Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-21
HELENDALE STOCK FARM.

a
An Elysium Sunk In The Broad Dakofi
Prairies-A Valley Farm Covering Near
ly Sixteen Square Miles-Ths Mos
Beautiful Spot In all Dakota Our Spe
cIal Correspondent DiicovsIs This Rar'
Combination of Hill and Vale, of Foun
and of Stream m-The Stock, Etc, Etc.
North Dakota possesses undoubtedly NOR
natural wealth and attractions than any othe
agricultural section of the United States.
is vast empire, rich in golden products, eacf
fertile acre mine of wealth. II at this sea-
son of harvest, its broad expanse could b,
made visible to our eyes as an entirety what 6
grand, n wonderful sight it would be. Tt
millions OF acres OF ripened, yellow wheat
surrounded by the emerald covered, untames
prairie, with its many little running stream.
fringed with trees, its tiny lakes cleaning il
the sunshine, the great, irregular DeYil'.
Lake, with it's fOrest.clad shores and with ths
extensive, fertile Turtle Mountain, wearing
its timbers on knobs and ravlnes and cut by
casning streamlets. the hundreds of thriftI
towns, and the picturesque cabins of new set
tiers surrounded by the rich Ceep black OF
the freshly plOwed land-what picture would
such blrd's-eye view present. There would
be revealed beauties and wonders of which
many are now Ignorant, capabilities almost
unthought OF as yet. Few but the govern
ment surveyors, VINO have followed the mean
der1ngs OF The streams know OF he valuable
and beautiful spots concealed in their val
leys.
The long, tortuous Sheyenne river, thai
takes it's rise many miles northwest from the
point where it uniIes with the Red river, and
whose source is III the rich pralrles near the
boundary line west of the mysterious Turtle
Mountain, flows through some country I'm.
equalled tor beauty and fertility as
well as through much that Is barren and
sterile. About twenty miles west of the Red
river the - Sheyenne' cuts across the north.
western corner of Richland county, and 1t is
there, where 1t has been the popular opinion
that the land was sandy ana worthless, that
your correspondent recently made
GREAT DISCOVERY.
For many miles along the river at the place
mentioned there appears line of curiously
formed barrens and hills. Entirely bare in some
places, and in Others only covered by the
sparsest of vegetation, and what appears to be
scrubby punches of trees only fit for fuel. the
land seeker, driving on the open prairie,
It was to this uninviting region that went q
few days since 10 company with MIR. James B.
Power, the land commissioner OF the st. Paul,
Minneapolis 81 Manitoba railway, to visit his
Helendale stock farm, the name of which was
selected in compliment to Mrs. Power. Know
ing the sagacity of the gentleman, ]
eXEece1 of course to find farm well
suited to its purpose, but was not prepared to
see anything more than I had seen before-a
<-cfra av1 "a hrr,,
dred acres of timber that would afford shelter
for stock. Mr.. Power had certainly counted
on surprising me, and, that others may not be
made the victims of his modesty and reti
cence, Imust try and describe what found.
We left Casselton, twenty miles west OF
Fargo one bright Saturday afternoon, took q
course due south, following the section lines,
and we drove through
EIGHTEEN SOLID MILES OF GRAIN
last ripening for the harvester. The greater
part of the wheat was of excellent quality and
promised large yields, and the oats looked re.
markahly fine. About twenty miles out we
came in sight of what are known as the sand.
hills, and certainly more scraggly, rougher
less inviting country had never seen. The
soil appeared good, but little of it was under
cultivation and some of it was low and wet
We drove straight to the east point of one oil
selves on prairie land quite high and dry
Stretching to the eastward were some hundreds
of acres of very excellent barley and oats.
Turning the point of the hill, which ap
peared to me to be of little value,
MAGNIFICENT SCENE
came before my eyes. In most beautiful
valley lay lovely "Helendale Farm" 1t was
more than a surprise--it was revelation, 6
oofs ". h,1
prairie, and now, as if by magic, it was merged
into splendid valley, green with verdure
fringed with forests, and containing broad
level meadows of great fertility. It seemed
impossible that such lovely spot could exist
So close to the tedious, mountainous Oper
prairie.
A short drive around the edge of the hill
brought us to group of substantial, attract.
lively painted buildings, the home buildings
ceived by Mr.. w. A. Power, the sliillful man
ager, and his good wife, and felt as If hat
finally found Eysium, SO new and beautiful
were all the surroundings of this charming
pastoral vale. l could not realize that such
place existed in our northern Dakota, for
had prided myself in knowing pretty thor
oughly the character of the country. After
most substantial and acceptable supper and al
evening of song and chat, I passed
h"PPJ tiN6ihiDB u
MAGIC FAIRY VALE
sunk in desert. The next day was Sunda,
and there being no preaching at the school
house five miles distant, we delegated th
ladies to represent us at the Sunday school
which Is held every Sabbath, and we startet
with a strong, handsome pair of mares to In
spect this marvellous farm. l learned that thu
estate was altogether six miles long and variet
in width from one mile to three and one hal
miles, covering about {, 500 acres. It Is situ
ated five miles south of the Southwestern
railroad, twenty-six miles south of Casseltop
| aud about fifteen miles west of the town O
Kindred, on the Wahpeton extension of tb
st. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway. I
is on the sheyenne river which in some place
flows through 1t, and In others, forms it
southern boundary. The river varies from on
hundred to one hundred and fifty feet IL
width On the farm, and contains
several specits of excellent fish. The banks o
the river are heavily timbered on both sides
| and on the south side the line of sand hill
| continues behind the forest, entirely conceal
| ing the mystic valley from the prairie beyond
| The hills on the north side are located from
half mile TO a mile back from the river, and
| while standing but about fifty feet above tn
| prairie, are in pieces $50 feet above the leve
| of the stream. The entire southern aspect O
| the hills which bound Helendale on the nortl
are covered with excellent timber, oak. ash
| aspen, etc. and much of it is of large size
| available for building purposes. There i
also heavy growth OF young timber in con
siderable patches. There are not less thsl
2,0G0 acres OF good timber on the estate
The intervals between the forests on tn
hills and those on the river bottom vary il
| width from a few rods to perhaps half a mile
| and these are covered by wealth of nutri
tious grasses. Some are devoted to pastur
| age, while the vast, rich mead
| ows supply an unlimited amount O
splendid hay, red.top and blue joint pre-
dominating. The five hundred tons alread
secured for the needs of the stock next winte
is scarcely missed from the broad meadows
and it is obvious that the lands are capable @
yielding winter feed for not less than 100
| head Of cattle, horses and sheep.
| THE GRAZING LANDS
have been judiciously divided between th
| different kinds of stock, each enclosed by sui
stantial fences, six miles of which have alread