The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-09-11
A TRIP TO THE NEW NORTH
VEST

stepped off at Fargo, d. T., the center of
the great wheat region. A city of rapid
growth, and great possibilities. Peo-
pied by 1000 wide awake enthusiastic
settlers, from all parts of the union,
strong of faith, and great of grip are
these people. The Red River valley,
the heart of this country extends $50
miles in length, and 80 miles in width.
The surface is apparently level. but has
descent toward the river, of ten feet to
the mile, sufficient for drainage. The
soil is rich black loamy deposit, two
to four feet deep, apparently inexhausti-
bic, with clay or mari subsoil.
The prairies of Dakota cover en- area
greater than all New England, or five
times the size of Wisconsin. A grand
empire rich and undeveloped, awaiting
the advance of civilization and the stir
ring of mother earth to give forth nour-
ishment for millions. High as we had
pictured this region we were unprepared,
amazed, and the mind could scarcely
grasp the vastness, beauty and richness,
of these boundless prairies-north,
south, east and west, one grand field.
No wonder men look only for sections
and tens of sections for farms. 1 cease
to wonder at the seeming infatuation
that causes men to desert their old farms
and homsteads for the wealth of this
land.
There is greater fascination and surer
reward in these prairies for the golden
grain than for the gold dust of the Black
Hills.
Four years ago the first furrow was
turned. now hundreds of thousands of
acres are responding to the call of the
husbandman, and bread for the millions
promised. An immense immigration is
hocking in, attracted by the bountiful
harvests that have rewarded the efforts
of men.
Oliver Dalrymple, the wheat king and
pioneer owns and has this year under
his supervision a wheat field of 10000
acres that will produce 400, 900 bushels.
Smaller tracts give a much larger aver
age. We saw field of 240 acres that
averaged 80 bushels per acre, of No. l
wheat. Wheat fields in Cass county are
now noisy with the hum of the thresher.
At one level point looking east we saw
the smoke from 45 steam thresheIs, with
wheat yet in shock for three weeks
work. On large farms having their own
threshers the grain is not stacked but
the thresher is moved daily and the
wheat drawn around it. Smaller farms
stack and thresh later.
Straw is being used for fuel for the
engines, and will come into general use.
The proportion of straw used varies
We saw steamer threshing 100 bushels
per hour using q thirty second part of
the straw, or the straw from one sheaf
furnished fuel to thresh thirty-two
sheaves.
Twenty men are required to run each
thresher; the straw is burned after
threshing.
We passed through one continuous
wheat field Oh the Grandin Farm, six
miles in length; this noted farm COM
prises 5000 acres in Red River valley
80 miles north Of Fargo. 10000 acres
of this is to be devoted to wheat, the
balance to stock raising. This year over
5000 acres were in wheat. A steamboat
and four barges are used in transporting
the grain to their large elevator at Fargo.
A description Of the equipment and OPP
Grafton of these large wheat farms would
astonish eastern farmers. Plows, seed
ers and harvesters can be counted by the
score, following each other in success
ion with almost military preeision-a
foreman on horseback having charge of
q certain number or gang of workmen.
section of land is taken and a circuit
of four miles is commenced, finishing at
the center. System and regularity are
necessary to move successfully the great
body of laborers employed. The cost
of the first crop is about 81 per acre, of
the second crop $500; this includes
blowing, sowing, harvesting, ETC., and
interest On the machinery, and land at S.
per acre. At 20 bushels per acro-a low
average for the years under cultivation
at SOC per bushel, also low average
price, it will readily be seen the profit is
immense.
Northern Dakota furnishes soil, elm
ate. length of season and every favorable
condition combined for the production
of the highest yield and grade of spring
wheat The seed bed cannot be i'm
proved; being north of the storm belt
the ground freezes deep and dry; no
body of snow causing spring to linger.
Wheat is put in on the frost, as it is
termed, or as soon as the surface is
thawed several inches, teams are started
ana seedlnS proceeds. reports we fe-
member reaching US last spring that
seeding was under full Roadway two
weeks in advance of this county. The
rainfall as officially given shows that
rain falls during those months most
needed for the growth Of the wheat
plant, and its absence during harvest
and threshing, hence wheat farmers feel
secure in leaving and threshing from the
shock six and eight weeks after harvest.
The dry cool atmosphere and great
length of season favor the growth and
perfection of the berry. Nearly 100 per
cent. of wheat in the valley will this
year grade No. 1. Freedom from storms
and the attack of insects and diseases
prevalent in more southern ATTITUDES
riva a1,77oc4 ,7r to,,pJa al faith -, tb;c oro,,