The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-26
A CRADLE OF PROSPERITY.
HOMES FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS FARMER
IN THE GREAT VEST.
Richness OF the Public Lands In Dakota and
hontanR-How Poor Man Can Get
Rich-WaRes OF Lnborcrs and Mechanics.

| FORT hEOGH Montana, March 2.-Ino
Northern Pacific Railroad extends through tho
richestcountry in the United States. From Lake
Superior to the Pacific arc the finest lands that
have been opened up to us by any road. The
Government. with Its liberal offers. puts 1t
within tho power Of any man TO become land
holder and q wealthy settler there. All along
the route OF this great railroad thriving towns
and villages IRE springing into existence. From
| Duluth westward for 1856 miles the surface OF
the country is rolling and covered with dense
growth of timber-eSceent pine predominant
ing These forests contain great variety OF
woods. and 1t will not be many years before
this valuable timber will be utilized by manu-
facturers. Millions Of feet are now sawed
annually and furnished to settlersTat reason
able prices. These numbering interests give
| employment to thousands Of men, espcci-
ally during the winter season. and settlers who
during the cold season have no occupation can
readily obtain employment in the woods.
Two hundred and ffty-three miles from
Lake Superior on a line marked due west. the
Red River OF tho North Ia encountered and the
famous valley country is entered. Here there
is little timber. but the remarkable soil pro-
duces the best wheat in the world. The Red
River valley extends nearly 200 miles north and
south and from thirty to fifty miles east and
west. on line between Minnesota and Dakota.
Minnesota is one OF the most prosperous States
in the Union. and offers great inducements to
settlers 1t is wisely and economically gov
erned: the taxes are light; there is q public
school fund amounting to several millions OF
dollars and the State holds large amount Of
land which is devoted to the cause Of education.
Leaving Minnesota. We come to the great
Territory Of Dakota. This Is u paradise for
emigrants. 1t is great country only lately
redeemed from the sway Of the savage 1t is
larger than all the, New England States with
ago, where there was nothing to see but the
rolling prairie and the tall grass that covered
porous and happy. it does seem strange that
men will live in portions OF Virginia and North
Carolina and exc out scanty existence
from the WORKOUT soil with the aid of fertil-
i2ers when here land can be had for the as king
and the ground will yield abundanty almost
West is. Sow, and ye shall surely reap" and
1t is, certainly true in this Territory. The
prairie. turned 10 the light of the sun. is OF
rich black color and might be termed. If such
phrase could be used. fatty black In the
valleys and along the border; Of the streams S
is, one vast fertile iield. covered. except
The soil is good everywhere. and the surface
is most favorable for farming. The best and
from TS wsn uTy G ee .t' hs s6
speaking. IL Il rich deposit OF black vegetable
loan from two 10 six feet deep. containing the
Ingredients necessary to the production Of ali
species Of grain and root crops in the greatest
perfection and abundance. II is certain that
1t produces wheat, barley. and oats, which are
acknowledged by the largest dealers and con-
sumers 10 be uneqdalled on the continent: 1t
largest wheat farms in the world are located
While these extensive farms yield from twenty
I'VE 10 thlrty-ivc bushels of wheat to the acre
the small, carefully cultivated farms produce
IRON quarter TO nal; more. a man can Gull
b airy n yTe w the the
There is strong probability that Da kota will
hejividedb by the lG;h rarall lei Of north latitude
states Of the Union. 1t is north of the 10th
parable! in this great Territory that the grand
est wheat farms in the world are located
The country rolls north toward the British
line, with nothing 70 break the eyewitness OF the
sHrtace sSSePt the rolling nature Of the prairie
inhabited by the buffalo oniy, or by herds Of
antelope. In some places. for many miles the
landscape is as level IA the top Of table. and
objects can, be- distinguished at u great dis
lance with the naked eye. even though they he
farm Is here. with ,nearly, thlrty-hve thousand
H H in WHEAT ai2ns, Maplset9n. Cqsselton
town are in this part Of the Territory. The
latter is quite an extensive place has mum.
goes 70 make up the necessaries Of large city
L is delightfully."- situated on the James River
Two trains arrive there dlily-one from the
East and the other from the West.
springs. the vast Troy Farm in KiQder, County,
and then reach Bismarck. on the Missouri
River sight Of the immense wheat, fields
alone repays visit to the golden Northwest
but added TO ii are innumerable other attrac-
tons either FOR the sportsman or the settler
FOR the iormrr every vnristy OF game abounds
| lope. jack rabbits. Canada gray geese white
and gray brant malard, canvasback teal. and
other varieties of ducks; snipe., swan. crane.
/ plOvers. grouse, and prairie chickens. For the
/ latter are still greater allurements. A man with
5000 can make good start anywhere. II he
desires to settle along the line Of the railroad
he can purchase land from that corporation or
from thSa overment. 90 ,oo, ,o,
$50 acres of Government and, railroad l.nis
were taken up in Dakota and Montana. Dur
ing the six years that the country has been
, opene,. there has never been failure OF crops.
The wheat produced in these two Territories
has attained such q reputation that it will be
the demand for 1t. 1t costs from 80 to IS cents
per busheI to raise wheat here. The selling
4 farm is soon paid for with such profits The
Government sells its lands to settlers at 20 50
per acre. and the Northern Pacific Railroad
offers its lands for sale nj the same figure,
charging ten cents per acre additional for the
cost Of selecting surveying. and conveying said
its offers. The Presumption law gives to airy cit.
izcn Of tine United states, and to those who
l6p acres OF land within the limits Of land
granted TO any railroad company at $40 per
acre. or outside OF railroad limits al 1925 per
acre, on condition OF permanent improvement
and continued residence for one year The
HQmesirnd law grants to the settler outside OF
/ railroad limits 100 acres, or within the limits
/ lGO acres, on condition of permanent improve
mept and continued Residence tor five years
| without cost. except Land Office fees which do
not exceed ais for 100 acres. An exception TO
the demands OF the Homestead law is made in
! favor Of hunurably discharged soldiers and
marines, they heing allowed to take 100 acres
within railroad limits. and the time they were
in the service of the United States, not to eX-
| coed four years is deducted from the five years
residence required by the law.
The Timber Culture act provides that any
| citizen Of the United States or those who have
declared their intention TO become such. can
| make an entry of not 20 exceed GQacTes either
! within or without the limits OF n railroad grant
! on condition that ne-siNteonth of the land so
taken shall he planted with trees. cultivated
and protected for eight years. when fnal proof
can be made and patent secured. Under the
| operation ut these laws any settler can secure
| from 2iQ to 800 acres Of land at most triting
| cost. The very liberal law OF the Government
| protecting forest tree culture on the Western
| praries is supplemented by law Of Dakota
! which provides that for every five acres Of tim
| Der in cultivation forty acres. with all the i'm
| proNementS thereon. not exceeding / 900 in
value. shall be exempt from taxation Tor Pc
| Rod OF ten years rom the time Of planting
| Another law Of the Territory provides that no
land shall be- deemed increased in value for as.
sessment purposes by reason OF such timber
culture. no matter how much its real value may