The daily gazette., 1879-11-06
The Minnesota Colonies.
THE FLoURIsHINa SETTLEMENTS THAT
HAVE GROWN UP IN A DAY IN THE
WuE fnrrNu,uy


THE FIOURIsHING SETTLEMENTS THAT |,
HAVE GROWN UP IN A DAY IN THE |
WHEAT COUNTRY.
AvoCA, Minn., Oct. 29.-When Father
Koebel came here, about eighteen
months ago, to establish Roman Cath
olic colony, he was the sole occupant OF
the $4,000 acres of land that had been
secured by Bishop Ireland. lie lived
twenty miles from any railroad, and
went through all the hardships of pio-
neer life. Now Father Koebel lives
within stones throw Of the depot of
branch of the Sioux City Railroad.
There are several stores and other build
ings erected and being built, and every
indication of prosperous colony. Some
Of the colonists are already here, and
others are coming next May. A large
hotel will he built at once, and a church
and school house are contracted for;
10000 acres have already been sold, and
colonsts are expected from many of the
oher States. They buy their land for
S. an acre, and have seven years to pay
for it !; and with not less than 500 capi-
tai a colonist can begin life here with
every prospect of success. 1t will cost
him about $40 TO build little house,
and about $40 more to furnish It, put
ting figures at the lowest estimate then
his oxen, plough, and wagon will cost
$500 more, and he ought to allow 500
for The cost of living before he can get
any return from his crops. This brings
the total Investment TO $400. If he puts
in crop of fifty acres of wheat, his re-
turns, at twenty bushels to the acre, and
at seventy-ive cents bushel, will bring
him $3.50, leaving profit of more than
$500 L the years work.
All Of the colonies here are flourish
ing. There is one in Swift County,
about 120 miles from st. Paul. This is
regarded as a very old colony. 1t was
established in 1876, and runs for some
thirty miles along the line of the st.
Paul and Manitoba Railroad, and con-
tains about 10000 acres, on which are
Gated four ambitious and thriving
towns. Stores, hotels, school houses,
chul ches, and large elevators have been
built, and the prairie is dotted with
home-like farm houses. In this colony
much attention has been given to shade
trees. There are 800 Roman Catholic
famili in the colony. There are some
model farms, that are cultivated by
Philadelphia capitalists, and one man
farms 1000 and an ,tler 1000 cres,
yielding from 10 to 20 bushels 10 the
acre.
The Mineota colony, on the Chicago
and Northwestern Railway, POO miles
west of st. Paul, is located Oh the most
fertile land in the State, and Bishop Ire
land has secured $1,000 acres here, and
sent priest to lake charge of a colony.
Mineota is flourishing enough already
to have an elevator with capacity OF
$4,000 bushels, two grain warehouses,
and several large stores.
The colony of st. Adrian, in Noble
County, was opened in 1877 with 10000
acres of land. To-day the town of St.
Adrian is bustling place, well-stocked
Portable dwellings. There are several
large farms hereabouts. running from
1000 to 1000 acres. The Rock Com
pany's farm, about fifteen miles from
st. Adrian, is one of the largest whea
farms in the Northwest. 1t contains
$4,000 acres.
Some five or six miles distant from st
Adrian, the Irish Catholic Colonization
| q
900, of which some S6O,000 has been al
ready subscribed, has commenced opera
tions by breaking up sections upon 10
farms, so az to have the land ready t
put in the crop next spring when IN
settlers take possession. Comfortabl
houses will also be erected upon thes
farms, and ample time gwen FOR tn
payment of the moneys expended by thu
association. In view OF the alarming
depression that prevails among the agrl
cultural classes in Great Britain and Ire
! land, Bishop Ireland and Bishop Spald
ing are eXerting themselves to secur
!, large tracts of land liz Nebraska AM
: | Dakota Territory, IN order to meet tn
| requirements of the crowds OF cmigrant
who will doubtless seek home in thu
! Western States and Territories mex
sprlng. This ASSOCIATION has been lncoI
porated under the laws Of Illinois, an
mum bers among the Board of Directors
Bisbop Gibbons, Of Baltimore; Bisho
! Williams, of Boston; Bishop RYAN, o
;. | Buffalo: Bishop OConnor, of Omaha
I Bishop Spalding, of Peoria, and severa
of the most influential Catholic lavne
in Chicago, Boston and New \ orr
Judging from the success which Catht
. he colonization has met within the pg>
three years lunder Bishop Ireland
Minnesota, where the colony lands con
pri.e at present some 300 900 acres, wit
toWps, and villages. and homestead
without number that have spi ung up, /
If by magic, along the fertile praries a
over the State, without either capital
resources of any kind on the part OF th
:, founder, the movement, which has bee
, inaugurated under the Irish Cathol
Colonization, with ample funds to Civ
the settlers fair start IN life, is likely
become one Of the most important of Il
, kind that has ever been attempted
this country.