Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-01
ON THE FRONTIER.
Glotctng Reports Of a Land HNnter-Hot0
the Country Is Settling Up.

ON THE FRONTIER.
Glo,otn0 Reports Of a Land H,sntes-Hot0
the Country Is Settling Up.
Mr.. George A. Wells, an experienced land ex-
plorer. returned yesterday from visit to the
railroad and government lands bordering upon
the st. Vincent extension of the st. Paul q
Pacific railroad, which he had been commas
stoned to view by the Soldiers and Sailors as.
ISOLATION of this city. Mr.. Wells will probably
present his report at the meeting of the asso-
citation this evening, but, meanw lille, the
GLOBE is enabled. by means of an interview
with Mr.. Wells yesterday, shortly after his ar
rival, to present the results Of the observations
of his trip.
main line of the st. Paul q Pacific
railroad crosses the Northern Pacific
track. From this point to
Crookston, the distance is six+y-three miles,
which is traversed by the St. Vincent extension
of the above named railroad. Within the space
Of the length named and bounded on each side
of the railroad by the present ease of access,
revolution has been wrought during the past
couple of years. Mr.. Wells, who is familiar
with every foot of the ground, affirms that two
years ago one could travel from Glyndon to
Crookston without seeing single house or
eye can reach from the track, the whole country
is dotted with the cabins of the pioneers of this
new agricultural Eldorado. And even villages
are forming within the territory in
question. which, three years ago, was
hamanly tenantless. Among these is the
thriving hamlet of Ada, at distance of thirty
miles from Glyndon, which has sprung up with
| the proverbial rapidity of Jonah's gourd. Here
a lively business is transacted, which has been
created in consequence of the POLITICALLY named
| Ada being the favorite point where the people
of Dakota territory strike the st. Vincent ex-
up along the line and will eventually be thriving
villages. Crookston, of course, as the present
practical terminus of the extension, is promi-
nent in its prosperity and development. -Four
years ago, Crookston was nonentlty, saving
in name, with population not to exceed three
or four who have stuck to it up till now.
When Mr.. Wells was there within the last week
he counted no less than fifty new buildings
in course of erection in and around
the village. The distance from Crookston tC
Snake river, still proceeding northward, is
thirty miles. The land here is fine and roll
| ling prairie, as good and IA fair as man ever
gazed or dwelt upon, with deep natural drain
age which runs into the Red lake, Red ant
Snake rivers. Along these lines of drainage ar
some of the finest blue-joint meadows in tn
world. East Of the line of the railroad are fin,
poplar groves, which, if prevented from de
for settlers. On the borders of Snake rive
are fine meadows and plentiful supplies O.
timber. Eighty miles north of this stream
Middle river, the intervening country bein
number one for stock, finely watered. and witt
occasional patches of poplar groves, while alon
Middle liver the character of timber change
into superb burr oak groves. Between Middl
river and Tamarack river, the land is rathe
higher and more rolling than between Snak
and Middle rivers, and is better adapted fo
wheat raising than the former. Between Tams
rack river and Two rivers lies one of the mos
glorious countries under the sun, affording
picture OF perfect loneliness, watered by mic
spring streams that never freeze, and the Ian
IL dotted over with as splendid burr oak grove
as are to be seen any where in the West, Will
to the east Of the railroad line, for distane
Of from six to twelve miles along the Of
Pembina trail is found frst-clas
tributary country, and, on the Yves
of the line, there is a large amount Of timbe
fringing the Red river. In this sect ion thel
will be no necessity to economic hay for fue
as is done in the much Wanted districts {
southwestern Minnesota. The vegetation i
all the region above described is just as fl
advanced as it is anywhere along the main lr
of thesSt. Paul and Pacific thus disproving tt
alleged inhospitable climate of that territor,
, Mr.. Wells then branched off into the symI
toms of the land craze" which has extende
even into the comparatively unknown terrlto1
ne had described. Everybody seemed to be O.
: mented about the possession of land, and we
Z stretching out to secure and break all tha
could be obtained. As an evidene
) of the pouring in Of the immigratio
wave, he adduced the fact that he had seen ca
loads Of horses disembar1 at Crookston, tt
animals being intended for the immed1a
breaking of lands that had been applied TO
The railroad lands for a distance of thirt
miles between Red Lake and Snake rivers, ha
in most cases been already applied for, and IL
large majority of the government lands in thu
vicinity had also been claimed. In fac
settlers in that neighborhood were now takir
up what might be termed the second-cla
land. Beyond the Snake river, however, an
along the railroad line, there was plenty le
yet, while to the south an
west all was ready and ope
for the first corners, the land here being abunt
antly clothed with timber within q distance
five miles from the railroad track. MIR. Vel
concluded by stating that he intended retur,
ing next week to erect house in the Red riv,
valley, and to commence farming operations.