Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-08

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back for miles being the level of the
country. The soil is sandy, joan on
top mixed with gravel and stone. The
subsoil gravel with streaks of clay,
and such appears to be the
nature of the whole of Dakota
except in the Red river valley and the
valleys of the streams tributary there
to. In fact | am now we'll satisfied
that there's but one Red riysr vaEev
and that valley don't ertend all ouer
Dakota, on the contrary is only about
sixty miles wide, and that if a person
wants A No. L land he has to get
inside those limits. Many are settling
in those new countries outside this
valley are satisfied and think it good,
and great deal OF it is fair land, but
my advice is to anyone who wants
land for farming purposes, and that
seems to be its only resource so far is
to get it in the Red river Ualtey, and
the nearer the river the better and
any where between Big Stone Lake
and the British possessions will do.
[ have been near Big Stone Lake and
also nearly to the northern boundry of
the states along this valley and find
no great difference in the
climate. The season seems about as
far advanced in seeding one place as
another and the farther north the bet
ter for wheat is a question now fully
settled here. Government land in
this valley, and in fact for miles outside
of it, are entered but plenty are here
who, for small amount Of money will
relinquish their right to choice pieces
of land and allow you to file on same
in their stead, besides there are east
ern capitalists who purchased in an
early day large tracts as we'll as the
railroad companies still own some good
lands from both of which parties you
can buy good land at from $3.50 to
S15 500 per acre, by paying from 10
to % per cent down, balance in yearly
installments interest on deferred pay
ments at from 7 to 10 per cent. To
those who wish claims direct from Un-
Gle Sam, want to 60 to the front, |
will say that the government is survey
ing as fast as can be expected, they
are now surveying west of here near
DEVILS Lake and from what [ can
learn there's some good land there, and
much bad, decidedly so, but if you
want to take chances on a selection
and possibly you may get claim that
will be in time needed for Town site.
such things are happening here every
day nearly, "why go in and if you
are not familiar with the law governing
those donations, see this copy:
The.laws of the United States. as
recently amended, provide that citizens
Of the United States, or persons who
have declared their intention to be-
come such. who are heads of families
or over the age of twenty -one years.
can obtain public lands of the United
States under the homestead, pre-emp-
ton, or timber culture acts, in the fol-
lowing manner, viz:
1st. A citizen, or one that has de-
clared his intention to become such,
can homestead 100 acres by filing his
application and affidavit, and within
six months thereafter commencing set
Element and improvement, and contin-
uing the same five years.
A soldier having served in the army
or navy during the war of the rebellion
for over ninety days can obtain 100
acres of any of the public lands by fiji
ing (himself, or by an Attorney, a
declaratory statement and within six
months thereafter filing his affidavit
and application, commencing settle
ment and cultivation, and continuing
the same for five years, less the time he
served IN the army or naUy. Such
time in no case to exceed four years
His widow can take advantage of the
above. In case of his death in the
army, the term of his enlistment is de-
Quoted.
I'd. A citizen. or person who has
declared his intention to become such,
is entitled to 100 acres under the pre-
emption law, by commencing settle
ment thereon, and within ninety days
thereafter filing a declaratory state
ment continuing such settlement and
improvement.
Sd. Any person qualified as above,
who shall plant, protect and keep in a
healthy. growing condition for eight
years, ten acres of timber on any quar-
ter section or FIVE acres on any legal
subdivision Of eighty acres, or two and
a half acres on any legal subdivision OF
forty acres or less, shall be entitled to
patent for the whole of said quarter
section or legal subdivision of eighty
or forty acres, at the expiration of said
eight years, on making proof of such
fact by not less than two credible wit
| nesses.
To those who would care to know
about the cities and towns, their rela-
tive size compared with each other now
and their chances in the future com,
paratively, [ will give the following
viz:
Fargo, LIST. having about 1000 inhab
itants. Grand Forks. I'd, about 5000
JAMESTOWN, Sd. about 1900. Wahpe-
ton, 4th, about 1900. Grafton, 9Th,
about 500. Lorimore, 9th, 500.
The first two mentioned are cities,
the others are called towns From all
appearances [ should Judge they will