Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-16

der to protect these places from the prairie
fires, which rage every spring and fall, fur
rows are run about them in each direction,
so wide that the fire cannot leap across the
interval. Each settler also takes care to see
that his premises are protected from the fires
which may be set by his neighbors, by run
ming burrows or burning off the dry grass in
every direction; but in spite of all the pre-
cautions there is always much damage done
by the fires, often the buildings and stock of
some farmer being entirely consumed. These
fires are started for the purpose of burning
off the dried grass and stubble and making
the breaking easier, or in order to clear off
the old grass where hay is to be cut for win
tering the stock. Such fires are interesting
to look upon when they are raging at night
in every direction and the whole circle of the
horizon seems to be a belt of flame. When
loud they may be heard at quite distance,
as they rush over the ground more rapidly
than man or beast can travel.
All this region being 90 destitute of trees,
lumber is high, and fuel for cooking and
warming purposes is very dea-. Coal sells
at from S5 to $l2 ton, according to whether
it is soft or hard, while there is no wood for
sale in many of the towns, Corn cObs are
utilized where the farmer has raised much
corn, but the main dependence is hay twisted
into knots or ropes. SO that it will fit the
stoves The twisting is done at odd moments
by the men. or by the children, and some
times by the women of the house. While it
might seem as though hay would be the last
article to use for fuel, yet on trial it yields
quite satisfactory results, burning fast at first
but soon forming a mass of embers which
glow and burn for q long time, requiring only
occasional additions of fuel.
In this section the oxen are never driven
with the goad. but trained to be guided by
reins fastened to the horns or to bits in the
mouths of the beasts. This seems to be an
improvement over the Eastern custom. as the
teamster need not walk, and seldom does and
the oxen walk much faster than they are ac-
customed to in New England.
The climate of Dakota is very healthy, the
air is fine, dry free from malaria and full of
inspiring oxygen and invigorating ozone.
The winters are cold, the thermometer easily
running down to 40 degrees below zero, but
on account of the dryness of the atmosphere
the temperature is not felt to be so cold as it
really is. The "blizzard," with its biting
winds and its cutting SHOWS, is an unpleasant
feature of this territory in the winter and
| early spring. The snow falls so fast and so
binding that an out-building few yards
| away can not be seen from the house, and
frequently in a severe blizzard men have lost
their way and persisted while attempting to
pass from the house to the stable. In sum.
mer the days are quite hot, there being no
trees for shade or to temper the scorchinQ
rays of the sun, but each night grateful
breezes cool the heated atmosphere, and make
sleep and rest possible and refreshing to mind
and body. For three winters past but little
| hos follon in ehn
ry, hardly foot altogether at one time, il
seeming to be outside of the snow belt.
I OF course the railroads have been the max.
ing of this country, opening up the territory
and furnishing ready means of reaching the
markets with the products of the land. Some
of these railway systems are immense ia
their proportions, and are models of excel
lence in management, notably the Chica
go and North Western railroad, which, ex
tending from Chicago to the west and north
west in every direction, owns and operates OF
controls nearly six thousand miles of the
best constructed and best equipped railroad
in the country. Its lines are of heavy stee
rail, its bridges are of steel. iron and rock
and all OF lite appointments are tn,
best. The Northwestern reaches with it
branches nearly all of the richest and bes
portions of Dakota, and, running through ex
press trains as it does, equipped with palace
sleeping cars. superb day coaches and dining
cars, where the finest meals can be had, il af
foras all the comfort, safety and convenience
the traveller or settler could desire. Your
correspondent has never travelled over a rail
way so extended in its proportions where tn,
careful and attentive management of tn,
heads of departments had impressed itself .,
thoroughly upon all the subordinate official
and employees of the company, renderin,
them very attentive to all the wishes an,
wants of its patrons.