Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-13
BOsTON's GREETING
TO THE PROSPEROUS CATHOLIC COL
ONES IN MINNESOTA.


ONES IN MINNESOTA.
What Our Recent Visitors Have to Say
About Us-Their Trips to Various Points
in the State-The Big Farms Se.n-Twen-
ty-Four Car Loads Of Wheat Daily From
One Farm.
"A Boston Globe, Aug. 5.
The subject of colonization in the West has
been written about and talked about until the
subject is well nigh exhausted. The beau
ties of the western country have been de-
scribed in glowing terms by those who were
in some way interested in having it settled.
The great evils have been shown in strong
language by people having an interest
that way. Very few, however, have been
the plain statements of facts to be
observed in that region. The account
of recent trip by some distinguished
Boston gentlemen ought to prove of great in
terest to the public, inasmuch as the state
ment of one of the parties is at least disin-
terested. A Globe reporter yesterday called
of the gentlemen who have been travelling in
the west, to get their opinions of the coun-
try. Both the gentlemen were found in Mr..
Collins Office, and did not look as if they
had bat the day before returned from trip
OF over two weeks, dnring which they trav-
eled almost continually. The reporter briefly
stated his mission, and both of them ex-
pressed great willingness to give their con-
victions in regard to what they saw.
"What was the object of that journey,
General?'' asked the reporter
"Well, it was just this: Biseop Ireland, of
St. Paul, Mimi, member of the executive
committee of the Irish Catholic National
Colonization society, extended an invitation
to certain people in various cities to pay
visit to his
CATHOLIC COLONIES IN THE STATE OF MIN
NEsoTA.
His idea was to show them certain colonies
which had been projected and built by him
self, for the purpose of giving the Catholics
of the country a knowledge of the great sue
cess that had attended the establishment of
these settlements. In response to this invi-
tation delegation from Boston and Chi
cago visited him. The Boston delegation
consisted of T. A. Collins, Edward Ryan,
William A. Cromwell and myself. We
started from Boston Friday, July 18, and
we're joined in Chicago by the Rev. Fathers
Riordan, Conway, eastman, Dunn, Noonan
and Dorney. We left Chicago for st. PAU
on the 21st on the Chicago & Northwestern
/ railroad. After one of the most enjoyable
rides ever had in my life, we arrived about
2 o'clock at orr destination. That evening
we called on Bishop Ireland, who gave US
cordial greeting. In fact might as we'll
say here that everybody we met was extreme
| ly glad to see us, and treated US accordingly.
Well, we reached st. Paul, and think I
have answered more than you asked for
Now, suppose you give Mr.. Collins cha ace,
| and let me smoke awhile"
It might be stated that General Donahus
is slightly int rested in the matter, being
connected with the colonization society.
Mr.. Collins, however, is not, and what he
8 Us may be relied upon as coming from a
man Of good common sense, and one who is
| not at all likely to exaggerate matters in the
least. The reporter, being thus admonished
by the affable general resharpened his pen
Gil and turned his whole attention towards
Mr.. Collins.
"What was the first colony you visited,
Mr.. Co lins?'' was asked.
"After we had had an interview with the
bishop we started for the
CATHOLIC COLONY OF GRANVILLE.
The Rev. Father Bruton acted as our
guide. The day after our arrival we started
for Lake Minnetonka, and then to Morris,
on the st. Paul & Pacific railroad. From
Morris we went in carriages to Gracevllle.
This place is situated thirty-o one miles west
of Morris, on the shores of Big-stone lake.
The ride across the prairie was very delight
full. There was regular beaten road, such
as we seen in the country towns of New
England. This colony of Graceville. was
founded in March, 1873, by Catholics, most
~ FROM the East, and was settled under the
auspices of Bishop Ireland. The lake is one
of the most beautiful that can be seen in this
port of the country. The houses are built
on the prairie about quarter of mile
from the water. The lake is fringed with
timber on both sides and nowhere else
can a tree of any kind be seen for
miles, nothing but one rolling mass of prai-
| RE. Ire lake is about thirty miles long and
eight wide. There are about 800 families,
all Catholics, settled here. You know that
the soil has to be "broken'' the year pre-
vious to its being planted, on account of the
long grass. We arrived there about harvest
time, and found the colonists busily engaged
in taking in the first crop. The chief arti-
cles raised are wheat, oats and barley for the
purpose of sale. o. course, quantities of
corn, potatoes and vegetables are raised for
their own use. Wheat, however, is grown in
large quantities, for this is the
FINEST WHEAT GROWING STATE IN THE UNION.
The soil is deep black and sandy loan,
with clay subsoil. From twenty to twenty
five bushels of wheat per acre are raised, and
a ready market is always to be found at
Morris, thirty one miles distant, so that if q
person weathers the first year he is certain
afterwards to support himself and save q
little money. As I said before, there are
300 families here. They have nice
church and a priest. 1t seems to
be the chief delight of these people, living
out here in the wilderness, away from ali
their friends and the pleasures of youth, to
attend mass on Sunday. The church, am
told, is always crowded on these days. There
are also several stores of various kinds here
doing small but yet comparatively lucra-
tive business. Each. man who settles mere
is allowed, either under the pre-emption act
or the homestead act, 16O acres. Here be
builds his house, and in Graceville there are
some fine houses. Some of them are painted
inside and out, and q few of them have been
plastered. Then the settler at once plants
his crops, and under the timber culture act
he is allowed another 16O acres. He is
obliged to plant timber on portion of this,
and the rest he may do with as best suits
himself. The second 160 acres is generally
selected as near the first as possible. Some
times it joins it, and it frequently happens
that it is situated some two or three miles
away. So that you see the houses are very
| far aDaft