Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-03-13
From the st. Paul Daily Globe
SETTLING THE STATE.
What is Being Done Along tho Southern
MlnneSOta Railway.


Minnesota Railway.
The present year promises to be lively
season in Southern Minnesota, and especially
along the line of the Southern Minnesota rail-
way. The last season the road was extended
from Winnebago City to Jackson, forty. six
miles, though the company was only required
by the land grant act to build but seventeen
miles. 1t has until 1881 to build to the west
ern line OF the State, but it is proposed to
build the entire distance, eighty-fve miles,
during the present year-the ties are already
purchased, and surveys made. When the
road reaches the western boundary of the
State howl in Phi Ppestone sa county: there s
seasons 100 miles more of our beautiful prairie
to settlement and advanced civilization, and
portion of our State unsurpassed for fertility
| and resources. Not only the distance in our
own State is destined for grand wheat field
and stock range, but as the road penetrates
| all our boundless West. The road will be
promptly rushed through to Big Sioux river
| in Moody county, Dakota, which county al
ready contains a population of nearly 1000
people. One reason for the increased settle
ment of eastern Dakota, is The fact that near
~ every quarter section has settler upon it
| and no odd sections are taken by,railroad com
panies.
THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA POLICY.
The Southern Minnesota Extension com
panY acquires large tracts of land as it pro
greses, and the manner it has opened them to
settlement is worthy example for other land
grant companies. It puts settlers upon the land
and contracts to allow s. 50 for breaking and
so cents an acre for the first crop, and conse
quently no money is required down. We are
informed that the sixty miles of the St. Paul
g. SIOUX City land grant, which this road passes
through, is being held by the Sioux City Co.,
at from seven to ten dollars for wild prairie.
This certainly is the wrong policy to pursue,
and one that tends to make the country almost
desolate waste This company owns nearly
all the odd sections in the north half of Martin
county, and much more in Jackson, Mobiles
and other counties. It can but be regarded as
unwise policy to keep these splendid lands
from settlement by high prices. Homestead
ers have settled around the lands and are pay
ing. the taxes and improving the roads, and
building the bridges and school houses and
supporting local and State governments,
while the railroad is holding these broad
acres for high prices. We trust this policy
will not be adhered to.
THE JEssUP, JAMES AND ROOSEVELT LANDS,
being special trust of the Southern Mime
sofa Rai% wy company and consisting Of
son, Murray, Rock, Pipestone, Cottonwood.
Lyon, Redwood aud Blue Earth counties, are
about to be offered on the same terms as our
State and school lands are sold. These lands
have been so thoroughly and carefully exam
ined that parties desiring to purchase can as
certain of the general agent. J. c. Easton,
Lanesboro, Mimi, or of local agents near the
lands, the exact character OF the different
sections or quarter sections. To make them
the more generally and publicly brought to
the notice of immigrants and settlers, and
feeling q deep interest in settling our prairies
we understand that Hon. o. r. Whitcomb,
State land commissioner, has consented
to sell these lands after offering
and selling the State lands, if parties
are DESTROYS of purchasing 1t is intended to,
at least on some plan, to have two public
sales during the year, and in the meantime
they can be purchased on the same terms at
private sale at any time. The policy is to get
the lands into the hands of actual settlers
and under cultivation.
All these plans seem so liberal, and as
consequence are likely to be the means OF
bringing to our State large immigration,
that we deem it our duty to give this extended
rotice of what our friends in the Southern
part Of the State are doing, and can but COM
mend the course adopted by the Southern
Minnesota railway to other land grant com.
panies holding larger tracts for high prices.
1t certainly does seem to be the wrong policy
to exact high prices for land. Settlers raising
wheat and cattle to transport may prove
more profitable than the extra price received
by holding the lands. 49,. :