Morris tribune., 1880-09-23
Breckenridge, WaHlpet0M, Fer
gus Falls and vicinity, as
seen by our PrOdigaI.

Passing on from Campbell over low
wet prairie ride of sixteen miles brings
us to the well known town of Brecken-
ridge, where the government have signal
service station. 1t is il town of two or
three hundred inhabitants, located at the
confluence of the Ottertail and Cheyenne
or Boisde-SiouX rivers, the latter flowing
i'll from the south, being the outlet of lake
Traverse, the Ottertail coming in from the
east making short elbow turn and running
north the two forming the Red river of
the north. The Cheyenne is a sluggish
stream, while the Red river has IL swift
| current, is mar. ow, not much wider than
the Erie canal, is from six to eight feet
deep, banks II stiff clay soil and quite alb
rupt. Why it is called the Red river l
cannot imagine, us the water mirage, lifts
the forest in mid air, it is beautiful sight
to behold, many miles ahead over the
faultlcss prairie. This region of country
is said to be the highest point Of tillable
land ON the continent, here the water flows
south emptying into the Gulf of Mexico,
north into the Hudson bay, east into the
Atlantic and west into the Pacific oceans
breckenridge lies nestled in behind u
beautiful grove of forest trees which skirt
the river on the north side of the town.
just opposite, on the west side of the
Cheyenne. in Richland county, Dakota, is
the booming" town of Nahpeton, which
has grown up to be quite u village within
the last twelve months. The town site is
much better than Breckenridge, being
higher, richer soil and producing better
crops. They have II very entcrprising
class of people and are bound to outrival
the old and well known town of B. Both
towns have IA good local paper, thorough
business men, but are greatly in need of
good hotel Accommodations. The st. Paul,
Minneapolis Il Manitoba railroad, has
taken the great Philadelphians advice Ego
west" ana at Breckenridge have crossed
the Cheyenne, invaded the great territory
of Dakota pushing on northwestward, and
the iron horse will soon be heard and seen
speeding his way onward over the grandest
country in the world.
Here.is Il sample of the productiveness
Of the soil i'll kichland county. -Four
miles west OF Wahpeton, MIR. Ansel Owen
owns, or did own, 100 acres, forty OF
which was to wheat, averaging thirty two
aud one half bushels per acre, eighteen
acres OF oats, eighty-three bushels per acre,
1ve to barley, fifty five bushels per acre,
and six acres OF grass cut twenty tors OF
hay. lie recently sold his farm for $500
to Mr.. David johnson, an Englishman
who came over with his family this season
$ From Breckenridge We went up on the
north side of the Ottertail thirty miles to
Fergus Falls, which is located on thi:
stream and is one oi the finest towns i'll the
state, having a spenGin water power and
r several mills in operation. The town il
: building up rapidly, several blocks and
] large residences III course of construction
b al the present time. The offices and bust
t ness houses assume Metropolitan style
Y Here the land office Is located and is under
r the management OF one of the most efficient
c public men in the state, lion. Soren Listoe
t Twelve miles south of Fergus is the vel
r known New York settlement, a colony
s that located there some nine years ago, or
! II high rolling prairie. We stopped over
$ night with the well known Davenport
b family, where every thing moves off like
2 clock work, this being one of the bes
, regulated households in all the land, every
{ thing neat and tidy. These settlers have fine
G homes and good improvements. A milt
9 further west we ascend u high ridge which
extends north and south for number Of
+ miles. From this ridge westward YOU
overlook for miles, thousands aud thou
q sands of acres of perfectly fiat land. Camp
!: bell is right ut your feet apparently, ant
!. yet you travel eleven miles to reach the
]. town. New farm buildings can be seer
G in all directions and nearly every foot Of
Y land is taken.