The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-02-26
ORGANIZATION AND GROWTH

haps little lower, but the cold is not as dis
agreeable or penetrating.
ORGANIZATION AND GROWTH.
The county was organized by an act of the
Legislature approved Feb. 2lst, 1873, and in
1874 the population was about 300. In 1878
1000 acres were under cultivation and in
1879 (last year) II ,495 were under the plow
or an increase OF 8,495 acres The average
yield OF wheat is from II to 20 bushels to
the acre, although our good farmers find no
difficulty il producing from Is to 81 bush
els per acre. Rye natures in 80 days and
yields, largely. Corn is successfully raised
and Il 1 kinds of vegetables do excellent. In
1877 Wadena county carried OF five premi-
INNS including the sweepstakes at the Min
,eapolis Fair There are three towns in the
county along the N railroad all Of which
are doing Il good business and destined to be
Iive-go- ahead towns. The county seat and
largest town in the county is
WADENA
which was created the county seat by an act
OF the Legislature approved Feb, 2lst, 1873,
nnd Il building for the county officers has
been erected here. The chances for removal
ofthe county seat are only about two in IL
thousand and exists only in the fertile in,ag-
tlena has been indeed rapid In the year OF
1879 nearly $50 600 were expended III
buildings which WAS more than double her
total valuation previous to that time. Out
Of l4l 900 bushels of heat shipped from the
county III 1879 Wadena shipped us 5000
bushels and owing to the scarcity of elevator
room in Duluth and the consequent inability
Of the railroad company to move the wheat.
Wheat which naturally seeks this town'un-
der favorable circumstances was driven away
from her last fall. The amount which WAS
thus lost to her last season is estimated at
2O0,O 900 bushels. These uniavorable ciycum
stances are. however, being removed this
year by the erection OF large elevators in
Duluth which is al almost certain indication
that this town will regain this great trad,.
1t lays entirely in the hands ofthe Northern
Pacific managers to drive it away or to re-
gain it and their policy assures us that they
will adopt steps to realize the benefits OF the
latter condition. The regaining OF this trade
and the increased acreage in the l9 town.
ships in Wadena and the northern portions
Of Todd and Otter Tail counties will give to
this town for the fall of 1880 the trade of at
least 4O0, 600 bushels of grain. Besides this
large amount o: trade the development of
Minnesota's richest portion, the Shell River
prairies, will he another source of trade for
Wadena aid the Importance OF that country
may he guessed at hen it is known that
200 claims are taken there and the best lands
yet to be bought or the Il. r. company. The
business men OF Wadena have during the
past winter opened road to this country
which travels the best portion of the county
and many settlers have already taken claims
ON the road. Wadena possesses three re
ligious societies, Methodist, Episcopal and
congregational, aud fine large school house
presided over by accomplished teachers.
The principal, Prot. George A, Whitney, is
also County Superintendent and is man
deeply interested in the cause of education,
and is doing much to elevate our school
system,
' The population of the village is so rapidly
increasing tlbat figures given to-day would
be much too small in a few months hence.
Az an index to the business OF this town We.
refer the intelligent reader to .ur advertis-
ing columns.
vERNDALE
is the next town in size to Wadena and is
pleasantly located. 1t possesses good
school house and tirst-class teachers. Vern-
dale is enjoying fair growth and bids fair
to he quite q village. She now has three
general stores, l hardware store, l drug
store, 2 blacksmith shops, l shoe shop, /
butcher shop, 2 lumber yards and a news
paper. .:.,. !, -.~.
- ALDRICn.
This bright little village mas future pros
pect which has been to some extent over
looked by many, but the :ime is not far dis
tant when she will spring INTO activity in a
manner which will surprise even, her best
friends. Possessing as she. does the trade OF
\ large district of timber and farming land
she has in addition the. Partridge, river
which flows swiftly hv on the western edye