The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-05-04
DAKOTA.
WESTWARD FROM FARGO.

4" So-Juol eNioSs TIC NM '''~'
on the Dakota side, is styled "The
Chicago Of the Northwest" and GER
tainly deserves the name from the
amount of business done there.
Fargo puts in seven days to the
week and ranks next to Sodom in
wickedness. But instead of fire and
birthstone it takes its punishment in
mud. The streets are unpaved and
SO muddy as to stick four horses with
an empty wagon. The Red river
seems to be in no hurry and makes
its way north by regular approaches.
The Red river valley is very pro-
ductive and it was here that the Ter
ritory first gained reputation for
wheat raising; but for the last two
years there has been partial failure
OF crops owing to the water. The
land was plowed last fall and is now
ready for seeding as soon as dry
enough. For miles and miles the
rich black land can be seen and
person begins to catch the farming
fever and gets it in reality the farther
west he goes.
IS miles west Of Fargo is the much
advertised and talked of Dalrymple
farm. Dal., as he is Familiarity
called in Dakota, was shrewd enough
to buy deprecated N. p r. r.,
bonds, when the bottom fell out Of
stocks in 10 and IA. He received
the face value Of the bonds in land
and in this way he got his immense
tract for "a cts. per acre. James
town, the county seat of Stutsman
Co., is certainly the gem city of
North Dakota. Situated high and
dry on the rolling prairie on the
east side of the James river. 1t has
every element of prosperity: Two
daily papers, two banks, numer-
Gus churches, and almost every kind
of business house represented. A
city of 1000 inhabitants growing up
in four years, in an agricultural Sec
ton is one of the marvels of the
west. Everyone is busy and in a
hurry. We saw but two loafers and
they were Sioux Indians. In every
direction from jamestown is to be
found good wheat land. One of the
elevator proprietors said that their
was Goo, 900 bushels of wheat raised
in Stutsman Co., last year, and this
year the acreage is greatly increased.
Barley and oats are raised and yield
exceptionally well oats yielding
from 60 to 80 bushels to the acre.
But wheat is the main crop because
it is a cash article and No. brand
always commands a good price.
Corn they say can be raised but at
present there are so many blackbirds
for the little that is raised that they
eat it before it gets a chance to get
ripe.
Eleven miles south of Jamestown
near Ypsilanti seeding had begun.
Their manner of sowing wheat to
an eastern farmer seems remarka-
bly, careless. They sow broadcast as
soon as the frost is out of the ground
few inches; the main object seems
to be to get the seed scattered over
the ground and trust to Providence
for the rest. But a good crop is the
invariable result. The K. R., land
has nearly all passed into second
parties hands and it is only here and
there that piece of government
land is left in Stutsman Co. The
Tree Claims have been taken far in
advance in all of the lands because
they could be held by non residents
Tree Claims look at present more
like a patch Of weeds than the start
of 10 acres OF forest and probably
will for all time to come. The pre-
emption law requires months resi-
dence and certain amount of i'm
provements, thus by paying S2.5c
per acre you get a Government deed
This is generally fulfilled by putting
up shanty I2xI4, putting in an ole
stove and LEAVING few clothac III a va