The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02
Where to Settle.

The question "where to settle" is
serious one to the emigrant. The sug-
gestiOns offered in this paper are in ia
vor of Blue Earth county. They are
such as must present themselves to
every person who will give the various
subjects serious consideration. The
wonderful diversity of soil, sublimity
ofclimate, refined society, and facilities
for innumerable industries, presented
by the broad expanse of our county,
offers to every man congenial loca-
ton and happy home.
The advantages of migrating in COM
panies of three to twenty families are
not 80 apparent as when one is seeking
a home Oh the frontier. There is no
occasion for an agent to precede you to
select a section that may be distasteful
and non-congenial when you arrive.
Low rates can be obtained for travelling
and other expenses, land in any guam
tity can be bought cheap, while the dis
comforts of going into an unsettled re-
gion away from schools, churches and
markets are entirely obviated.
Starting with the assumption that the
emigrant is industrious, sober and in
telligent, the points to be aimed at are
first and foremost, health and bodily
comfort, second, mental and moral
growth; third, financial success in the
near future.
A change of climate often restores
physical vigOr, and for infusing new
life into old veins, and for imbuing the
young mind with habits of economy
and industry, there is no country in
the world that acts so directly and per-
sistently upon the human system as the
bracing atmosphere of Minnesota.
The surroundings, especially the state
of society, have much to do with phys
zeal comfort. Ina turbulent, irreligious
community, where crime goes unpun-
ished and the criminal is some what OF
a hero, Il peace-loving family will be in
a constant state of worry, that must
eventually affect their general health
Seek a home where officials appreciate
churches and schools; where taxpayers
perceive the fact that every dollar spent
on education and religion is saving OF
two dollars on the Jail and penitentiary
where newspapers are numerous and
libraries have been started, and literary,
temperance and other societies are en-
cOuraged by the leading citizens. In
sparsely settled regions in the Terrific
ries where society is not fully organic
ed, much cannot be expected in the
matter of education and religion, but
in IA county so thoroughly settled as is
Blue Earth, all the elements which 60
to make an ideal home are to be found,
and the stranger is at once made to feel
that he has indeed been wise and ju-
dicious in locating in such delightful
section.
The settler must determine the kind
of business he will pursue, then seek a
locality best adapted to carrying it on.
If he would make specially of live
stock, dairying, wheat raising, or aughi
else. let the farmer consider all that
tends to success.
| Railroad facilities, river and lake
transportation, and nearness to mar.
kets, must be looked to; also the fence
and other real estate laws, State and
county debts, and the laws relative to
municipal Indebtedness, rates of taxa
ton. character of officials, etc. whether
the school houses, churches and public
buildings are already erected, and so.
ciety fully organized. Homestead ex-
emptions, cost of living and of building
materials, nearness to stores, mills, etc,
abundant water supply, and everything
else that can affect his success, should
receive due attention.
Land near railroad at s. an acre, is
cheaper than land at 81 25 several miles
from transportation.
Other things being equal, choose a
settlement near manufactures near the
junction of rivers or valleys, where a
valley crosses a river or ends at lake.
Such locations always secure good
markets for farm produce, and rapidly
advance the price of land, becoming
centres of business and sites for future
cities.
The title which settler acquires to
lands in this county is in fee simple.
1t is not lease for any term of years,
but perpetual ownership, whether he
buys of the individual, or corporation.
The land becomes his property. to hold
during life, and transmit to his heirs,
or he may sell it at will. There is no
landlord, no rent to pay, nor are any
church rates exacted. He is himself
lord of the manor, and peer of his fell
lOw-cilizens of all classes.
Without exasseration, Blue Earth
County. as an agricultural and manu-
featuring district cannot be equaled in
the West or Northwest, and if those
who are seeking new homes would
come and see what is here offered, we
believe that the question where to
settle" would solve itself without a
second thought.