The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-06-28
MINNESOTA COMPARED WITH OTHER
STA TEN
MECHAN1CsBURG, ILL.,, !
June II. 1877. {

NECHAN1CsBURG, ILL.,,
June II, 1877.
EDITOR ADVANCE: According to
promise, I will give your readers a
short and imperfect description Of
Southwestern Minnesota as compared
with Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho, Utah,
Nevada, Montana, Oregon, California,
visited i'll person, travelling some two
ye9rs over those States and Territories.
and making thorough examination of
also the, production of tile soil of each,
the natural advantages of water-power,
lakes, deserts, grass, wood, coal, etc.
In many points, Minnesota excels
them all. First, in point of soil. Min
short, | will say all of them put t0getll-
en-. The difference in all of the above
named States and Territories is that
they are one vast plain covered with
sage bush, cactus. rocks, and deserts,
with here and there 4 fertile spot and
even then a thin soil with hard-pan
near the surface, or they are lilly,
rocky, and covered with heavy fine for
est, as is Oregon and Washington, with
but small localities suitable for farm
ing, except it might he the south part
of Oregon, and the valleys of Califor-
mia, willie many portions of those States
and Territories are destitute of water
for many miles, and even then it is
strongly implegnated with alkali, kill
ing cattle as I lave seen in 20 minutes
after drinking. Having crossed and
recrossed those plains I know whereof
l speak.
Again, they are subject to terrible
storms Of rain, hail, and snow. Your
correspondent was in severe snow
storm the 18th Of July, 1852, in the
northern part of UTAH. He has also
ridden 4 mule in gullies (waslles) for
four miles, his head being scarcely lev
ell with the banks on either side. These
washes are common in Nebraska, Utah,
and Idaho, caused by fearful storms of
rain and melting Of snow in the Spring
season.
Those countries are also subject to
severe spells Of drouth as well as storms
of rain, while for all kinds Of grain and
and vegetables they are no better than
Minnesota, perhaps not SO good, eX-
cept it might be the latter.
Now, for the soil and productions of
Minnesota. First, Southwestern Min
nesota is one vast expanse of rolling
prairie dotted over with numerous
lakes, creeks, rivers, and in fact, all
kinds OF water courses, clear, sparkling
pure, and filled with the finest fish in
the world, while the lakes are alive
with the featllered tribe such as Wild
geese, ducks, swan, etc., with some
good timber bordering OH most Of the
lakes.
The soil of these prairies is even in
depth, of Il dark sandy loan, loose and
making quick soil, usually from two
to three feet deep under laid with a
red clay and mixed with lime. stone,
producing grass, wheat, oats, barley,
corn and all kinds of vegetables, in a.
bundance, with but small portion of
her territory unpr0ductive and even
that with proper management would
he us productive as large portion of
the other countries above mentioned.
The greatest draw back seems to be the
scarcity of timber, but here let me say
is the novel part Of this country. It is
an old adage that ''necessity is the
mother Of invention, and here the prob
lem seems to lie solved, for I can say
Of u truth never saw any one article
put to as many uses us these people put
hay to. It has been the principal food
for stock during the settlement Of this
part of the country and is the lcain de-
pendence for fuel, and I must confess
makes a good substitute. It makes
their barns, under-bedS, covering for
all kinds of out buildings, and in one
instance I saw stove-pipe made of
the same material mixed with clay or
mud. Also sod is used to good advan-
tage for building purposes. Here let
me say a few words in regard to the
health of this country. Many poor peo-
pie at first built sod house, 4 sod barn,
sod chjcken-house, or g-house and
in these they live and keep their stock
until they can build better ones. Their
houses often have no floors, but neatly
papered inside. They enjoy the best
of health. No storms of rain to wash
them down as may be seen by travelling
over the country. Scarcely wash in
any of the roads can be found.
Should people live in this style in any
other country I ever saw, sickness and
death would be the result. The air is
pure, clear, and bracing, no stagnant
pools OF water can lie found. Chills
and fever unknown. and after spend
ing hundreds Of dollars for medicine
for my lungs and throat, 1 have been
more relieved and benefited by the
healthful climate Of a few months resi-
dence III Minnesota than by all of the
medicine I ever took. But more anon.
p II TT