Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-08
Another Letter from w. n. KING.
GRAND Forks, MAY "a, 80

also some portions of Minnesota, OF
which my former letter makes nc
mention. and thinking that my ex-
perience might be of some interest to
that portion of your readers who have
"western fever, will give a short
sketch, of what | have seen and my
way of looking at it. | left Fargo,
for Grand Forks, May I'd, ria Mime
apolis and Manitoba r. R. or rather
that branch of said railroad, which
runs north through Dakota parallel
! with Red river, and at a distance
averaging about twelve miles from it.
The day was beautiful; one of the
fairest of the season; the warm rays
of the sun being seasoned with a quiet
breeze sufficiently stimulating to
arouse ones energy and prepare him.,
Co view with an appreciative eye, the
beautiful Homesteads made by nature
for the express benefit of mankind be
he rich or poor. The country along
this line of road is level prairie, with
very rich soil extending on the east
to the river and on the west as far as
the eye can see. The whole length
of the road $50 miles) seems to be
one and the same kind. This portion
Of the country appears to be all settled
and about half of it under cultivation.
Various kinds of buildings may be
seen all over it, from sod shanty to
structures worth $4,000 Farms
from 100 to $4,000 acres are situate
near this line of road, most of which
have been settled but two years. The
farm of J. T. Lunt is situate
within half mile of this line and II
miles from Grand Forks, and within
three fourths of mile from a smart
town called Norton. Louis Thompson
(better known as Conductor) is pro-
prietor of a large farm in the same
neighborhood. Well may those land
owners be proud of their farms, &C
cepted as presents two years ago, now
legal tender for $50 per acre I
confess to be mostly taken up with
this world. and devote to little time
thinking heavenward, but will here
assert, that any being having arrived
at an age Of understanding and posses
sed of sound mind and good eyesight
who could travel through that partic-
ular belt of country, or in fact any part
of the Red River Valley without
thinging Of his God, at least inwardly,
for his forethought and execution in
preparing this garden of boundless
proportions, then instilliDg into the
minds of our national readers the idea
of donating it in suitable parcels to
all who ask for it, has neither a soul
nor room for gizzard. I arrived in
Grand Forks at 2 p. m, found it a
very lively place. They claim pop
ulation of 5000 To give you better
idea of its size will say it is about like
Stevens Point. both in amount of ter
ritory covered and style of buildings
1t probably does twice the business
the Point ever did and is increasing in
size very fast I met J. T. Lunt and
Henry Langord the day following my
arrival here Mr.. Lunt boards in the
city and speculates, while his farm is
run by employees. Mr.. Langord is in
the merchants bank. They both feel
at home here and are contented Mr.
Lunt having some leisure, showed me
around, gave me considerable informa-
ton of value to me, and although very
quiet as usual is free in giving his
good judgement to his former towns
men. [ remained in the Forks but
three days, went from there to Crook
ston, Mimi, to visit an old Grand
Rapidite, Dick Hussey. Crookston
in Mimi. is about 26 miles from Grand
Forks in a southwesterly direction and
situate on Red Lake river where the
Manatoba railroad crosses said river
on its way to Winnepeg. 1t is a
town of about 1000 Inhabitants in a
good farming country the same or very
similar to the land in Red river valley.
Red Lake river being a tributary to
the Red, uniting at Grand Forks.
The soil on both those rivers are very
much the same though the valley of
the Red Lake river is not SO vide.
| found my cousin "Dick" very soon
after arriving in town. Every body
seemed to know him. | knew him
readily, but he not me. Dick related
his experience since 1870 in the north
and west, the history of which was
very interesting. He has acquired an
independence in moneyed point
of view and endured many bard
ships. He looks well and is
not much changed. is mar
ried and has three boys, the oldest
seven. Him and one Bob Houston,
(also a former resident of the Rapids,
and relative of Tom Stevenson's)
are the founders of Crookstown and
have control of much of the real estate
there yet. They both spin big yarns
and one swears by the other. I re-
manned there four days, during which
time ! learned considerable of the
country both from observation and