The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-03-18
W:ADEN:A COUNTY.
AREA OF WADENA COUNTY.


s45, 600 acres, composed OF prairies and !
groves of timber, the prairies being rich al
luvial soil capable Of raising as good wheat |
~ other cereal crops As any land in the Uni |
ted States or Territories.
TIMBER AND WATER.
The amount Of timber land in the county
is estimated at 100 900 acres consisting of oak
elm, maple and ta,narack in the southern
portion and pine in the northern portions.
The Crow Wing, Shell, Leaf, Wing, Red Eye
Partridge and Cat rivers, and Union Greek
md several other small streams afford al
abundant supply Of pure water. Wells can
,e made at a depth of from - to Is feet.
There are 100 900 acres Of government land
il the county subject to pre-emption or
homestead settlement. The Northern Pacific
railroad company has O,G00 acres for sale
:. sn average price Of $3.50 per acre and
speculators hold about 81, ,0O0 acres which is
for sale at an average price OF $50 per acre.
parms from either Of these sources are in
reach Of any who vi ish to purchase as they
.~n have plenty Of time to pay for them out
>t the receipts Of their crops
POPULATION.
The population of the county is 2,100 COM
posed principally Of Americans With a few
intelligent English, Scotch, German and
Noewegians. These figures, however, will
ee too small by half by the time another
crop is harvested.
The climate Of Northern Minnesota is ex.
,eedingly healthy, being dry, pure and
steady. The summers are simply delightful
with long twilights and cool evenings. The
winters are about the same length as in
northern New York with the advantage of
being more steady. The mercury runs per-
haps little lower, but the cold is not A. 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 Qast year) Il, ,495 were under the pillow
an increase Of S,495 acres. Tie average
yield Of wheat is from II to 20 bushels to
the acre, although our good farmers find no
difficulty il producing from 25 to 81 bush.
els per acre. Rye natures in 80 days and
yields, largely. Corn is successfully raised
1877 Wadena county carried of five premi-
ANS including the sweepstakes at the Min
neapolis Fair There are three towns in the
county along the N 2 railroad all OF which
.re doing u good business and destined to be
|ive-go-ahead towns. The county seat and
largest town in the county is
WADENA
xhich was created the county seat by an act
'f the legislature appro 7ed Feb. 2lst, 1873,
and building for the county officers has
been erected here. The chances for removal
Of the county seat are only about two in =
thousand and exists only in the fertile imag
ination OF her enemies. The growth of Wa
aen* has been indeed rapid In the year OF
1879 nearly 100000 were expended in
buildings which was more than double her
.,tal valuation previous to tina. time. Out
Of l4l 900 bushels of wheat shipped from the
county i'll 1879 Wadena shipped ll5,0O0
bushels and owing to the scarcity Of elevator
room in Duluth and the consequent inability
af the railroad company to move the wheat.
Wheat which naturally seeks this town. un-
der favorable circumstances E AS driven away
from her last fall. The am6nnt which was
thus lost to her last season is estimated at,
100 ,0C0 bushels. These unfavorable circum
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 trade.
It lays entirely in the hands OF the 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 10 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 400, 600 bushels Of grain. Besides this
large amount Of trade the development OF
Minnesota's richest portion, the Shell River
prairies, will he another source OF trade for
Wadena and the Importance of that country
may be guessed 1T when it is known that
700 claims are taken there and the best lands
yet to be bought OF the r. R. company. The
BUSINESS men OF Wadena have during the
past winter opened 4 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
Iigious societies, Methodist, Episcopal and
Congregational, and fine large school house
presided over by accomplished teachers
The principal, Prof. 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
A1stem.
The population of the village is SO rapidly
increasing that figures given to-day would
lie much too small in few months hence.
AZ an index to tue business Of this town we
refer the intelligent reader to our adversis-
ing columns,
VERNDAL8
is the next town in size to Wadena and is
pleasantly located. 1t pvssesses good
school house and tirst-class TEACHERS Verl,-
dale is enjoying fair growth aud bids fair