River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-01-15
Dakota Letter.


Taking everything into consideration
the growth of Dakota for the past year
has been simply marvellous. Railroads,
grist mills, elevators, buildings, both pub
Tic and Notwithstanding, improved
stock. and immigration has changed the
appearance of the country beyond the
conception of those not personally ac-
quainted with the country one year ago
The short crop of 'S3, and the unusual
severe winter following, seemed only to
stimulate progress.
The educational growth of the territory
is still more marvellous. For the year
ending June so, S4, the expenditures for
common schools were 81 800, 87S. For two
university buildings, 100000, and for the
two Normal School buildings, $27 900. 1t
must be remembered that this was the
first wear of the town plan, with the un-
favorable circumstances connected with
the change from the district plan. When
we consider that a sixteenth part OF the
whole territory is school land, from which
no money is attainable at present, nor
while it remains q territory, what Will pc
the result when it becomes state, with
the privilege of using its educational
funds. :,
In common with the rest of the world
there was a large crop here the past
els per acre. but two hail storms-one on
the 25th of July and one on the 18th OF
Aug.-destroyed much grain and did
other damage, and many farmers did not
attempt to cut any of their grain as there
was nothing left to cut.
The low price of wheat will lessen the
acreage next season and great amount
of land will be sown to flax next season
and land not plowed last fall will be sum
mer fallow. The general disposition Is
toward more stock and less wheat.
Stock of all kinds can be wlntered cheap
er here than in Wisconsin, as stock Will
keep fat on wild grass hay without any
grain, and the summer feed costs MOTH
ing
RichIand county borders on the Llsse-
ton reservation, and many OF this tribe
are going into farming. The U. >. gov
eminent distributed 400 sheep among
the tribe the past summer.
The Dakotas, range of hills, runs n.
w. and S. K. through this reservation.
They are furrowed by ravines, in which are
timber and springs of water. Each native
or half breed over q years Of age has a
claim Of 100 acres of prairie, and the
same amount of timber land, and as soon
as he breaks 90 acres OF his prairie lana
he GETS title to both claims and then
mas Iil6 pilNllSES "a GOhAAAS 'NONN - 49,
white man.
The city of WahpetOn has had
healthy growth the past summer. A
court house, school, (brick, at a cost OF
$50 OO0) hotel, church, and arranging for
water works to cost $4,000 to be COM
pleted in the spring, are among the pub
lie improvements.
The completion of the Fargo Southern
r. r. last spring-giving through freight
and passage to Chicago-glves material
advantage to Wahpeton and Fargo. This
is q competing line and does not pool
with the n. P. and M. q st. z. If the
Dakota Midland r. r. concludes to run
by Wahpeton instead ofCampbell, (which
IS generally expected) it will give Wah-
neton four through lines of railroad. The
Dakota Midland's proposed route is from
Glendale, Dickey Co., to Duluth. Con-
siderable grading was done last fall, and
we are promised an early completion of
the road from Glendale to railroad con-
nections on the Red River. This road
will open up the park region in Rlchland,
Sargent, Day and Dickey counties. This
region is not calculated for bonanza
| farming. as it is rolling, with stone on the
swells. and broken by lakes and swamps
which makes it well calculated for the
moderate farmer.
The large farmer, with from five to
twenty thousand acres, is a damage to the
| country, and if wheat should continue
below y cts bushel, the practice will
have to be abandoned of necessity. The
expense for buildings, teams, machinery,
| wages. taxes and incidentals is enormous.
Then the social, intellectual, moral and
educational features are bad. large
| force of floating disinterested, heteroge-
neous help are required for SIX or seven
months, and the remainder OF the year
| thew are either idle or restless.
| Neighbors and schools are isolated,
| land is wearing out for want of rotation OF
crops or recuperation. The poor settler
neglects his own farm for the sake OF
| little cash. But | need not enumerate the
objections, they are obvious and numer-
! Gus.
Wheat has ranged about 81 cents for
| No hard, and AZ cts. for No. regular
Oats 20, corn 40, butter % a. 80, potatoes
| % per bushel Horses from 800 to 500
per head; oxen from 800 to 500 per
woke: cows from $50 to $50 a heal
There has thus far been but little snow
and the wheeling is good. The first cold
| below zero reached us Dec 10, when the
| mercury dropped TO 20 below, and ranged
| from 20 to . below on Dec. 10Th, when
| it raised to above zero, with but little
variation until the close of the year.
| JOHN MCMILLAN.
Wahpeton, Oak, Jan. l, 1885.