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

"H0 A"ioAhS' al Iuo Clme we
speak, the country was new and the
soil prolific. After few years of
constant use.-wheat succeeding wheat
the yield gradually grew less, until
finally two or three seasons proved
almost a complete failure in even
bringing forth sufficient wheat to re.
imburse the agriculturist with seed.
What did those farmers do? Did
they become discouraged with the
country they inherited, as you might
say, having builded themselves homes
upon the broad prairies, enduring all
the hardships and privations common
to frontier life? Not by any means.
The same inspiring energy. and DOM
mating perseverance that induced
these men to brave the privations
that fell to their lot when making
these prairie homes, took fresh hold
upon them, and accepting the situa-
ton, oh anged their mode of farming
to meet the emergency. Instead of
further robbing the soil of its virtue
by fruitless attempts at raising wheat,
new life was infused into it by rails
ing corn, the stalks operating rs Il
most excellent fertilizer. Corn rails
ing means stock raising: stock raising
means dairying, and dairying means
ready money to the farmer. Look at
the two states mentioned to-day and
see the prosperous condition of the
men who have learned that exclusive
wheat growing is Il delusion and II
snare. Do not understand us to say
that Illinois and Iowa can not and
d. not raise wheat, but we do desire
it understood that the early abandon.
ment of this cereal us an exclusive
industry, and the Inauguration of di-
versified agriculture has placed the
farmers of those States comparatively
out of debt and on the high road to
wealth, influence and public emf
nence. Nor Is this all. The many
beautiful and thriving towns and
cities owe their present prosperity 20
the intelligence and foresight of the
farming communities.
AS we have stated in other articles,
Blue Earth county is one of the rich.
est for agricultural pursuits to he
found not only i'm Minnesota-bmt
in the world. 1t is just us possible
for our farmers to grow large crops
of wheat here on new land rs it ever
was, and no section is better adapted
for the cultivation of corn, while most
excellent crops of timothy, clover
and flax seeds are yearly harvested.
1t matters not what country you may
select for farming, the exclusion OF
other cereals to that of wheat will
prove disastrous. The Manitoba and
Red River country is the most won.
derfnlly Overestimated of any
new section within the memory of
the oldest inhabitant. The stories we
read Of the mOnstrOus wheat prOduc,
ing qualities Of the Red River and
Manitoba countries are to say the
least greatly exaggerated. We do
not say this disparingly, or for the
purpose of creating prejudice against
the localities mentioned, but simply
to give those who have had no oppOr.
tunity of practical observation a
truthful statement. Mr.. II. b. Fargo
a gentleman who resides i'm South.
western Minnesota reports his Obser.
walton Though the columns of the
Redwood Gazette, which we reproduce
in this connection to show that Oul
intentions are not to detract from
other sections, but rather to give the
situation as it exists.
Two years ago Mr.. Fargo's ambi
ton being fully aroused by the glow
ing reports of the Northern Pacific
country, he made his way to Fargo
expecting to locate if he found every
thing as favorable as reported; but
the eye and understanding failed t.
be captured by what had pleased thu
ear. and Mr.. Fargo returned to Red
wood. This spring the laundering
of the great Northwestern boom
came upon us with ten-fold power
and Mr.. Fargo thinking it possible
that his judgment had deceived him
once more took his departure for tn,
great kingdom of "BlowdOm." Thi
time he went as far as Miles City
Montana, taking pains to inquire int,
the true condition of affairs as h
went along. Now he is convinced
that his judgment two years ago wa
just one. Says there has been bu
one new building erected on Mail
street in Fargo the last two years
The great majority of farmers ar,
losing instead of gaining money
The Dalrymple farm raised but tel
bushel of wheat to the acre last year
He mentioned several parties WHIT
had invested largely in Dakota whea
land, had sunk money continually
and were now offering to sell at low
figures. Between the Jim and Mis-
souri, rivers there are no improve
ments worth mentioning, from the
Missouri to Miles City-none what
ever except what are essential to the
operation of the railroad. He thinks
that nine-tenths of those that &C
West of the Red River country will
Immediately return, and not very
large per cent. stop even there. TAX
ing everything into consideration, he
thinks this section of country through
here is superior to any of that along
the Northern Pacific.
In Blue Earth county the farmers
have come to full understanding OF
the requirements of farming for profit
as did the Iowa and Illinois farmers
some dozen years since, and now raise
a little of everything. Thousands of
acres of wheat have been sOwn here this
spring, and the outlook for big harvest
has never been more promising. They
have likewise sown oats, barley, rye,
flax etc, literally, while an unprcce-
denied area of corn has been planted.