The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-29
Dakota Farms and Farming.

CORNWALL, W., Aug, 26, 1884.
EdUOr RcgjSter and JOuNd{: Hay
ing made visit to the Red River val
ley of Dakota and witnessed the exten.
sive manner in which grain-grOwing is
carried on in that territory, | thought a
few facts concerning it might be of in
terest TO your readers. The point of
our observations was Richland county,
OF which Wahpeton is the county-seat.
1t is thriving town of about two
thousand inhabitants, with five or six
churches, fine school building, ten or
twelve stores which will compare ia
vorably with any in Middleburv with
the exception of Beck with Il Coz a
court house that cost SIS, 900, being the
second one built, the first having burn
ed year or so ago. AL of these build.
ings have been erected in the last five
years, there being at that time only
three small dwellings in the place.
Here we visited the ware-rooms of W.
Crafts a. Co.., dealers in farm imple-
nents and machinery of every descrip-
ton from wheclbarrow up to the
largest kind of steam engines for
threshing. These gentlemen had al
ready bought at wholesale about S10,-
600 worth of Irvine for binding grain
and expected soon to order more. On
the morning of the 22d of July we left
this place and rode over the beautiful
prairie in a southwesterly direction,
making our first call on Mr.. Edward
Crafts, the pioneer of what is known
as the Michigan settlement. In the
spring of 1879 Mr.. Crafts located about
81
moved his family on 10 it when there
was not another building to be seen as
far as the eye could reach; today can
be seen the cottages of settlers in every
direction, nestled in the luxuriant grain
that is growing on every hand. The
, d we called on Warren Spauldng,
Esq, for the last five years postmaster
OF DE Nillo, now changed to Fair
mount. After looking over Mr.. Spauld-
ing's vast crop of grain we were invit-
ed by him to visit place about 20
miles distant, known as the Dwight
farm. On the morning of the 2Sth we
took seats in a comfortable two-seated
buggy behind spirited pair of bays
that seemed TO feel as though there was
no time to be lost in giving us a view
of this land of wheat and flowers. At
ter very enjoyable ride of about two
hours over the level prairie, we reach
ed our destination and were soon in
vited by the superintendent of this lit
tie farm of 80, 900 acres, with $500 acres
of growing grain this season. to 90
through their buildings and view their
horses and mules and the enormous
quantity of agricultural implements
a nd M NJ hi al in ~,
their crops. We first went through the
stables and saw the finest lot of mules
that we had ever seen, all bred and
purchased in Kentucky. Many of
these animals were IL hands high and
would weigh 1900 lbs. OF horses and
mules they have some POO, all in tine
condition; of men employed, $50;
seeders tor sowing the grain, 43; har-
rows, 70; gang plows, 3S; sulky, 20;
reapers and binders, ~; steam thrcsh-
ers, s; moving machines, s; horse
rakes, s; and the cost of Irvine to bind
their crop this season will amount to
$4,000. After spending day we shall
always remember with great deal of
pleasure, we returned to Mr.. Spauld-
lng's and spent the night with him and
on the 10Th, by the politeness of Mr..
Edgar Spaulding, a son of Mr.. W., we
were invited to ride to the Sioux Indian
reservation, some = miles distant. On
our way there we had fine view OF a
flock of pelicans, whose wings measured
from Zip to tip, when extended, from
to 10 feet. This reservation is set of
by the government tor the home of the
Sioux tribe. They are cultivating but
small portion oft at present, the north
ern portion being used by the settlers
on its borders as herding ground for
their cattle. On the 3Oth we spent the
day with Mr.. Sulus Griffin, a former
resident of Napoleon, Michigan. NJ.
Grlflin has very fine farm of 320
acres, nicely located within one mile of
what will soon be thriving town,
called Paramount, with railroad, depot,
church, school building, grain eleva-
tor, stores and shops of every descrip-
ton. There are great many more
things that we would like to say of tnis
lard of the Dakotas, but fearing that we
have already trespassed too far upon
your space, we will bring our jottings
to a close by saying that on the morn
ing of August we babe it farewell
and started tor our home in the Green
Mountain Stale, hoping to visit it again
some time in the future.
). 5. ROCKWELL.