The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-11
MAMMOTH FARMING.
CHANGERS AT WORK.
The Big Farming Operations in Northern
jnnesota.
From the St. Paul Globe.

A. McClusky, of Cottage Grove
Washington county, 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 Dakota territory, Globe
reporter promptly interviewed the
arriving gentleman, with the view OF
ascertaining the spring prospects and
intentions of Mr.. Dalrymple, one OF
whose superintendent Mr.. McClosky
is.
The reporter opened the interview
by stating the object of his call, and
asked how much land in Dakota Mr..
Dalrymple was interested in.
Mr.. McClusky-There are three
farms, Cass, Cheney and Grandin,
which have a combined area of IS, 900
acres. I am superintendent 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.--Ahout $4,000 acres will
Abe SoWn with wheat on the Dakota
Territory farms. Ican't exactly say
what amount of land will be broken
on the Cass and Cheney farms. On
the Grandin farm, they are 5000 acres
ready for wheat, and we shall break
5000 more the coming season, and the
proportion will be about the same at
least, on the other two.
R.-Is the land ready for working
now
l>n
ready by the time we are, but we
always calculate to be ahead of the
work.
R.-How many men do you en-
ploy!
Mr.. McC.-Somewhere in the
neighborhood of $50.
R.-Would there be any chance for
farm IabOrers about here getting en-
ployment on the farms!
Mr.. McC.-Well, we usually expect
to hire most of our hands up there,
but there will, no doubt, be a chance
for more than we shall find there.
R.-What wages do you pay!
Mr.. McC.-We pay the highest
rates going in cash, but | cannot now
say what the rates will be. Men from
this neighborhood would have to fur
nish their own transportation.
R.-May | 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 car loads
along this morning. or 100 head alto
gether, and they are the finest lot of
animals, taking them all around, that
were ever harnessed in this State.
Here Mr.. Nee. became voluble,
when on his favorite topic. You
will say SO when you see them.
bought them all of one firm, Reilly &
Woifort, Of st. Louis, and squarer-
dealing set of men | never met. What
they say you can rely on, even in q
horse-trade.
R.-What is the state of the Mis-
souri, horse market?
Mr.. McC.-The prices of stock are
medium there just now.
RI suppose it is your intention
to put these animals to work at once :
Mr.. McC.--We don't want to keep
them idle long, you may be sure. l
have already bought their harness
this morning, about sixty sets in all.
R.-How many horses and mules do
you work
Mr.. Notwithstanding and calcu-
lating for Il moment or two-ThiS lot.
with those already on hands. will
make $50 head of horses and mules.
At the invitation of the interview
ed, the reporter accompanied Mr..
McClucky to st. Germains barn on
Sixth street. and had to acknowledge
the wisdom of their selection and the
merit of the praise bestowed upon
them. One span of gray thorough
bred Norman mares was especially
notable. Each is five years old this
spring, sound as dollar. gentle. true
and kind. They collectively weighed
$500 pounds, and are a perfect match.
Another span OF coal-black carriage
horses. purchased for Sergeant Il
Clark. millers of Caledonia, ID. T. was
also very fine. Among the number
were twelve saddle horses. three for
each farm.
R.-How many saddle horses do
You use
Mr.. McC.-About twenty in all. 1t
may be said thac it requires about
one saddle horse 10 each thousand
acres cultivated.
R.-Now. tell ne does this farming
on such 4 gigantic scale pay
Mo. McC.-Payi should think It
did. You see. we keep IN exact set
of books. and we can tell TO the last
cent what the wheat costs. We
always know precisely where we
stand. Last year, we raised $4,000
bushels of wheat on the GrandiD
farm. That wheat cost us Just thirty
cents bushel TO raise. and Melted us
on board the ears Sl.06 a buShel. That
shows you how it pays.
Here the reporter inwardly vowed
to cease "skinning around" for items
at midnight. and turn granger la
Dairy land had just breath enough
to ask when Mr.. McClusky intended
starting for the scene of this season 5
labors. when he was informed that he