Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-22
CHANGERS 1T YORK.
The Big Farming Operations in Northern
MinnesOta.

Early yesterday morning, Hon. J. A. Nc
Clusky, of Cottage Grove, Washington coun-
ty, arrived in st. Paul from st. Louis. Being
aware that Mr.. McClusky had been in the
latter city on business in connection with
Mr.. Oliver Dalrymple's vast farms in Dako-
ia territory, a GLOBE reporter promptly in
terviewed the arriving gentleman, with the
view of ascertaining the spring prospects and
intentions of Mr.. Dalrymple, one Of whose
superintendent Mr.. McClusky is.
The reporter opened the interview by stat
ing the object of his call, and asked how
much land in Dakota Mr.. Dalrymple was in
terested in.
Mr.. McClusky-There are three farms,
Cass, Cheney and Grandin, which have
combined area of $4,000 acres. am super
intendent of the Grandin farm.
Reporter-How much of this area do you
expect to have under wheat this year, and
how much is to be broken?
Mr.. McC.-About $4,000 acres will be
sown with wheat on the Dakota territory
farms. can't exactly say what amount of
land will be broken on the Cass and Cheney
farms. On the Grandin farm, there are
5000 acres now ready for wheat, and we shall
break 1900 more the coming season, and the
proportion will be about the same, at least,
on the other two.
Rs the land ready for working now?
Mr.. McC.-The land will be about ready
by the time we are, but we always calculate
to be ahead of the work.
R.-How many men do you employ!
Mr. McC.-SOmouharo in the DaiOhhor-
hood of $50.
R.-Would there be any chance for farm
laborers about here getting employment on
the farms?
Mr.. McC-Well, we usually expect to hire
most of our hands up there, but there will,
no doubt, be chance for more than we shall
find there.
R.-What wages do you pay?
Mr.. McC.-We pay the highest rates 60
ing in cash, but cannot now say what the
rates will be. Men from this neighborhood
would have to furnish their own transporta-
| ton.
| R.-May 1 ask what your business has
been in St. Louis?
Mr.. McC.-I have been buying horses and
mules for the three farms, and have brought
seven carloads along this morning, or l2(
head altogether, and they are the finest lot Of
animals, taking them all around, that were
ever harnessed in this State. Here Mr.
McC. became voluble, when on his favorite
topic. You will say SO when you see them
I bought them all of one firm, Reilly & Vol
fort, of St. Louis, and squarer- dealing Sc
of men never met. What they say you cal
rely on, even in horse trade.
R.-What is the state of the Missouri
horse market?
MIR. McC.-The prices of stock are me
dunn there just now.
RI suppose it is your intention to pu
these animals to work at once?
Mr.. McC.-We don't want to keep then
idle long, you may be sure. have alread,
bought their harness this morning, abou
sixty sets in all.
R.-How many horses and mules do 20,
work?
Mr.. McC., considering and calculating TO
a moment or two-This lot, with those
already on hands, will make $50 head Of
horses and mules.
reporter accompanied Mr.. McClusky to 81
Germans barn on Sixth street, and had t
acknowledge the wisdom of their selectio
and the merit of the praise bestowed upo
them. One span of gray thorough-bre
Norman mares was especially notable
Each is five years old this spring, sound q
dollar, gentle, true and kini
They collectively weigh 2,so
pounds, and are perfect match. Anothe
span of coal-black carriage horses, purchase
for Sergeant & Clark, millers, of Caledoni,
D. T., was also very fine. Among the nun
Der were twelve saddle horses, three for eac
farm.
R.-How many saddle horses do you use
Mr.. McC.-About twenty in all. It ma
be said that it requires about one saddl
horse to each thousand acres cultivated.
: R.-Now, tell me does this farming O
such a gigantic scale pay?
MIR. McC.-Pay! I should think it die
You see, we keep an exact set of books, an
we can tell to the last cent what the whea
costs. We always know precisely where "
stand. Last year, we raised $4,000 bushe]
of wheat on the Grandin farm. That whea
cost us just thirty cents bushel to raise
and netted us on board the cars $1.O6
bushel. That shows you how it pays.
Here the reporter inwardly vowed to ceas
''skinning around" for items at midnight
} and turn granger q la Dalrymple, and ha
just breath enough to ask when Mr.. Nc
Clusky intended starting for the scene o
this seasons labors, when he was informe
that he would leave this morning on a spe
cial train.
"Do you see that?'' said the bustling Nc
Clusky, as he exhibited magnificent Knigh
Templar's jewel hanging to his watch chair
81 got that, continued he, Sin presen
from Reilly & Wolfort.'
Then the reporter determined to give u
the farming idea, and go to St. Louis an
buy horses and mules and get jewel, bu
finally concluded, in the meantime, to pu
up his pencil and notebook, and meekl
sailed forth to The GLOBE Office to write u
''What Dalrymple knows about farming