The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-12

Austin, tor instance, after having been
made to believe that there is demand
for his services. He will find, first, that
the demand does not really exist, as there
are scores Of men already ahead Of him
who are out Of employment; second, that
it will cost him at least twice rs much
to live here as it does there, and, as to
comfort in this country, I deny IN toto
the assertion so often made, that men
can live more comfortably here than
they can there. l am aware that YOU
have cold winters there and sundry 9TH
er drawbacks, perhaps; but, sir, you
take Minnesota all in all, and consider
this State in the same way, and there is
not one Minnesotian in 500 but will ad-
NIT that Minnesota is the best State in
the end. There are, Of course, certain
men among you who will emigrate every
spring to warmer cline, thinking to
escape the next long cold winter. They
will escape that, as matter Of course,
but in doing so, they will Jump into a
dozen other difficulties, which they had
not counted on, and which it is impossi
BILE for them to see at that distance; and
they will, perhaps, after they have sac
rifced a good home and good society,
realize that they have "put their foot
in it, There are two little words that
express great deal in this connection,
if properly understood: "Go slow"
We attended sale of what your peo-
pie read much about: "Cheap lands"
and they were cheap enough in all con-
science, and dear enough in the same
breath. Standing on the corner Of Pc
can street and Congress avenue, we saw
lands sold at auction to the highest bid
der, at two and one half cents per acre!
One gentleman bought some 1900 acres
at that figure. Another party (who by
the way was at least two-thirds drunk
bought a tract Of 100 acres for five dol
lars" Two hours LATER. when ne had
sobered of little, we saw him hunting
a customer who would take the land off
his hands at $3.50, thinking it better to
lose that amount than to lose a $500.
He finally succeeded in soaring up man
who took it off his hands at that price,
and departed happy.
Now this is regular farce. Let no
one think the aforesaid lands are not
good. 1t is the titles and not the lands
that are doubtful, and money spent on
them at a sale Of that kind is simply
thrown away. I could explain many
points in our emigration documents that
appear plausible, but which after all will
not bear strong light. I will say but
little about it, unless, some one chooses
to take exceptions to what have al
ready written; in that case I will tell
you what I have been able to learn
about the matter.
A few words more and will close.
l will call attention to one little game
calculated to take in some Of your rea-
ders, especially if they are in the humor
Of emigrating. There is man living
within short distance of your city, Tin
Wisconsin, who was, one year ago,
greatly interested in Texas. file finally
received a letter from firm in Houston,
telling him that the lands Of the Inter-
national Great Northern Road were in
the market; that he could for 1885, or
Whereabouts get $40 acres Of good lands
&c, &c, and if he would enclose three
dollars by return mail the said Houston
firm would send him valuable informa-
ton. The cream Of the joke is that
said firm are land agents for that partic-
ular road, and | have it from men who
ought to know, and l believe do know,
that a considerable portion of said land
grant is located away beyond civiliza-
ton on the Stakcd Plains and is not
worth a dime to day, nor will be in ten
years probably"
will add that my Wisconsin friend,
not being IL fool, did not bite good, and
instead Of paying out $500 for valuable
information, Or 1926 Tor valuable lands,
he let we'll enough alone, and did not
take the chances Of becoming "Bloat-
ed Aristocrat,' away out on the staked
plains somewhere.
In conclusion, let me say that there are
many natural advantages in Texas, and