The anti-monopolist., 1876-01-13
BEYOND THE BIG WOODS.

Darwin, and striking out on the prarie,
we were surprised to find it clear of
snow, having lett the good people Of St.
Paul enjoying excellent sleighing.
Above Willmar and at several other
points, we saw very respectable prairie
fires that went jumping and cracking
along in defiance OF all Minnesota, Jan
uary, traditions, but though we were in.
formed, that some over sanguine farmers
were looking up their plows, we cannot
vouch for this statement, on our own
knowledge.
The through train on the main line Of
the ST. P and p. r. r. remains over
night at Willwar and as it is entirely too
important place for ''anse that's taking
notes" to pass by, in hurry, we re-
solved to tarry tor day and collect some
interesting facts connected with it and
the country tributary to it.
For the information thus derived we
are principally indebted to the courtesy
of Hon. John H. Brown, district judge
in the 18th district. .Messrs Spicer & Lar
son. of the firm of Spcer & Larson, w.
P. Todd, another of the prosperous mer-
chants of Willmar, Judge S. Holmes and
Messrs. Burdick and Lock, connected
with the Willmar elevators; for Will
mar six years old, has two elevators and
their capacities are often closely tried.
And here we may as we'll give .he fig
ures showing the amount of wheat taken
in at each elevator since harvest.
At the Davidson and Deleno elevator
$4,000 bushels-at the Lock elevator
10000 bushels, making in all 10000,
bushels or five thousand bushels over a
quarter of million.
Highest price paid for No. /, s1.O1,
September 10th.
Lowest price paid for No. l,Si cents,
January 9TH.
About onehalt the crop is supposed to
be marketed; Yet the above figures show
larger receipts than the whole wheat
crop, coming into Willmar during the
year past The largest umber of BUSH
els taken in one day was 5000. Be-
sides the wheat received, Mr. Lock
took in at the lower elevator, 30 900 BUSH
els of flax seed, and our settlements
have only, rs yet, iringed these magniti-
cent prairies stretching from the Big
Woods to the Red River. and this wide
domain is still but fringe of our more
magnificent state. Willmar has a large
area OF county, ut present tributary to
it; north. northeast and southwest.
was informed that its trade extends
almost forty miles in the latter direc-
tion. hence its large wheat market and
general prosperity. OF course it is no,
to be expected that Willmar will be al
ways able to hold so large Il territory
tributary to II: but when it has to divide
up it will have all its surrounding lands
dotted with farms able to quadruple its
present produce receipts.
And talking OF farms it was my good
fortune TO meet at Wilmer one of the
most prosperous farmers in kandiyohi
county, of which Willmar is the county
seat
MIR. f. Relson came TO Minnesota in
1888, and took up a claim ut Norway
Lake, where he lives at present. fourteen
miles from Willmar. He settled in the
midst of, what was then indeed howl
ing wilderness, but now he is the owner
of 439 acres o. prairie and l10 acres OF
timber land in n large settlement, mum.
bering about two hundred families. All
this we learned from Mr.. Relson, after
being introduced to him.
Mr.. Relson will you allow us to inter-
view you?" We asked,
The strong man. tall and straight As 4
forest pine. looked down upon our little
self. as good humored smile came to
his health coiored face.
II don't think you can hurt much be
answered. So we returned to the parlor
of the Spottswood House and for half An
hour my amiable giant was as good ma
tured rs Gullivar among the Lilliputions.
How many acres OF tillage had you
last year Mr.. Relson?"
lone hundred and eighty
How much did your wheat averagess-
"Twenty-eight bushels. full machine
measure, to the acre.
Pretty good We said. you must be
doing well Mr.. Relson?"
Yes he answered, for the las,
three years / have laid by. every year
$500
Hum, 1t is evident You have not beer
in the interviewing linesr
No. was working
Yes, Mr.. Nelson and two thousand