patent before .:
those who settled ten years ago on prairie Land
are .o-day r,en; M whIie those VINO q tne sa1ne
' se..,n,. .rr;v;nn IL % = s1;n co.3rs, ~
md Il April o. the beginning or lay en- pus
The plough at once into our psairies, and have.