Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-26
For the Monitor.
LETTER FROM DAKOTA.
FARGO, DAKOTA TERRITORY
Anril 10th. 1880.

Aprll lUGn, lOOU.
Nj. Editor On my departure from
the east. so many friends and acquaint-
ances in Orleans County, wished me to
write them regarding this country, that
it would be almost impossible for me to
comply with their request without TAX
ing most of my time, so write you,
thinking perhaps, you may kindly give
my letter. or part of it. space in your
valuable paper, by means of which all
may gain the desired information.
arrived here on the morning of the
3lst, ult. after very tiresome journey Of
seventy-ive hours duration, exclusive of
six days stop in Detroit and two days
in Chicago In Michigan the grass was
looking quite green, but after passing
through Milwaukee. and all through Wis
consin the country looked as though it
had been visited by flood, and much
of it looked as though flood or almost
anything else would do it but little dam
age, though some of the scenery was fine.
Crossed the '.father Of waters at La
Crosse, and between that city and ST.
Paul the road follows its banks. On ar
irving at St. Paul the climate seemed to
change, and until after passing the
height of land between Brainerd and
this place, was quite wintry. Had
heard and read much about the beauty
of this country, and had supposed it to
be greatly exaggerated but as yet have
seen nothing to lead me to think the
favorable reports untrue. The valley
of the Red River of the North extends
from many miles south of this place to
Lake Winnepeg, and is from fifty to one
hundred miles in width, being about
seventy-6ve miles wide here, that is,
the prairie is seventy-fve miles wide
the valley proper being much wider. 1t
is over twenty miles east of here the
first curve in the railroad, and fifty-one
miles to the first one west The soil is a
black clay loan from twelve to thirty
inches deep, and appears to.be composed
of decayed vegetable matter. No stones
are found at less than 60 or 70 feet be-
low the surface. 1t is said to bear all
kinds of crops usually raised in this lat
itnde and yield an average of over twen-
ty bushels of No. l wheat per acre.
which. owing to the nearness to water
transportation brings o to Is cents per
bushel more than in States farther south.
To raise the wheat, the land is plowed
in May or June, and back-set, that is,
turned right back, except with two or
three inches of additional soil on top,
either in the fall or next spring, and
sown in the spring. This is said to
cost about $5 per acre. and harvesting
less than FIVE more, while wheat brings
from 70 to S1.O5 cents and sometimes
more per bushel. This is for the first
year, and for subsequent years the crop
is increased and the cost is $3.50 pei
acre less.
Fargo lies at the head of navigation,
at the point where the Northern Pacific
railroad enters the territory. 1t con-
tanned only three or four houses in 1872
but now has between 1900 and 300C
inhabitants and is growing more rapidly
than at any time in its history. There
are three large frst-class hotels. anc
eight or ten smaller ones, five churches
and a large number of stores and offices
all of kinds, and has one daily and foul
weekly papers. This being the point o
fitting out for settlers, business of al
kinds is lively, and there is a grea
chance for speculation here in almos
anything. Laborers of all kinds are il
demand, and get much better wage
than East, and everyone, even tn
table girl, has land claim of eithe
100 or 800 acres. About eight car
loads of emigrants per day arrive her
now, and nearly all invest in land
Everything is on the "boom" and i
seems as though in a few years thi
country must be as thickly settled a
any or the prairie countries. The onl
apparent set back it is likely to hav
is failure of crops, and none has oc
CURED since it was settled. Last win
ter was very severe one, and some feal
. ed spring so late that crops woul
not be got in in season to ripen, but i
the last few days things have change
and seeding is now progressing rapid
and all are hopeful. | visited james
town, a town SO miles west of here, las
week, and think of visiting Rawso
county, which lies south of here and
yet unorganized, next week. Intend
; take claim somewhere soon, under th
tree culture act, and of course hope
make something on it, and can lose nott
ing, for under that act one gets l6
acres with a present outlay of only fOu
teen dollars and can sell it in a ye;
= for more than that.
Fear Mr.. Editor that | shall trespa'
on your space, and weary your reade
if extend this letter; but will ei'
you a further description of the countl
including some of the unpleasant sid
of life here. next week, if you care