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

BISHOP IRELAND'S 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
has found it necessary, we learn, to ex-
tend the boundaries OF his colony over
almost all ofSwift county, and embrace
ing a distance of thirty miles along the
railroad. We quote an extract from an
article in a recent number of the North
,restern Chronicle from the pen Of Bish-
OPP Ireland
have chosen as the field Of operations four
townships in Swift county. The village OF De-
Graft, which is found marked on all late maps
of Minnesota, is situated in the very centre Of
those townships. Il have made the selection
with much care, after due consultation with
parties fully conversant with that district of
country and with the qualities OF farming
land in general, and after personal examination
OF the townships finally chosen. The main
line OF the st. Paul and Pacific Railroad passes
through the lands OF the settlement; ira ms to
and from st. Paul and Minneapolis stopping
daily at De Graf. This village is l23 miles
west OF ST. Paul. 1t has already a post office
in a few weeks the railroad company will Lave
put up large immigrant depot, where iinvua-
grants will find 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 70 build early in
the spring.
THE PRICE or rHs LAND.
Fortunately most Of the land in the four
Ia, Ii. -
| already occupy parts OF it 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 wears, no
| settler being 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. OF course, thoD0
| land certificates may after some time enhance
| in value; hence the importance for our people
| 70 take early advantage Of the low price at
which they now selling. The Government
| land, a. long az il will last. can be had for
| nothing, under the homestead and tree plant
| ing acts. The homestead law gives eighty acres
to every actua. settler, ard the tree planting
art, one hundred and sixty acres to any one
| planting forty acres with timber
/ WALTZ w TIE SOIL
| The soil In the settlement In Of the best ousl-
| ity, vel! adapted for growing wheat and oth0
| CEREALS Offering also, owing to the splendid
/ meadow tracts scattered throughout the dis
/ irict peculiar facilities for stock raising. The
| general character Of the land Is gently rolling
| prairie Their II ar abundance Of water. Az
| 10 timber, for fuel and construction purposes,
| tn. railroad will deliver a. De Graf, al most
reasonable rates, all that the settlers may need
| for their use, and with little attention to tree
i planting, after SIX seven years settlers will
| themselves have grown sufficient timber 70
| be independent in this matter, gwen of the
/ railroad.
i We hs se in Minnesota large bodies Of timber
| lands But would meyer induce q settlement
i upon them. A mans life il near its close be.
| fore he has teen able 10 open farm Of any
i siz.. Moreover facts are too patent before Us:
those who settled ten years ago on prairie land
are to-day rich, while those who at the same
4 time chOse the timber are comparatively poor.
settlers arriving in Swift county towards the
md II April of the beginning Of May can put
i the plough at once into our praries, and have,
the coming summer, abundant crops Of corn,
potatoes aud vegetables of all kinds. Il will
e only, however, the following spring that
thy ran hope to soy wheat. wish no one
To come into our settlement who will not hsve.
after securing the land, at least 500 cash
Even with this sun in hand, the first year,
will present ifs hardship and ii will be nee
.-sary 70 supplement. Il With some earnings in
thu fall o. the y1ar, when, Turing some three
months, work can easily b. tad among older
settlers, n no great distance from DE- 6r16
Dc not wish 10 risk the prospects Of our frst
settlements, and this | would be doing were I
10 invite men with no means To come annonx
u. The settlers, to, should be men of known
Temperate hab.ts. and they you'd insure them
selves warmer welcome On our part, Mere
fhey 70 come To IA with letters " recommends
ton from their respective pastors.
4 Tois communication il being extensi-
vely copied into eastern newspapers.
and the result viii be vastlyadvanfageous
to Minnesota. Now let us have 3 good
organization under the authority 81 ia
state, TO encourage immigration and CO
operate with such charitable undertak-
lings - that above described. We can
raise the best wheat and make tho best
hour 10 the world. That alone cueht n
insure 70 AinnesotA N immense Growth
] and prosperity.