The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-08-01
EPIsTLE FROM DAKOTA.
BArHeArE, D. 7. July %, 'S

pilgrimage of the self.binding har.
vester will commence, and for sec
on6 time can see wheat farming on
a large scale brought to conclusion.
1t is almost year since first struck
this great Northwest aud perhaps now
l can have better idea Of l.. When
l first came out it was to be a citizen
Of Minnesota, but some four months
ago l changed TO Territory and am
now away up in the northeastern part
of this mighty domain known as Da.
kota. If you have a map Of this coun-
try and can locate spot 20 miles
Eest Of the Red. River of the Nortk
and miles south of the international
boundary line, you strike Bathgate.
We are long ways up north, but in
spite Of that the summer is proving
as delightful one as man could wish.
/ used to associate this counirY<with
perpetual snow, polar bears. fknd the
like. What an idea! as<(fhe reality
proves. Not twelve months have
passed since the entrance of the iron
bands that mean advance and dsvel.
opement, yAd in that short space of
time what mighty change has come
over the face of the smiling prairie.
In piece of the gentle breezes bending
the long native grasses, they play
amongst almost interminable fields of
grain, principally No. Hard
Wheat, to obtain whitehall the
principal Touring mills of the
country are reaching out their
arms. AS yet this cereal is the main
one raised, although every other kind
does magnifcently. Oats 60 from so
to 100 bushels to the acre; barley, ETC.,
in proportion. The yield of vegetables
is simply increditable Potatoes 400
bushels to the acre. And it must be
horne in mind that the land upon
which this is done costs nothing. or
SO near it as to be in reality that.
Every man over 81, or being the
head of family, and women not mar.
ried can enter what is known as
presumption, or settling on 100 acres
fer a period of six months. During
this time they must make permanent
improvements, such as building a
house, putting in crops, etc. At the
end of that time, by paying $1.25 per
acre, the government gives them a
deed Of it. They can then take a
homestead, being the same amount
and the requirement is to live en- it
fer years, when it is given to the set.
tier free of charge. Soldiers can de-
duct from the 5 years the time of ser.
vice. Now you have $50 acres, but
you have still another chance, being
to take "tree claim" This consists
in settling out five acres of trees each
year for s years and keeping them
cultivated. AT the end of that per,
riod, if they are healthy, 100 acres
is given free. Do you wonder that
thousands are focking in to take ad,
vantage Of such liberal offers. The
summer season is comparatively short
but the great rapidity of growth more
than compensates for this. AS yet
everything is in measure crude, bu
in a year or two old established places
want to look. out for their laurels. l
in 10 months place can go from
g nothing to 800 inhabitants and hav,
all the advantages of eastern towns
three times as large, why Iher,
, must be something big behind it.
= Yesterday was circus day for thi
4 part of the world and every man
. women and child turned out to sc,
: the elephant and the kangaroo. w
. w. Cole allowed folks to enter hi
b tents for the small sum Of S120 pc
IS head, and the lucky fellow that had
II girl along was asked, in very persua
/" ). sive tones, to buy a reserved seat,
a at 30 cents each, making the singl
item Of admission amount to S3.40 pc
couple. l know one newspaper ma
D. that had to stay away.
X In roaming around the country
70 nersnn meats with MANY an old 81