The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-17

ST. PAUL. THURSDAY. FEB.17, 1876
A VISIT TO BENSON, SWIFT COUNTY.
One who travels Through Minnesota,
with the object Of making himself ac-
quainted, in detail with its resources
and collecting its statistics. undertakes
task that would be laborious, even to
WEAKNESS, but for the variety and grand
eur Of the field he enters upon, and long
before his task is over he is impressed
with the bountiful provisions God has
made here, tor the support and prosper
ity of millions OF the human race.
When a few weeks ago we got the
wheat statistics of Willmar, showing,
that in a town, situated. in what was
called FIVE years ago a"howling wilder
nessn there was received, since harvest,
over 800, 900 bushels, Of wheat, with
half the crop, still in the hands of the
farmers, We thought that we had got
hold of big item, but, when we visited
Benson last week, we found town still
thirty miles further west. with popula'
ton of only ore hundred and fifty,
having received at is two elevators
about a like quantity of wheat up to the
llth of February.
And vet as we travelled along we saw
the cultivated farms, but little spots IN
the vast. fertile uucuItivated prairies on
every side.
As one looks out upon this vast ex-
nanse and knows that millions of acres
are still stretching out beyond his gaze.
he is apt to think, when will this I'M
mense tract of country be filed up; at
least, this was our thought the other day
as we drew near to Benson, and when
we reached it, the number OF teams we
saw Flooding along. heavily laden with
wheat. seemed to answer the question.
With such an advanced guard, the body
of the great immigrant army the army
of industry. that comes not TO destroy
but to produce; not TO disfigure but to
beautify not to lay waste but to gather
in the army whose music is not the wall
of orphans, but the pleasant laughter OF
happy children, will be with us sooner
than we generally calculate upon.
Benson is the county seat OF Swift
county The best lands in the county
lie west and south oil the town, the light
est and lowest TO the east. The soil
around the village is light AID sandy,
but, good homestead lands can still be
had within three miles OF the village.
Those who do not object to n high roll
ing prairie can secure locations, north
Of the town within that distance with
tair soil and plenty Of water w:,ijn
twenty feet.
The stock facilities here are excellent,
hay, Of the blue joint variety. growing
in the river bottoms of the east and west
branches Of the Chippewa.
Lying west Of the town and stretching
to the foot of Big Stone Lake. forty miles
distant we find fine rich. loan sol
with clay subsnil. admirably adapted
for wheat.
This tract is well wa:ercd By the Chip
pewa and the Pomme-de- terre river,
and their afiluan,s 1t is also in,erspers
ed with lakes. some OF tho latter sur
rounded with groves OF timber
good high road with two well bull
bridges across the Pomme- de.terre ant
Chippewa. the cost OF which was par
italy borne by the state. runs to Ri.
Stone Lake, and there are settlements o
Americans and Scandinavians along thi
route.
These settlers beast that the very lin.
est OF the fine wheat tor which the mil
lers are now contending along the lin
OF the ST. Paul and Pacific railroad. i
unloaded NJ Benson from their wagons
we regret to say that sleighs seen
played out on the prairie.
very lively time indeed the miller
and buyers had. when we were up q
Benson. the farmers were refusing
cents tor their wheat. No l. and on Ia
nth instant. NJ kerkhoven station. be-
tween Benson and Wiilmar. as high y
IS cents wasp paid for wheat; some OF OF
friends couple OF hun miles or 5
nearer II the Milwaukee market, will b
apt to ne shipping IL kerkhoyen il thes
prices 20 on The truth is tina. yer
superior quality OF wheat is produced
this section Il country. 50 superior tbs
the miilers must have it. This inform.
ton ! have from BUYERS themselves.
Anosher tine tract ct land stretch,
southwest from Benson to Appleton.
thriving village twenty-five miles fro,
Benson, situated three miles from ii
Junction I'll the Minnesota and Pomm
deterre and having on the latter wat.