Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-04-14
Ghe frmmau.
For the Freeman.
Letter from Minnesota,


called from the cottonwood tree which
grows so readily and which seems TO
spring up spontaneously on the prairie !;
but, getting burned down every year by
the prairie fires, they never amount TO
anything.
This part of the state is comparatively
new, the earliest settlers coming into the
country about eleven years ago. 1t has
become settled to quite an extent, but not
\ thickly settled. The government land is
all taken up, and some of the railroad
land. by railroad land we mean that
land which the government gave to a
company that would build railroad
through II certain portion of country.
This land grant" includes every other
section of land, which puts a large amount
into such company's hands, where it can
lie for almost an indefinite length of time
without being taxed.
This is beautiful country to look at
an extensive rolling prairie with no
mountains to obstruct the view, so that
the feeling of one who visits the prairie
for the first time is that he is on the ocean
Il out of sight of land.
Though this is beautiful country to
(; look at, ii has not proved to be u fine coun-
a try to live in, Notwithstanding the many
glowing reports and extensive advertise
ments that have appeared to the contrary
in order that the country might be filled
up. The fact is, that for the last eight years
not a wheat crop has been raised in this
part of the country to amount to anything
This has been owing 10 grasshoppers and
drouth. As a natural consequence the
country is very poor, The people have
struggled hcrocally against starvation and
distress, hoping for better days to come.
The land is excellent, and other things
being favorable, there is no reason why
this shall not become rich country in
time. If this state Of affairs should ever
exist, this will be desirable place to live
in. As it is at present it would not be
4 II
locate here.
This region is noted for its large farms.
There are several which have hundreds of
acres under cultivation. At present these
large farms are a help to the country, as
they furnish employment to some of tine
poorer people, but the time will come
probably, when SO much land in the hands
of one or two men will be detriment.
Stock has been raised with more profit
than anything else. There is large
amount of unhroken prairie where cattle
can be herded, and grass can be cut most
anywhere. In fact, hay here takes the
place largely of wood for fuel. Wood is
~ very scarce on the prairie, and many peo-
pie are not able to buy it at five dollars
n and fifty cents and six dollars per cord
"A Probably the thought of burning hay en-
X trely, by the people of Vermont or any
h wooden country. would seem Incredible
a But necessity is the mother of invention,
and necessity compelled the people to in,
vent something to keep them from frccz-
ing.
Some one conceived the idea of twisting
hay into sticks or bundles to be used in
the place of sticks of wood, so that now,
in the country, this is quite general Gus
tom. When the hay is twisted and ready
for the stove it is in shape like one of the
old fashioned twisted Vermont doughnuts,
but nowhere near SO palatable, for have
M often heard ladies say, who were formerly
M from Vermont, that they believed it
would make their good sisters back in the
old state. or even an angel, get ugly and
cross to be obliged to burn hay" In the
severe cold weather it takes one large
4 share Of the time to twist hay and keep
the fire going. The impression is general
that there are coal beds in the ground, bu,
as yet they are undiscovered or undevel
n oped TO any extent.
"a Here, us elsewhere, you will find quite
number of Vermonters, which shows
that Vermont has tried to do her share tC
" multiply and replenish the earth
There is man in town by the name Of
"a William Mason, formerly from Washing
ton county, who is nearly ninety years OF
age.
The society here is fair; church and
school privileges especially in the town.
X are good; rather better, on the average,
think than the same size towns in Vernon
@ when left there six years ago.
M The church over which your correspond
n ent presdes this year has large and at.
tentlve congregation. One thing peculiar
n to this country is, that it has many back
sliders in it which come from tho east
They seem to leave their religion some
where on the other side of the Mississippi
river, if they ever had any to leave. They
seem TO forget that God is omnipresen
and omniscient; that lie is the God of tn,
west rs well us of the east Here let mt
whisper in the ear of the eastern breth
Az ren: BY the help of the Lord try an,
81 make better and more steadfast Christian
s to send us. When convenient send churcI
letters direct TO tine pastor and not Civ,
them to members to be worn out in tn,
pocket; OF else insist upon the letter bein:
handed in Immediately.
The past winler has been peculiar. Ou
extreme cold weather, with the mercur,
down1n the vicinity of forty degrees be
low zero, came in the month of December
January was remarkably fine, since whicl
time the weather has been exceedinol,
changeable, going suddenly from warn
to cold, from sunshine to rain and snow
The spring is the most backward bav,
seen in the state. Very little wheat Is ye
sowed, when heretofore by this time i
has all been put in. But it is not at al
discouraging, and the prospect is bette
now than it has been for years for ,