St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-31
LOCATION.

partment:
LOCATION.
Faribault county is situated on the south
ern boundary Of the state, bordering on the
northern line of Kossuth and Winnebago
counties of Iowa. We are in ''the Valley of
the Blue Earth River,' well known as one of
the most beautiful and fertile regions Of the
state. 1t is bounded on the north by Blue
Earth and Waseca counties, on the south by
Iowa, on the east by Freedom county and
on the west by Martin county. The county
possesses all the characteristics and advan-
tages of northern Iowa, as farming region
with the additional advantages of a better
distribution Of timber and water courses
The water is pure and good. 1t is
easily and cheaply obtained from wells, springs
and flowing artesian wells. No purer or bet
ter water is found anywhere than here.
SOIL, CROPS, ETC.
The soil of this county is black loan, with
a considerable mixture of sand, rendering it
warm and causing very rapid growth of
vegetation. It abounds in mineral salts and
inorganic ingredients derived from the ac-
cumulations of decomposed vegetable matter
for long ages of growth and dacay. The soil
cannot anywhere be surpassed in fertility.
The subsoil is clay. This soil can never be-
come of that class known as "worn out
lands" Its full producing capacity under
the careful tllage practised in the older states
must be surprising. Here wheat, oats, corn,
barley, rye, buckwheat, potatoes, beans, peas,
millet, sorghum, broom-corn, flax, tobacco
in fact all the productions of the middle
states are successfully raised. Garden vege-
tables in great variety and
perfection and in vast quantities are
produced. No bester soil can be found
for root crops than this. There are no waste
lands in the county; all of it may be put to
some useful purpose; if low, to pasturage
and hay, and the higher lands to the raising
of all the varieties of productions above
named. It appears to be an idle statement
that this region is not adapted to wheat when
this county alone produced over 1000, 900
bushels last year of the best grades, even
from the limited area now under cultivation.
But in addition to the capacity to raise wheat
with fair yields this county has the soil and
other conditions which produce corn, oats,
potatoes, the richest of grasses and all the
other varieties of productions named above
in the greatest abundance and of the first
quality.
VILLAGES.
There are eight bustling villages in the
county; each railroad market, and each
surrounded by fine scope of tributary coun-
try, namely; Blue Earth City, Winnebago
City, Wells. Minnesota Lake, Easton, Della
van, Huntley and Elmore. These embryo
cities, with their broad and busy streets, well
painted houses, many new brick structures,
and the constant music of the carpenters
hammer and saw, coupled with the ring of
the mason's trowel, tell the story of progress
and prosperity far better than our pen can
tell it.
FUEL-BoTH WOOD AND COAL.
We are peculiarlywel supplied in the quail
ity, quantity and cheapness of our fuel. Both
wood and coal can be had at reasonable
prices. One of the railroads in the county
runs directly into the great coal fields of Iowa,
about fifty or sixty miles south of here, and
furnishing abundance of good and cheap
coal. In large quantities, for use in manu-
featuring establishments, it can be had at
very low rates-probably less than three dol
lars per ton.
Continuing the sketch the author says:
"The dairy business is fast taking the preced-
ence of all other branches of farming'' and it
might be remarked right here that
Faribault county is particularly well
adapted to it, as its splendid natural
meadows and pastures, its abundance of
pure water and the natural tendency of its
soil to produce clover and blue grass offer
the most favorable conditions for the pro
duction of butter and cheese and as an in
dex of what is being done in this direction:
In 1888, the country produced 500, 900 pounds
of butter and 10000 pounds of cheese, and
the diaries are being very much improved by
the introduction of Holstine and other fine
blood into their hands.
The admirable school system of this coun-
ty is set forth in proper colors. The article
says:
Each of the twenty townships of the coun-
ty is well provided with school houses as fol-
lows:
Township. Schoolhouses.
Pilot Grove. ...............4
IAlillOIC'
IolHe. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 3
. .