Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-10-21
HUTCHINSON COUNTY.
Immigration and Crops-Politics and
Prairie Fires.

Immigration and C~rOps-Politics and
Prairie Fires.
Up in Hutchinson county there Is moth.
ing specially new to chronicle. The spirit
of improvement is abroad there, the same
as in other localities, and there we heard the
same remarks regarding crops and prospects
as have com to our ears in various p0r.
tons of southern Dakota. 1t is general,
admitted that the wheat crop would have
been better but far tue intense and unusual
heat Of the summer, which descended upon
the growing fields 81 Il critical period in
their existence. Still the crop is a fair one.
considering the atmospheric conditions, and
the result proves the wonderfully nourIsh.
ing and sustaining properties Of Dakota
soil. Ia almost sny other region there
would have been 30 harvest, but here we
have procured a good yield. Of average pas
sable quality, Many samples Of whea,
were shown US in Hutchinson equity which
will grade good number two and will make
the best Of fur. Farmers are uot much
disposed TO sell vt, believing that prices
will be better ty and by. A,apy rate, they
argue, it can be no worse, and they are
about right.
4 large immigration hiss crossed the Dor.
dcrs Of Hutchinson county this season aud
within lis boundaries have staked out their
future homes. All over the p~rairies i'm
provemen;s are visible and new roofs are the
rule. Maxwelts mill is a busy looking cen
ter. Grain is brough, there from all direc-
tons 10 be converted into -four, and the
only drawback 10 the prosperity Of the mill
is the low water in the Jim, which just low
only furnishes power for day work. The
Maxwells and Mr.. Parmenter are promi-
nent elements OF business and social inter
course in this region. Piuoecr settlers, they
have encountered all the hardslips Of from
tier life, and year by year have built up
their homes and their business upon the apot
which but a short time ago saw them sur
rounded BY a f%orbidding wilderness. Now
the incoming settlement finds them firmly
fixed and in a condition to draw pr, fit from
their early arrival. Eden Maxwell has for
a number Of years been the register Of deeds
and county clerk Of this county, and has
been a popular and faithful officer. Blu, the
increase Of the German population created a
demand for q man for this position who
could grapple with the idioms Of their ma.
tive speech, and last Saturday Mr.. Maxwell
was laid aside by the nominating conven-
ton, and the nomination given to a Ger
man. Mr.. NJ. vii! step out with a good off.
cial record and the qualification that the
only objection to him is that he cannot speak
the language Of the majority.
Prairie fire. have created much dcstruc-
ton in Hutchinson county, as we'll as else
where. Last week a fire was driven BY a
strong wind into the rank growth on the
Jim river bottom, At the Maxwell mill. 1t
came in from the west, suddenly and with
appalling speed. The mill was defended as
long as it was possible for men to remain
about il, and just as the heat became 80 in
tense that its abandonment was necessary, a
shifting gust of wind hurled backward and
upward the advancing wall Of flame, lifted
it over the mill and over the little group Of
houses near by, and dropped it in the rank
grass beyond, where it rushed onward
through the heavy. bottom growth until its
fury was quenched in the waters Of the Jim.
The mill and The settlement were saved by
this sudden freak Of the elements. Mr..
Maxwell loat ell his hay, and others suffered
even more severely. But prairie fires are
nearly at An end for thi. s%eAson--there is
little more TO burn.
have just reduced the prices on ladies'
cIoskings from 10 TO 20 cents per yard 80
pieces new choice styles TO. select FROM.