The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-09-15


The farmer, therefore, transplanted often,
from one locality to another, like the vigor-
Gus plant or tree when lifted from its place,
is sure TO be checked in his progress, if he
do not meet with almost total failure. | do
not mean to say the farmer never should
move. If he has had the misfortune Of first
settling on unpropitious soil, the sooner he
seeks to improve his condition the better,
but let him take heed that second mistake
is not made, and be certain that the change
means improvement. There are exceptionally
few localities that do not present some dis
advantages to the most skilled and industri-
GUS farmer. There are everywhere obstacles
to be overcome to stimulate his zeal and
awaken his energies.
During the past summer | have had an
opportunity Of seeing much of the North
west, and have seen it in its best array
have passed over the whole length of the
Red River Valley of the North, have seen
the boundless prairies of Dakota, the marvel
GUS wheat-felds of Minnesota, much of Iowa
and some of Nebraska, and have returned
to Southern Wisconsin firmer than ever in
my conviction that our lot is cast in the most
favored spot of the entire Northwest. Unjust
congratulate the farmers of Kenosha County,
who enjoy every advantage that ought to
insure to the farmer success. You have
fertile soil, an advantageous market, a
healthy climate, and every religious, educa-
tional and social advantage You have fuel
in abundance, or at a reasonable price,
building material of every description within
the reach of all no billiards., no tornadoes,
no hailstorms, no destructive floods, and the
soil will readily respond and supply almost
any crop you demand assure you, in my
opinion, and have seen and closely observed
much Of the country, we live in a section
that well may be called "The Garden of the
West"
Some special kinds of grain may bring
better returns, for the present, in parts of
Dakota and Minnesota. But the wheat crop
is their only crop. When this fails, and fail
it may at any time, nothing is left to the
disconsolate farmer. Here some part of the
crop is always success, for everything will
grow. They will tell you great and wonder
full tales Of the fertility of the Red River
valley, of their wonderful wheat, "No. l,
hard" If you drop a suggestion that the
climate is little cruel, their manner is very
suspicious; you begin to feel that you are
little too inquisitive, or are touching on
family secrets, for, evidently they prefer not
to discuss the climate: they advance some
theories about dryness of atmosphere, but
are ill at ease until they return to their great
source of glory, 'No. l hard When you
ask about storms and billiards., they shrug
their shoulders in an uncomfortable way and
tell of their fertile soil, five feet deep, and
finish with "No. hard
The Red River valley produces excellent
wheat, but no better than southern Wiscon-
sin sent to market forty years age, and it
produces nothing else. but floods
Unless nature departs from its accustomed
ways, the Red River valley is destined, every
spring, to an inundation, by no means pleas
ant, for the Red River, with all its tribu-
taries, is tbawed out at the source long be-
fore it opens at the mouth, and its waters
escape over the adjoining country. AS a
rule, the farmer can never be successful
who deals only in specialties he fares best
where every essential product for human use
will measurably prosper. This condition Of
things is met with here in southern Wiscon-
sin. The farmer who is not successful here,
it is safe to say, has little reason to hope for
brighter prospects in any other locality.
Land here commands higher price, it is
true, than on the prairies farther west, al
though here land is comparatively cheap;
but all the products of the land also com.
mand a better price, and the farmer is bet
ter rewarded for the seasons toll.
The same industry, thrift, economy and
frugality will bring here a better reward.
Many of the first settlers of southern Wis
consin are with US still, and can tell us
what they endured in early days in build
ing here a home. Many, too, of the noble
pioneers have been called from the scenes of
their honest labers, and have left an honored
name behind them.
Although the inconvenience they suffered
in early days we're great, yet they we're rich
ly rewarded, every season, by bounteous