St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-14
I WEBSTER, DAKOTA.
A New, Pretty and Thriving Village
on the NJ. & st. P. Road.
Graphic Description of the Town---Its
Growth and Resources.
ESPECIAL Correspondence Of the Globe.

Growth and resources.
Especial Correspondence Of the Globe.
WEBSTER, D. T., August TO- One needs
no longer look into fancy sketches of the
Imagination, where phantom cities are
raised and populated by the magic touch OF a
fairy's wand; far more astonishing is the
actual result of the legerdemain of time upon
the plains of the Dacotas. The evolution Of
time within the last few years has here pro-
duced such marvellous changes than which
sacred or profane, to surpass or even equal.
Here where few years ago roaming herds OF
buffalo grazed but little disturbed on the
open prairie, where bands of prairie wolves
broke the stiffness of night with their hideous
bark, and the red men chased and fought
and scalped each other, here are seen to-day
the cities of the plains, populated with eager
and hard working men gathered from the
four points of heaven. Rome was not built
in day, but we have surpassed the Romans,
for in this western world the birth of a
city is almost a daily occurrence.
A few pushing, energetic men pioneer the
way and settle or some particularly fertile
and well situated tract Of land, the covered
wagon is quickly replaced by the shanty and
imme diately small town appears.
1t was in this way that the prettily located
town of Webster came into being just three
years ago. There is nothing SO very wonder
full to relate about the growth of this town.
1t has never been doomed; in the most Or
binary course of affairs, the tide of emigra-
ton rolling onward dropped its settlers just
on the outskirts of civilization, and land was
located in every direction around this then
small ''town site, where you can count to-
| day no less than $50 decided quarter sections
of government land. II you wish to dis
cover what the probabilities are for the sue
cessful growth of town, you must form a
correct estimate of the number OF the farms
| located in its vicinity, for the farming inter
est is the pulse of financial success, especially
in the Western world. When a large tract Of
country becomes populated by settlers
| it stands to reason there must be centre OF
| commerce; that centre being established
| quickly assumes the name and nature and
| importance of town. The ratio of the sue
cess oil a town will be in proportion to the
growth of it's surroundings. There is Web
ster, the central seat of large and infuen-
tial county-standing by itself with no town
to compete with it-surrounded on all hands
by hard working and industrious farmers,
| farmers whose circumstances are growing
better and whose prospects are becoming
brighter as time rolls on; farmers, who, ac-
customed to the comforts Of eastern life,
| Will and must have, as their means permit,
most if not all the Injuries they once en-
ioyed. Here then you will readily perceive
is the support which the merchants in town
anticipate and upon which they mainly de-
pend.
But what are the probabilities of the farm
ers acquiring the means, which are not only
| to secure for themselves comfortable homes
but also the financial success of the
mercantile interest? Every thing depends,
first, on the nature of the soil; secondly, on
the nature of the climate; and thirdly, on the
mature of the farmers themselves.
What, then, is the nature of the soil? AS
'sthe proof of the pudding is the eating" so
the manner of the productions of the soil will
answer for its fertility
Let any competent and i'm partial judge
review the scene that is presented to him
here-he will candidlv confess that the pros
poets are that the people of this neighborhood
| viii garner in harvest that would be sufii-
cient to satisfy the most sanguine expecta-
tions of the most discontinued individual
that ever disgraced Gods earth. The aver
age for wheat throughout the country being
estimated at twenty bushels to the acre, and
in some localities around Webster, as much
as twenty-five and thirty bushels to the acre.
The soil being of q nature of black vegeta-
bic loan, from twenty-four to thirty and
thirty-six inches deep, and of
such a quality that there is little
left to be desired. Let US then turn
our attention to the climate. The climate
refers us to the crops-if the climate were no
| good the crops could not be a success-but
YOU say this is strange criterion lit is
! nevertheless true. There is hay in as fine
| condition as you can desire and in great
| quantities and here are crops all golden
! tinged, looking in A 1 con dition-this argues
| moisture and agreeable warmth. And
| thirdly as to the disposition of the farmers
themselves-are they not out here for works!
here comes the secret of our success, the
lever that shifts all impediments and re-
moves ali obstacles and makes the west as it
is. viz. the perscvering industry of its settlers
few are out here for amusement or bent
upon botanical research-it is the almighty
! dollar for which they come and which like o
load stone draws them on. And the al
mighty dollar is by no means aristocratic, it
| is TO be had like salvation by all who want it
and are willing TO work for tit is
unacquanted with no man except
the idler and has only passing
recognition for the fool. But fools and idlers
find no place here. There is field of labor,
| good soil and suitable climate, here is energy
and muscle; perseverance must reap its own
harvest browning all with necessities and
comforts Of life.
So much for the agricultural interest now
! let us look more particularly to the advan-
tages offered by the town itself. Webster,
the county seat of one of the largest counties
in the territory, is connected by the Chicago,
Milwaukee IL st. Paul Railroad company and
is situated within two and one-half miles of
one of Dallota's prettiest lakes called Wau-
bay, a lake fifteen miles long by two to three
miles broad, making beautiful summer re-
| sort, nome lOF tue syOFtSIueu anu pdTd-
| disc for the artist. Here is q large and com
modious school house sufficient to accommo-
| date zoe pupils, aud an excellent and well
finished court house. There is but one church
here at present under the superintendancc of
the Congregational society, but in which a
| Baptist minister holds Divine service for
those who favor its particular doctrines. The
Catholics, who up till the present time have
been nsing the Court house for their weekly
| gatherings, are making strenuous efforts to
secure place of worship, the priests dwell
ling house being already under construc-
! ton. The temperance element. which is