The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-12
From Minnesota.

CAMPBELL May 81, 1880.
When last wrote you we were IN the mids
of wheat sowing, Some few farmers got theil
crops in during the month OF April, but the
majority did not get through before the 18th
of May. We have had an exceedingly late
and wet season of it. yet all the lands that were
ready in the spring were sOwn. Last year the
spring was very early and dry. Nearly all
the wheat was sown in March, but owing to
the drouth was late in coming up; still il
yielded full average crop, This spring has
been extremely wet and late, but from present
appearances the prospect of big yield is I'm.
usually good Take the two years and they
| illustrate an important fact, and that is, that
this soil will stand almost any kind Of sea
son without injury to the leading crops. Wheat
! is different from corn. II may be sown while
the subsoil Is still frozen. II does just as well
if sown in mud AS on dry ground. Once in,
wet weather Under all these circumstances
corn would not rot In the ground The pecul,
lar character of this climate, too, allows long
time for seeding. There is scarcely ever any
difference in quality or yield between wheat
sown between the lst of March end the Goth
OF May. The late sowing dong quite as well
as the early.
Since the grass has started up on the pral.
ries the immigration into this region has as.
sumed quite different character from what
It was earlier in the spring. They all came
by rail Train load after train load came pour.
ing in from all parts of the world Now the
majority come IN wagons, driving their stock
with them. Day after day these old familiar
white covered wagons can be seen by the hun.
dreds Flooding along northward, accompanied
by horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and any mum,
Der Of women and children. Nearly all have
already secured lands or through agents have
claims located and provision made for them
TO 60 10 work breaking as soon as they arrive
at their destination Most of these movers are
from Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and South.
ern Minnesota, and are pouring into Eastern
Dakotah, Pembina QPem. bin.aw) and Mantle.
ba (Manitobaw) along the Red river as far
down As Winnipeg; and person not acquaint.
ed with this vast fertile region will be amazed
at finding SO many large, thrifty and well
bull, villages as are TO he seen along the st.
Paul and Manitoba railroad, down the Red
rlver valley north OF the Northern Pacific road
A few years ago this whole vast region was
scarcely known except to the hunter and trap.
per. Buiialoes by the million roamed over
these luxuriant pastures and thousands OF
them left there bones bleaching, scattered all
over these plains. Elk, deer and antelope are
still quite plenty even in this country; but the
plows have and sickle are driving all west
ward or northward aud perhaps after another
year their tracks will never again be seen IN
the valley. Their grazing grounds have been
turned into vast wheat fields and instead Of
the trapper ransscking this country on his
pony you see the inevitable commercial trav
eler, the vender Of patent rights and the light
ming road man on every train hurrying out to
the outer limits Of civilization to find new Gus
ltomers or dupes for his wares.
Our Ottawa men who have started in here
are beginning 70 make quite q show. Mr.
Brush has been driving things with q grea
deal Of energy. He has put up sufficient build