The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-05-01
From Minnesota.
CAMPBELL, Mimi, April 20, 1880

CAMPBELL MINI, April 2O, lSSO.
THIS town is located on the st. Paul and Pa
cihc Railroad, two hundred miles northwest
Of St Paul and about ten miles east Of the
foot of Lake Traverse, and about six miles
south of what is known as the big bend in the
Red River, commonly called the Otter Tail
branch of the Red River.
The surrounding country consists Of one
vast eXpanse Of prairie, quite level but well
drained by gulies or cooleys, as they are
called here. These drains conduct the water
into larger streams, which empty into small
lakes covering from 100 to 1000 acres each.
These lakes are again connected with others
until at last an outlet is formed either into the
Red River, the Border Sioux or the Yinneso.
Ia river. Lake Traverse forms the head waters
ward and emplies into Red River near Breck.
lnrldge 10 miles north of here. Five miles
south of the head of Lake Traverse IS the head
or north end of Big Stone Lake, from which
the Minnesota river flows southwark until it
empties INTO the Mississippi at Fort Smelling
Ave miles above St Paul Thus it will be seen
that Campbell is situated on the dividing ridge
between the waters flowing north and south
The eastern part Of this county (Wilkins) and
particularly that portion traversed by the Red
River is quite hilly, lntcrspersed with numcr
Gus small lakes nestled among the ridges and
by narrow strips or borders Of
timber. Most of the tillable lands in this sec.
ton were settled up some eight or ten years
ago, But the western part Of the county,
in an Indian reservation, and was
excluded from settlement. Since
the Indian title has been extinguished rail
roads have sought these fertile regions and
settlers have rushed IN by thousands Within
three or four years nearly every acre of gov.
eminent and railroad lands has been taken
by settlers and to-day the hardy tillYs OF the
soil can be seen in every direction breaking up
the Wild prairie preparatory to converting it
into wheat fields.
The soil of this great valley is wonderful In
It's fertility. 1t is black and deep-partaking
Of the character of the rich bottom lands of
Illinois 1t contains all the necessary ingredl-
ents for the perfect development of the wheat
the superior quality Of northern
Minnesota wheat. In conversing with resi-.
dents here who have lived in eastern part of
tins county, have been informed that for the
last fifteen years not single failure in the
wheat crop has occurred The yield usually
runs from fifteen to thlrty-tve bushels to
the acre, according TO the condition OF the
ground before seeding.
The immigration this spring has vastly sur
passed all previous years; and land which but
a few months ago was selling by the railroad
at from $3.50 to 800 per acre are
now held at from 81 to $40; and should the
wheat crop this year prove an average or fair
one this whole vast region will be under the
pillow in another season. There Is one thing
about the settlers who are filing up these
beautiful valleys and that is, they are general
class farmers Some have already built fine
houses and barns and have their farms well
stocked with all kinds of domestic animals.
The climate here, like in every other coun-
try have ever visited, is various. Last spring
planting and seeding was nearly all through
by the middle of April. This spring is late
one aud but few farmers are over half through
seeding yet and for the past ten days we have
had snow and rain almost necessarily, so that
few expect to get through before the Goth
May But there is one thing about tins cOun
try and that is, it never gets overly not in sum.
mcr 40 that wheat sown late Is seldom affected
injurlously by hot weather As is the case in
more southerly portions Of the country. The
main disadvantage of getting crops in late is
the brief time left for fall plowlng after n
late harvest, and all blowing should be done
in the fall so as TO be ready to get your wheat
IN quickly IN the spring.
have taken some pains to study the advan.
tagcs and Disadvantages of the vast arabic cx-
panse of the West and have come to the con.
cusIon that the lands through this portion of
the great West are preferable to MI Others
have not time now TO fully give nay reasons
why think So, but will SIMPLY say that We
are nearer u rcmunerative market for our pro.
ducts than almost any other part of The pub
he domain and our wheat is more valuable
and less bulky than corn aud does not require
more than half As much labor to produce it,
opportunity offers will wri,eyou more as
there Is much of interest that can be said OF
this great country NJ. O.
MANS Noblest Work.
There IL an age Of great works and wonderful
inventions. Steam electricity, water air, al
are made 10 serve man, but uuquestiouably th,
greatest inventions are those which prc,cry,