New-York tribune., 1878-12-26
Politics AYD BUSINESS ~ MINNESOTA


AGRICULTURE AND HARD MONEY THE MAIN RELI-
ANCTs OF THE STATE-CONGREssMAN WASH
BURNS OPINIONS oS TIE sTAIE'I PROSPECTS.
COngrcSsman-clCct William ID. Washhurn,
OF Minnesota was at the Filth Avenue Hc"l recently,
where a TRIBUNE reporter cOnyerscd with him on the
politcal and bmsi ess interests Of the Northwest Mr
Washburn Is Interested in the milling business In Mime
apos aud regard to the explosion which resulted IN
the de sTuctOn OF the PIllsDuTy Mill recently hc said:
Following the loss OF Ifc last May by the explosion
In the Washbuin Mil. had extensive experiments
made which resulted in disclosing the fact that the flour
dust from the new process flour Is much combus-
BILE than that from the old sy-em The dust from starch
sugar, and other Things, was shown TO be explosive
under similar circumstances aud the experiments then
made satisfied that the BaTclayst explosion here In
New-York caused in that manner. The remedy was
shown TO thorough ventilation. The PIlsbury MIL
was an old without proper ventilation, and that,
no doubt, the cause OF the explosion"
els the business situation improving IN MInnesotaI
1--WE have not had the experience OF hard Times that
You have had here. The crops have been good
since 1873 and the prosperity OF the State
depends on the crops, have been prosperous. The
wheat crop was not good this year la-t cOnse-
ouently the general condition financially has not i'm
proved. Farmers IN many sections have run behind,
owing TO the dry weather the which PLAYED
havoc with the crops The conditions were very favor
able up 10 the time the wheat about ready
10 turn, when the hot weather dried the
berry and the storms lodged the straw. 1t
was nearly all No. l wheat last year, while
this seasons crop was nearly all No. 3 what was be-
fore aed rejected wheat has been graded into No a.
lhe din renee IL price between No. ana No wheat
l. 20 cents bushe so that the great loss can be
estimated The ncreace larger, but the general
yield several million bushels less than last year
There has been large influx OF popal!tion especially
| wheat raised in that section IS nearly all No.
| l. IL is ths best wheatgrowing section IN
the United States, and believe the Red River country
in the near future Will Do one our richest agricultural
principally swedcs aud Norwegaus, but there
| has been an unusually large number Of Americans
| Eastern aud Middle states. The construction. az
| far as II has gone, Of the Northern Central
advantage To the STAT When 1 first went to Mime
sofa, Minneapolis now growing and populous city,
45o mnes beyond IT. That has been accomplished IN
"Afo the manufacturing interests OF the State grow
mgr ~ r s.. ,.,.. u,,.,
years ago used 10 be almost wholly all Eastern branch
OF manufacture centres In Minnesota srapidy
Cheap Fsf5 IT. n saye SF G0Rf d Ss T[ u.s. 49,
New-York this year for 45 cents a barrel"
"Not to any extent not near as much as III New
York and other Eastern States. There IA not the
There are no idle men, at least no occasion for any III
Minnesota The people there favor hard money. There
State prosperous people are generally more conserN
ative In their Ideas GU such questions, and 50 IL Is IN
Minnesota It ,hard;monsy State and believe now
"Who IS the favorite Republican Presidential cand-
datel" ,ou,, ,r,,,oror ,,,, 81. ,.o,,na.
now is for Grant. IL is a mere feeling, the re-
suit of any organized effort and s no doubt due 10 the
extreme dstrust o the South and the feeling
by the frauds in the Southern elections aud THE TRIB
USEs exposure OF Democratic plots to capture the
ernment. Ii Ia felt hat party which attempts TO bull
dOze aud buy it's way into tho National Treasury
quircs man Of strong wil like Grant. to deal with IT,
OF course, events may cIanse the situation greatly
within a year"