The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-06
NORTHERN DAKOTA.
The Climate, the Soil, and the Chances for
Homes in the New Northwest.

HARRISBURG, Nelson county, DakOta, May l.
On the evening of March 20 my son, Dean,
and myself set out for Devils Lake City, which
S Just now the terminus of the st. Paul, Min
neapolis G. Manitoba railroad, and the objective
point of four-ffths of the immigration on this
line; but, at the instance of some friends, we
stopped about forty miles east of that thronged
resort, Michigan City, a vast metropolis OF
some twenty or thirty buildings. By great good
fortune, as we regard it, we have pitched our
':shantv' fifteen miles south of the station
named, and near the eastern arm of Stump lake,
a charming sheet of bright but b~rackish, I'M
drinkable water. Here we have taken, by the
generous terms of Uncle Sam, two quarter-see-
ton claims, or 800 acres, and, at the end Of six
months, will homestead another quarter,
making a snug farm of 4S0 acres of as handsome
and fertile land as the sun ever shines
upon. In this region the country is
a beautiful rolling prairie, diversified
by some high and stony ridges and some de-
pressed sloughs, at this season filed with water,
making ponds and lakelets. AS to this climate,
there is no question of its being healthful. No
breath of malaria nor any impurity whatever in
tests the cool and eversurging atmosphere. If
any sickness accrues. it can not be attributed to
bad air. There is only one mean trick charge
able to the c~limate-that is a vicious habit in
winter of nipping off ears and nose, or even fing-
srs and toes, from any one who is at all careless
with that class of property; and, worse still, II
one exposes himself rashly, at certain times,
he may be dead in fifteen minutes from
frost, just as he might by fire by walking into a
red hot furnace. But if such precautions and
nrOViciOnS are raOardn1 as the case REQUIRES, |
am told, the winters are not only tolerable but
really pleasant and enjoyable. The occupation
of this region is yet so recent, this county but
twelve months. that the dwellings, and improve
ments are generally of the rudest character. But
all of them testify to the rigorous defenses
which necessity demands against the awful cold
and billiards of three months in midwinter. All
structures are built low to avoid the sweeping
winds, and all dwellings, many of which are
partly sunk below the surface, are banked up
with sod, often to the caves. The Norwegians,
who are trained in the matter of winter fortifi-
cations and defenses, do a job of sodding up and
trimming down that is almost artistic. These
tough prairie sods, thickly interviewer
with roots, it. must be remembered are
almost like felt, and quite available even
for building walls. For crops, l am convinced
that time and judicious experiment will show
that farming need not be confined to wheat,
oats. etc. I believe that a wide range of products
will succeed as cultivation and methods develop.
Why, ever since the middle of April the weather
mas Debl nlOSGly milo. Inc 6drDU has Dttu Dlut
with flowers for ten days, and the ground is
thawed a foot deep. There is much wind, the
same as in Kansas and all our prairie States, but
we have had also many calm, charming days and
nights this spring.
The soil and lands are of unsurpassed excel
lence. But for the magnifcence Of these broad
and fascinating stretches of rich land, it is not
likely that population would crowd so eagerly
upon the extreme northern lines. But the
wealth of the soil, the beauty of the scenery
and the ease of and cul-
tivation unite to render the in
dueement irresistible. After the original
wild sod is broken and rotted, the soil is the
easiest and ~prettiest to work in the world, far
superior to Indiara. 1t is a mellow loan, not
muddy after rain, and if sOwn and narrowed in
the spring, where muddy, even like batter, 1t
dries out light and mellow without baking, as
with you, to the detriment of the crop. l was
disappointed in finding some gravelly ridges and
tracts thickly sprinkled with granite powders
and other rocks. These were sown here, / judge,
by the great glacier. the same as in White and
Jasper counties, Indiana. In places they inter
rupt the pillow somewhat, but will prove of more
value than trouble in the end for building pur-
poses. The wild hay is actually better for stock
of all kinds than timothy or clover. Horses and
cattle, in winter, will not only sueSlst but tatten
upon it without any grain. AS for water, the
chief dependence on the prairie is the well, and
rarely, but sometimes, this proves alkaline and
necessitates a second trial. But there are many
alterations. For six or seven months OF the
year there is abundance of clean snow to be
melted into soft, sweet water. 1t is very handy.
Then after the snow is gone, soft and pure water
is retained in the slough ponds for weeks
and months. In front of my shanty, Silver
Ribbon creek meahders in curves more beautiful
than l can describe. 1t will maintain itself, l
am told, till July. Now it is the best of water.
The farming process is the shortest and sim
plest here in the world. In time, 1T will doubt
less become more complicated. Stock increasing
will require care and the range of labor will
widen; but the season of active labor will always
be short, sharp and decisive. 1t begins about
April 10, with seeding wheat. This over. break
ing sod till nearly July l. Then, in
one hundred days from seeding, wheat
harvesting. After this, hay. Then, replowing
("backsetting'0 the broken sod ready for the
harrow and seed in the coming spring. OF
course building, fuel hauling and marketing
grain are added to this main programme. 1 am
happily located within two to four miles of
abundant timber on Stump lake, and wood costs
me just about the same as in Indianapolis. But
many are obliged to go ten or fifteen miles for
fuel. Probably a few years will develop
supplies from Turtle mountain coal and
other sources. Shall we try Dakotal That de-
ponds. One cannot advise safely. Have you
about 81, 000l Are you struggling hard, yet not
getting ahead an inch, and no real prospect
Have you pluckl Can you stand living in a
shanty ten by twenty with two rooms2 Will
your family, if you have one. bear transplant
ing from social circles to isolation} Do you like
to work. If you answer these interrogatories af-
Tentatively, come on. There is no quicker chance
combined with reasonable certainty to get "clear
ahead of the hounds" than by this plan. 1t is
better than Kansas for the man with limited
means. because wheat is easier raised than corn,
and the crop is more certain. There is no place
nor plan where the return for manual labor can
be realized so quickly and on so small a working
capital. The country has a grand come out"
and not far of. A large and intelligent popula-
ton is h~urrying into this (Nelson) county. New
railroads will soon open it up more fully, and the
pillow will %overturn its wildness. One cannot
feel lonesome, though neighbors be really very
far apart. The water fowl, geese, duck, brant,
crane and swan fill the air. Prairie cocks wake
you early with pompous trumpeting, and the
brave little meadow lark, regardless of weather,
crowds his passage at all hazards and sings notes
of true encouragement both morning and even
ing. Numberless gophers are a pest of the gar
den, but good to eat, we find, and we have
promise of mosquitoes next summer so large,
numerous and effective that they drive the cat