Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-14

appeared in the Shelby County Herald,
a prominentjournal published in North.
ern Missouri, in the issue dated Aug. 6.
LETTER FROM MINNESOTA.
Little Falls, MIMI, July Is, 1879. g.
Mr.. Editor: Having spent two years in
Minnesota and experienced her climatic influ.
ences, and witnessed the wonderful fruitful
ness of her soil, we are now prepared to write
concerning the State as we promised Won we
would. Thanks to the generosity of a friend
high in railroad influences, we haye had tho
opportunity of dead-heading it through the
State, and viewing the different localitie es and
the advantages of each. And we are con-
Vlnced that this county, Morrison, possesses
more natural advantages to the immigrant,
capitalist and speculatorthan any other point
we havc visited.ss Situated in the center of the
State, the surface beautifully diversified by
timber, prairie and magnificent water-courses,
lakes and natural meadows, Morrison county
must become immensely rich, and be densely
Peopled, while her splendid water power win
be utilized to cut the immense quantity of
pine lumber yearly carried down the Missis-
sippi and its tributaries.
Wheat is the great staple, yet stock is prof.
table, and thrive wonderfully upon our nu-
SANoAoo9 SAs'oo0os SOIu-Gu0 4NIuu0SOtd Var10-
ty-grows luxuriantly, and from fifty to sixty
bushels to the acre is frequently produced.
Apples, this season, are abundant, while
Strawberries, blueberries, gooseberries, black
berries and plumbs grow wild. Our timber
consists OF pine, maple, oak, ash, elm, poplar,
tamarack, etc. Magnificent lakes, peopled
with pickerel, pike, bass, etc., stud the land
scape in every direction, and lcnd beauty
and attractiveness to the scene which is won
dertully pleasing to the eye. Deer, grouse,
prairie chicken, pheasant, bear and wild fowl
are found in every direction.
The health of this county is marvellous.
Chills and fevers are unknown, and the pure
bracing atmosphere lends vigor and strength
to the whole system. People die here some
times, but the number of gray heads and the
scarcity OF drug stores are noticeable features
OF this country. In population of 5000, we
have only one drug store, and part of that is
devoted to the sale of ready made clothing.
sissippi river, and is growing town of 600
inhabitants. The finest water power north of
Minneapolis is located here, and the building
OF the Little Falls d Dakota R. R. to intersect
the Northern Pacific, now in operation here,
will develop this country wonderfully. Little
Falls is the county seat of Morrison county,
and contains fine Court House, Episcopal,
Congregational and Catholic churches, On ex-
cellent public school building, five or six
stores which enjoy the trade from radius Of
20 miles distant. good furniture store and
a tailor would find enough to do. Royalton is
a young town II miles south of Little Falls
on the N. P. R. H., at the crossing of Platte
river, and is destined to become an important
village.
The demand for real estate is increasing,
and good vacant lands will be hard to find in
q few years. Land is worth from $3.50 to
$500 per acre. Some good homesteads can
yet be had in the timber. We can truly say
that the vegetables produced here are the fin
est we ever saw, and the flavor delicious.
And here, Mr.. Editor, we will say word
about the Minnesota winter, that great bug
bear in the estimation of the Southern man.
Having spent two winters here we are pre-
pared to state that the winters are far superior
to Missouri winters. We have dry, cold wealth
er, and no mud. The sun shines with a bril-
liancy that fairly shimmers over the snow,
and the latter has never exceeded eight inches
in depth since we came here. One can wear
q buckskin moccasin or 60 in his stocking
feet and never get foot moist. The reason
is obvious, for the snow is perfectly dry. All
the pine lumber is cut during the winter, the
men living in camp huts. The climate is
even, and during the winter it rarely rains.
In the fall we enjoy Indian summer for sever
al weeks, and the cold of our winters never
produces bone aching, but invigorates and
makes the appetite voracious. In this coun-
try a man feels like work. Prosperity and
progress are seen around him. The farmer of
small means can soon become independent,
for wheat is indigenous to this country, and
the land will produce from 20 to IS bushels
per acre. Oats from 40 to so, corn from 80 to
SO, rye from 80 to 40, while stock will do as
we'll as in Missouri and suffer less in the dry
temperature; with plenty of hay, which grows
wild in natural meadows of red top, blue joint,
etc. A cow will give on abundance Of milk if
fed on this hay and ruta bagas, which grow
as large as gallon jugs. In fine, this is the
poor mans paradise, where he can make
home and soon surround himself and family
with all the comforts of life. We have hos
pitab]e people, and they extend cordial well
come to all good people. And having trav-
eled over this State, and lived in Maryland,
Missouri, Illinois and Pennsylvania, we can
with truth assert that, in our estimation, this
county enjoys wonderful climatic, agricultural
and commercial advantages. And to those
who contemplate move we would say-come
and look at Morrison county and live long and
die rich. Are you p ~votary of the rod and
gun' 'non you VIII uie VI Iho ePott Here, 1ol
the game is too abundantly abundant. Toall
enterprising good people who want to improve
their conditions and live where all men are
FREQ and equal and where wealth grinds not
the poor man nor. demands servility for pat
ronage, we say come to this favored land and
enjoy some of these bountiful gifts Of Provi-
dence which can be had for the taking.
This country can be reached cheaply from
Quincy, Ills, by boat-fare to St. Paul SIS
passenger boarding himself). From St. Paul
to Little Falls, by n. P. r. R., $5.l0. But
special rates can be obtained by boat and rail
for families and household goods. Any in
formation will be furnished concerning the
country, etc., when solicited.
E. D, TINGLE.