The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-02-20
FARGO CITY, CAP COUNTY,

DAKOTA, Feb. 1lth, 1880.
Mr., EDITOR Having received numerous
letters of inquiry from friends in Columbia
county, asking information of the Red Riv-
er Valley of the North, allow me to answer
the same through the columns of your most
valuable and widely circulated paper. The
Red River rises at lake Traverse flows north
and empties its waters into lake Winepeg,
Canada, through a valley sixty miles wide
and forms the eastern boundary of Dakota.
1t furnishes six hundred miles of navigation
from Fargo at the cropping of the Northern
Pacific Il. R,north to the British possessions.
The timber consists principally of oak, ash
elm, soft maple, box elder and cottonwood
The Maple, Elm, Rush, Wild Rice and
Chyenne Rivers are tributaries of the Red.
No fences required, no fertilizers necessary.
No stumps, no stones, soil deep rich loom,
easily and never failing. The climate of
northern Dakota is one of the most health
ful in the world, when | came here last
May | was suffering from weak lungs and
ague | have entirely recovered from their
effects and never felt better. Malarious dis
eases are entirely unknown here and the
bracing and tonic properties in the air is
good for weak lungs and consumptives. The
winters ere somewhat longer, but much more
agreeable and pleasant than in the Middle
States. The Northern Pacific r. r., is
finished and in operation from Duluth on
Lake Superior to Bismark on the Missouri
River distance of four hundred and fifty
miles and will undoubtedly be extended to
the yellow Stone next season. Thousands
of acres of Government land within from
ten to twenty miles of the railroad remain
open for homestead preemption or timber
culture claims on railroad lands can be
bought cheaply and on long time. But land
is rising in value very rapidly and in the
County ICass) much of it has doubled with
in the last year The immigration this
spring is expected to exceed any previous
year in the history of the west but should
it not be greater than last it will require all
the Government land within the railroad
limits from Fargo to Bismark. Northern
Dakota is conceded to be the greatest wheat
producing region in the world. This county
raised last year 800 600 bushels, spring
wheat, of which rated number one THE
price of the same at present is, wheat SLY,
oats 10, potatoes 70, corn and barley do,
equally well but wheat is king and compare
lively little else in raised. All kinds o
vegetables reach enormous proportions.
Some of the most remarkable features OF
descriptions, no angle worms, no nut bearing
trees or large fruit trees such as apple, pear,
cherry or plum. But we have wild grapes
plums, hops and Strawberries in great
great Dalrimple farm with its $4,000 acres
is located nine miles north of here. He is
Pennsylvania as is also Grant the post
master at Fargo and thirdly but not least il
! Bhorlemaign Tower of Pottsyille, who has
recently purchased 60, 600 acres and propose
to open a rival Bonanza farm, 4 more enter
| prsiug set of farmers can not be found thar
these now living in this valley. ! would ad
wise any one intending to move west an,
grow up with the country by all means t,
come to Red River Valley. A failure o
crop has never been known and grasshopel
do but little damage north of the 46 parallel
Farm hands in the spring receive $50 pei
month during harvest $40 to $50 and in the
fall during thrashing from $25. to $40. Me
chanics OF all kinds demand good wages bu
not eXorbitant. Pasterers are in demand.
was sorry indeed to learn of the defeat of A
X. Smith for sheriff for more honorable
and capable person for that office does no
live in the County. Politics is but little dis
cu.sed here as Uncle Sam appoints all ou
officers
Yours respectfully,