The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-03-04
WADE:Ma Q0UNTE:
AREA OF wAbENA COUNTY.

lnvia] ,6il capable of raising as good wheat
or 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
I 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
and several other small streams afford All
abundant supply OF pure water. Wells can
Re made at Il depth Of from II to 10 feet
LANDS.
There arc 100, 900 acres Of government land
in the county subject to pre-emption or
Homestead settlement. The Northern Pacific
;ailroad company has 50, coo acres for sale
at an average price Of $3.50 per acre and
specula,ors hold about 1000 acres which is
Tor sale at an average price OF $3.50 per acre.
Farms from either Of these sources are i'll
reach Of any who wish to purchase as they
can have plenty Of time to pay for them out
N the receipts OF their crops
POPULATION.
The population of the county is 100 COM
posed principally Of Americans with a few
Intelligent English, Scotch, German and
Norwegans. These figures, however, will
be too small by half by the time another
crop is harvested.
The climate of Northern Minnesota is ex.
sseedingly 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 a 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. lii 1878
1900 acres were under cultivation and in
1879 (last year) II, ,495 were under the plow
"r an increase of s ,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 % to 81 bush.
yields, largely. Corn is successfully raised
and a i kinds OF vegetables do excellent. III
1877 Wadena county carried off five premi-
INNS including the sweepstakes at the Min
neapolis Fair There are three towns in the
county along the N p railroad all of which
are doing Il good business and destined to be
ive-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, 1878,
and a building for the county officers has
"f the county seat are only about two in 4
thousand and exists only in the fertile imag-
lnation OF her enemies. The growth Of Wa
dena has been indeed rapid. In the year Of
1879 nearly $30,OUO we're expended in
hulidings which was more than double her
total valuation previous to that time. Out
OF III 900 bushels of wheat shipped from the
county in 1879 Wadena shipped 10000
bushels and owing to the scarcity of elevator
room in Duluth and the consequent inability
ut the railroad company to move the wheat.
. Wheat which naturally seeks this town ull-
der favorable circumstances was driven away
from her last fall. The amount which Was
thus lost to her last season is estimated at
zoo 900 bushels. These uliavorable circum
stances are. however, being removed this
year by the erection OF large elevators in
Duluth which is an almost certain Indication
that this town will regain this great trade.
1t 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 tile
latter condition. The regaining OF this trade
and the increased acreage in the - 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, GOO bushels ofgrain. Besides this
large amount Of trade the development o!
Minnesota's richest portion, the Shell River
prairies, will he another source OF trade for
Wadena and tile Importance of that country
may be- guessed at when it is known that
TOO claims are taken there and the best lands
yet to lie bought OF the r. +. company. The
business men OF Wadena have during the
past winter opened II road to this country
which travels the best portion of the county
Hnd many settlers have already taken claims
on the road. Wadella possesses three re.
ligious societies, Methodist, Episcopal and
Congregational, and atine large school house
presided over by accomplished teachers
The principal, Prof. George A. Whitney, is
also County Superintendent and is a man
deeply interested in the cause OF cducation
and is doing much to elevate our school
system. -
The population of the village is so rapidly
increasing that figures given to-day would
be much too small i'll few months hence
As az index to the business OF this town we
aeter the intelligent reader to cur adver!is-
ing coluhsns..
~: vEREDALE
fs the next town in size to Wadena and is
pleasantly located. 1t pvssesSes good
school house AND trst-clas teachers. Vern-
dale is enjoying fair growth and bids fair