Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-05-11
An Interesting Letter.
FARGO, D. L. April %,

your paper I will answer to the best
of my ability, a few of the many
questions contracted before leaving.
left Grand Rapids the 9th inst. in
company with Mr.. Ward, (Phil the
notorious Ward) and arrived at Wat
ertown, D. T. the following Wednesday
evening. While there I had the
pleasure of meeting a few old acquain-
tances from Grand Rapids, Archie
Weaver and W. E. Gardner, who are
now residents of that village and who
appear to be highly pleased with their
location. Mr.. Weaver's move to
Dakota has been a success without
any doubt, il is not hear say or i'm
agination, he has got the stamps for
fact; quite number of them too,
and from what I could learn, and |
was quite inquisitive, he has acquired
his stamps by honesty, industry and
good management: then to add to his
financial success be had the good for
tune to convince beautiful, accom-
plished and industrious young lady,
now called Mrs Weaver, that he was
worthy of her. They are nicely stu,
ated in a we'll furnished home; both
look happy and full of enterprise, she
is the best looking however; but we're
I not judge, [ would not mention it.
| Mr.. Gardner looks well and contented
he superintends quarter section of
land and has the reputation of being
| Watertown's boss shoemaker I re-
manned in Watertown but two days,
not being favorably impressed with
the country.
Had [ not been in the beautiful
valley of Red river and its tributaries
previous to going there, 7 might have
been more taken up with southern
Dakota, but [ have now seen both;
have been on farm a good share of my
life, have always had an ''eye single"
to soil and from my observation after
careful examination from Codington
Co. to Grand Forks, I consider the
northern part of the territory the best
by 100 per cent The soil between
Winona, MINI. and Watertown, D. T.
along the line of the Winona & St.
Peter railroad is composed of more
sand and gravel than is necessary for
farming purposes, very good possibly
for from three to six crops, by that
time the crop producing portion which
is on the top, gets mixed with the sand
by working the land and will soon be
absorbed by the crops, and leach
down through the gravel which under
lies the greater portion of the land in
the southern half of Dakota, leaving
pure sand on top with only gravel to
back it. IT'S true, that many streaks
in that country has good clay sub
soil, but such is only in streaks and
spots. being the exception and not the
rule.
l arrived in Fargo three weeks ago
tomorrow, was here just in time to see
the high water; the highest that it has
been known in ten years, so [ am in
formed. 1t frightened some people
who were transcients like myself away.
1t looked wet tits true, and aoas ,vet
in low places along the Red river, and
some of its tributaries, but not to be
compared with our floods one and two
years ago. Instead of the rush and
roar of the Wisconsin. the Red
river slowly fills up its banks and when
full quietly and peaceably loans what
it cannot modestly cary away with
out destroying property in the level
and fat prairie land which extends
along its banks, in some places back
three miles, but with no current.
Thousands Of acres of the very best
of wheat land was covered with water,
and some places to the depth of four
feet during my stay here. And now
most of the same land is seeded and
ready to yield in due time from 20 to
30 bushels per acre of No. 1 hard
wheat
If [ was competent to describe this
country, [ could soon be wealthy, for
such ability is in great demand, and
even one with the ability would have
task if he did it justice; however
10 my way, I'll make as good an at
tempt as Ward did at preaching. The
Red river of the north heads in BIG
Stone Lake, or lake Traverse which is
situate about 70 miles south of Fargo
and is called the Bots de Sioux until
1t forms junction with the Otter Tail
river, at city called Wahpeton which
is forty miles south of Fargo thence
flows nearly due north dividing Min
nesota from Dakota and being the line
between said State and Territory from
its source to the British possessions.
1t is stream averaging about II rods
in width and has uniform depth of
about six feet in its channel. The
water is not as clear as most streams
in Wisconsin. but on the contrary,
presents a rather muddy appearance