St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-16
MOWER COUNTY.
To the Editor of the Globe:

To the Editor of the Globe:
GRAND MEADOW, Mimi, April 14.-As my
previous communication respecting south
eastern Minnesota was so well received by
you and the puclic, I thought it might not be
amiss to address another on the same subject.
My former letter drew out large number of
inquiries regarding the country, which have
heretofore answered by letter, but 1 will now
endeavor to describe few salient points, that
will probably answer larger share of the
questions asked regarding this county.
The settlement of Mower county dates back
to the year 1850, when those parts along the
streams on the east and west sides, and com
prising all the timbered portions, were soon
settled, leaving a strip of prairie about
twelve miles wide, north and south
through the centre of the county,
unsettled, and which renamed so for
many years, and some of it has never
been titled to this day. Under Buchanan's
administration this strip was brought into
market and sold, most of it by eastern specu-
lators, by whom it has since been principally
held. In few cases they re-sold it to would
be settlers who bought it on credit, made
their improvements on credit, bought their
machinery, etc., on credit, and finally took
themselves off to Dakota, leaving their credit
as payment for their numerous bills.
Thus, through the policy of an unwise adj
ministration, combined with the greed of
would-be spectators, a large portion of
Mower county remains unoccupied to-day.
These spectators are now tired of their toy,
and are offering their lands, through agents
here, for sale at prices ridiculously low, as
compared with those asked by farmers here,
who are not over particular about selling.
For instance, some of this vacant land is Of
fered at $4.50 to $1,000 per acre, while the
farms adjoining will be held at $50 to $40.
This section is being developed as one of the
finest grazing and dairying portions of the
west. The butter from our creameries ranks
with the famous Elgin product, and our cat
tie are as sleek and bear the appearance of
well-fed as do those of any other portion of
the United States. The soil is of unexampled
richness, producing immense growths of ev-
erything planted except wheat, the wheat
belt has passed to the west of US, and 1 may
say that our prosperity dates from the time
when we cased to grow wheat and began to
raise stock. On every section line will be
found well graded road, and every stream
is spanned by substantial bridge, most of
them being of iron. We have a court house,
recently completed and paid for at a cost of
$685. 900, and better than all the county is out
of debt.
In conclusion desire to say that if any
man has a thousand or two thou
sand dollars let him come here,
buy as much land as he can pay for, stock it
with as many head of COWS as it will support
and he has certain income that will dis
count government bonds. He will have no
taxes to pay to build roads, bridges, school
houses or other public buildings,-these are
all here. He will be close to markets of
which he can take his choice; his fuel is
brought by rail almost to his door, and last,
but not least, he will find society equal to,
that which he left behind him in the East
The above, in brief, are but a few of the
advantages Mower county offers to the SCI
tier who wishes to buy lands. If you wish to
lease lands there are also opportunities for
that. In short, there are more and better
opportunities here for a man who has some
money to make more than can possibly be Of
fered elsewhere. Don't go beyond Mower
county until you have seen what we have to
offer here. Respectfully yours,
L. G.. MOORE.