Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-01-24
THE MENNONITEs,

THE MENNON1TEs.
Their Manitoba Villages-An Old
Trading Post.
Special Correspondence Of the 1SrER,OcEAN.l
At this season Of the year, in going
from Neche, the most northerly point
on the St. P, NJ. & NJ. railroad in Da-
kota, to Longdon, county seat of Cav
alier county, the traveller is obliged to
take the stage at Neche. When he has
driven about four miles northwestward
he finds himself in the province of Man
itoba. Here he is suddenly confront
ed by no less than 100 Mennonite viii
lagos. They are between SIX and eight
miles apart. If the traveller is like the
average easterner he is not familiar with
the history Of Manitoba and he will un.
doubtedly put forth the query: Who
are those people and whence did they
come? 1t seems they are sect who,
on account of their religious tolerations
and their refusal to take up arms, were
banished from Russia some years ago.
The English government, which always
stands ready to aid the rebellious,
offered them liberal inducements to
settle upon this almost vslueless tract
of land. We say "valueless" because at
the high water season Of the year the
country is almost perfect sheet Of
water. Each head of a family was given
l60 acres Of land, with horses, cattle,
etc., and = certain amount of money
besides free transportation. Farmers,
mechanics, merchants, etc., all live in
villages. They do not farm to any great
extent, but they raise an abundance of
garden vegetables. Driving about three
miles through this province the traveller
once more crosses the international line
at point seven miles from Neche.
Fourteen miles more in = southwest
erly direction through Pembina county
bring him to the ancient city of Wal.
halla. This little city which now con-
tains some $50 inhabitants was first
established as fur trading point by
the Hudson Bay company about 80 or
100 years ago. The present occupants
hold that At one time it contained no
less than 5000 people. There are still
many remnants in the shape Of large
cellars and broken down walls which
serve to show that these statements are
correct. Fur trading with the Indians
at that time proved profitable enter.
prise, but owing to the annihilation of
the buffalo and other animals and In.
dian outbreaks the little city was ut one
time almost if not entirely abandoned.
Tho country tributary to it being of the
best farming land is now all taken and
owned by good class Of farmers. They
are wholly Canadians.
Fifteen miles further and the trsy.
eler is in the pleasantly located village
OF Olga. This contains Is or 100 peo.
pie. The principle establishments are
the general stores of Messrs. Challe &
Winters, large Catholic church and
blacksmith shop. Challe & Winters are
two very courteous gentlemen and are
wide awake to the wants of their many
customers. They deal in everything
that has tendency to comfort the
home of the pioneer. They also keep
the postottice, which receives daily
mail from Neche. Here it will be OBJ
served that the INrER-O OCEAN is among
the arrivals.
A drive of 20 miles westward from
this city brings the traveller to the new
but fiourishing city Of Langdon. This
modern city is beautifully situated on
rise of ground that overlooks the coun.
try for miles around. Its first building
was erected about July last, the date
Of the organization of the county. There
are now several very fine and substan-
tlal frame buildings, the most capaciouy
being the court house, 25x60 feet, in
which is found the Offices Of all the
county officers. The clay" of country
tributary to Langdon is most pleasing to
the eye. 1t is now all occupied by re-
markably energetic class of farmers,
honest tillers of the soil. One charac.
teristic of these settlers is that they do
not depend entirely on grain for their
support, but they engage in "mixed
farming A good idea. They have all
kinds Of farm stock common to any of
the eastern states, and several of them
threshed as high as 5000 bushels of
wheat this year. They lack but, one
thing to make them the happiest peo-
pie in the northwest, and that is q rail.
road to carry off their surplus produc-
tions. 1t will be observed that they
raise as good timothy hay as can be
found anywhere.
The following is a list of the officers
Of Cavalier county: Commissioners
First district, George McGregor; second
district, W. J. Doyle; third district, u.
D. Garvey; w. J. Mooney, clerk of
court and probate judge; Patrick Nc.
Hugh, register Of deeds and county
clerk; H. D. ALERT, superintendent of
schools; c. B. Nelson, treasurer; Clar-
ence Hawks. sheriff: J. 7. O'Reilev