Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-02-08
Grand Forks.
From ]. z, limit

| 10aIoTS reporter In answering
many of my correspondents in Grand
Rapids as to what the climate is here
in Dakota during the winter months.
if you will please publish this in your
paper you will confer favor on me.
The climate of Dakota is very much
like that of Wisconsin, except we do
not have the damp chilling east winds
that prevail there, nor do We have so
much snow fall and it is a very well
established fact that extreme cold
weather is not felt so keenly in dry as
in humid atmosphere. Our winters
are like those of New England, are
long, and informally cold, while the
summers are delightful While it
would not be true to say that there is
no disease and death here for these are
the common lot of man everywhere
from which there is no escape, yet the
climate is considered a remarkably
healthy one; there is no fever and
ague here. 1t is difficult to express
an opinion of probable opportunities,
so much depends upon the energy,
and perseverance of the Individual,
and the best advise [ can give is come
and see and judge for yourself. Grand
Forks is the gateway to the very heart
and cream Of the Red River Valley,
and also to the best public lands yet
open to settlement, including the
country in the vicinity of DEVILS Lake
and that in the vicinity of Mouse
River Valley. These lands will all be
subject to entry by homestead pre-
emption and tree claim as soon as the
Indian title is extinguished, the land
surveyed, and the plats returned to
Grand Forks. The settler should bear
in mind that nearly all these lands are
outside Of railroad limits and that it
costs only half as much to prove up
and pay for your land here as it does
inside the railroad limits. Thousands
OF settlers are pushing west from this
point beyond the surveyed lands where
they will squat and wait for the survey.
In my opinion there will be some i'm
portant points at Devils Lake, one at
Odessa, Crules Burg and Giant Aar-
bour, and it is only a question of a
shert time which point will draw the
attention of capitalists. The Manito-
ba railroad will be at DEVILS Lake
during the early part of next summer,
weather and roads permitting, I in
tend to see that country some time in
May next.
A few items in regard to Red River
and Red Lake River The Red Lake
river empties into the Red River at
Grand Forks-this is what gives it the
name of Grand Forks. Red River is
navigable for the largest steamers on
the river during all stages Of water.
The junction of the two rivers make
Grand Forks the practical head of
navigation, although small steamers
go up the river as far as Fargo, but
during low water they have to crawfsh
back fer some miles before they can
turn about. Several steamers ply be-
tween this place and Winnepeg, doing
profitable business, but sooner or
later railroads will take their place as
has been done all over the country.
The past ten days has been very
cold weather, from 20 to 40 degrees
below Zero. Not as much snow here
as you have in Wisconsin. Two
weeks ago We had very severe snow
storm with heavy winds and very cold,
what [ would call frst-class blizzard.
A person could see about fifteen feet,
but the sky soon became clear and
pleasant. We have about two feet of
snow at present and good sleighing.
We are looking for big immigration
to this country next season.
! Yours Truly,