The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-25


come about is strong within them. They have
watched for hundreds of years, but their eyes
are not yet dim nor their hearts faint. 1t is O
misty tradition, but 1t IS about all they have OF
hope in this world, and let iconoclasts keep
their hands off.
/ For The Free Trader.
THE VALLEY OF THE RED RIVER OF
u THE NORTH.
I The construction OF the Northern Pacific,
the St Paul. Minneapolis & Manatoba and
the ST. Paul & Pacific railroads, has attracted
much attention to this extensive, but until re.
Gently almost unknown, fertile valley; and as
IS well known, quite number OF our pro.
minsnt citizens have, during the past year, vi.
slted the lied River cnuntry and | believe
all bought lands there ii is not surprising that
in this vicinity there should be more enquiry
about that wonderful region than almost any
where else. 1t is for the benefit OF those who
desire information on the subject that | write
this article l would however advise no one to
depend on hearsay but to 60 and see for your
self What may please one man may not suit
another.
The Red River of the North commences at
the south end OF Lake Traverse, 40 miles north
and $50 miles west of st. Paul, and forms the
boundary line between Minnesota and Dakota
l for distance of over $50 miles On both sides
of this river lie belts of undulating prairie
lands extending back from % to 80 miles.
These lands very much resemble the broad
prairles of Illinois. The soil is black and rich
and from to feet deep and is admitted to be
the best wheat producing soil IN the world.
Oats and barley also yield largely and are sure
crops. Potatoes, turnips, beets peas and other
garden vegetables attain perfection there. Wild
grasses embracing all those found on the pra-
q hos XNf tl.N
varieties peculiar to that valley grow luxuri-
anty yielding abundance of superior hay and
pasture In the winter stock will do better on
! the dried up grasses there than on corn stocks
here The praries are rarely entirely covered
with snow Abundance of good water is found
| at - to 30 feet below the surface and arlesian
water ut from 40 to 200 feet Quite number
| of flowing wells were sunk last summer in the
vicinity of Campbell, Wilkln county, MINI,
one of the wells flowing 1000 gallons per min
ute from depth of only 81 feet.
-Four years ago this entire valley was almost
uninhabted: now 1t numbers its population
by tens of thousands immigration Is pouring
in from the eastern and western states. from
Canada, England and the continent of Europe.
Three railroads already traverse these fertile
regions and others ale fastening on iron the
east and south to secure a share OF the immense
amount of freight and travel so rapidly spring
ing up. A very large proportion the railroad
lands have already been sold " settlers, and
the ntermiXed government lands entered by
homesteaders and for timber claims Still
there are many excellent chances lett, and as
new railroads penetrate those broad plains
new towns will spring up and lands now re-
mote will be brought near to market
j. Immigration into the United States has ne.
yer exceeded that of the past two years. The
chief OF the bureau OF statistics gives the hum.
Der OF arrivals AT the various custom districts
of the U. S., for the year 1879, at 76S,4SO; and
says the arrivals in 1880 will greatly exceed
those OF the previous year: G9,S0S landing
during the single month of October last, and
that that month will fall short OF the monthly
average of the present year Most of1thosc i'm
mi grants are from the agricultural districts or
Europe and Canada, and are crowding in on
the already limited arabic public lands OF the
4 u. s. A French company have recently secu-
re, in Dakota, near the N. p RR, 10000 acres
of the finest lands in that territory which they
propose to colonize Immediately with settlers
from Alsace and Lorraine. Like colonies are
organizing IN England Germany Russia,
Sweden and Norway, and the time is not far
distant when all the tilable lands of the west
ern territories will be absorbed by this tide of
immigration
The chief products of the Red River valley
are wheat oats, barley, flaxseed and timothy
seed These cereals attain here their highest
perfection. Northern Minnesota wheat has
the reputation of being the best wheat grown
in the world. So highly Is it appreciated by
the milcrs of that state that combinations have
been formed to prevent SINCE bushe from go
ing out OF the state. Hence we find in the
market reports of the CAicago Times this re-
mark touching the wheat crop of Minnesota {:
"rhe milers of Minnesota have determined to
mill the immense crop of wheat OF that state
over 100000 bushels-themselves and
ship the flour to New York and Europe on di-
rect orders. Minnesota wheat has, therefore,
ceased to be u factor in this market"
The question is often asked, "WIll wheat
growing in the Red River Valley pay?' In
answer | would say that COED farming will
pay anywhere, but | think better there than
anywhere else that know OF, for this reason,
the wheat crop has never been known to fail
north of the great timber belt which runs east
and west little south of the centre of the state.
] There rust or blight never Injuries the crop
The chinch bug is also unknown-the soil is
too cold for them to propagate The yield OF
wheat per acre ranges from IL to AZ bushels
according to the condition the land is
in. The Cross brothers, near Campbell raised
last summer off Of 200 acres Of wheat and 80
dCTeS vi OutS cnouSH W pay III thc i"hu, iO'
several substantial houses and barns, all ex-
penses and few dollars over for pm money,
Mr. Hugaboom, of GAINESVILLE, Wis, had IN
400 acres of wheat, 100 acres oats and some
; barley; he hired all his work done, furnishing
his own teams and implements After the
season was over and everything settled up,
his books showed a net profit of 221s per cent
on his years investments. The earle broth
ers, also from GAINESVILLE, Wis, had IN 800
acres of wheat oats and barley. Owing to the
heavy rams and floods last June and the wet
weather IN the carly part Of July, much of
their wheat on the lower lands was drowned
out; yet they report net profit of 10 per cent
I, on the years operation. Inspeaklng of the
J Grandin farm, near Fargo, In Dakota, the
Fargo Argus says: