St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-15
More Settlers Taking Up Their Abode in
the Territory This Season Than
Ever Before.
Sweden and Norway Constantly Sending
Emigrants to Make Their Homes
Beyond the Red.
The Crops Much Further Advanced
Than Usual--E Excellent Outlook
For Stock Raising.
Movements of the Manitoba Manage
ment--Construct of the
Crookston 81 Duluth.
A Promising Outlook.

III this section Tor the complexion OF their
fall blowing and the general rounding up
of fall work. One of the important factors
to the production of good crops in spring
wheat country is fall blowing, by which the
farmer is enabled to commence seeding in
spring as soon as the snow has disappeared.
The experienced farmer in the Northern
counties does not wait for the frost to leave
the ground to any specific depth. but only
enough for the cultivator or drill to cover
the grain. The farmer. on the other hand,
who is Indifferent or negligent about his fall
blowing necessarily consumes much valuable
time in the spring to pillow, which
makes late seeding, which in turn brings
late harvest and very frequently less or in
ferior crops, or both. The value of fall
blowing is being more generally recognized
in the Red River valley and North Dakota,
and to this is due in great measure the
earlier completion of seeding in the spring.
Last winter was one OF the
MLDEST EVER KNOWN,
in fact no actual winter till far into JAN
uary. and the snowfall was insufficient for
ordinary sleighing till about Feb. 1, and
even then scarcely enough, and the farmers
who did not at that time take quick ad
vantage of the early February snow and
haul their seasons supply of wood were
later on compelled to use the wheels. Old
croakerS predicted a stormy March and
superabundance of snow, but these guesses
did not materialZe, and about
the latter part of March, or, to be
precise, by the 25th, the snow had gener-
ally disappeared from the plowed field, es-
pecially on the uplands, and in another
week the fields were ready for the seed
Our large farmers made hurried prepare
fOy hl
rather unexpectedly, and in some cases the
farmers telegraphed to their st. Panl agents
to hurry forward additional farm hands.
These farm hands are usually hired for the
season. from early spring till late i'll the
fall, wages averaging about $50 per month
with board. Extra harvest hands receive
for two months from 50 to $3.50 per day
with board. 1t is of value for the intend
ing emigrant to this section to know that
farm labor commands such wages. and that
farmers find it necessary to send even to
st. Paul for help. Owing to the
FAVORABLE FALL
and early spring, the seeding was COM
pleted in shape and the grain is now well
up, and under stimulus of rain and sun
shine gathering strong roots. OF course.
now and then farmer is found who at this
time is blowing and will SOW by and by
and trust to luck for crop. Summarizing
the information received from the best
farmers. merchants and others in the Red
River valley. should say that the acreage
this year under cultivation will exceed that
of last year by at least 10 per cent, and
probably Is will prove more nearly correct.
The question of drainage in the Red River
valley is just now receiving serious consid-
Grafton from our most practical people,
and no doubt this all-important subject
will in due time receive unanimous action
by our people. 1t is a question which
must sooner or later be solved, and the sooner
the better. l am glad to notice that the
GLOBE has given space to Well-written let
tiers on this subject. Two years bring
wonderful transformations in Northern
Dakota. Where two years ago the immi-
grants covered wagon served as
THE TEMPORARY HOME
for the family while the sod house was be-
ing built, is found to-day comfortable
dwelling, and on this identical claim from
twenty-five to fifty and in some cases one
hundred acres under cultivation. With a
good field glass on any of the ele-
vations to the north or north
west of Devils Lake scores of farms
may be counted where two years ago
only few claim shantles were visible.
Last years yield was something fabulous in
the Devils Lake county, and grain this
spring looks even better, if anything, than
| in the Red River valley, because seeding
was done earlier and the soil is naturally
warmer and responds more quickly to the
warm spring weather. The territory be-
tween Larimore and Devils Lake, dis
lance of about eighty miles, which two
years ago was the center of emigration of
north Dakota, and through which the
Manitoba extended its Devils Lake line, is
now one continuous settlement, and more
| prosperous and contented people can no.
| where be found. The overflow Of emigra-
ton to the Devils Lake district in 1884
went out beyond the lake, spreading out
| through
THE RICH VALLEYS
reaching toward the Turtle mountains. The
information received from the early pio-
| neerS was of character to induce an eX-
traordnary volume of immigration in 1885:
in fact, stream of immigration large
| enough to bridge the entire country be-
tween Devils lake and the Turtle noun
tains and the Mouse river, distance of
nearly 100 miles. The importance of this
country and the number and character of
| settlers may be readily formed when the
Manitoba road, which has proved itself the
| co-worker and companion of the pioneer,
has decided to continue its line this season
from DEVILS Lake to the Turtle mountains.
The grade for a distance of twenty-five
miles from Devils Lake is literally
swarming with men and teams and this
100 miles will no doubt be completed in
time to move this seasons crop, and add
that much to the volume of the railway
system tributary to st. Paul. Enough was
seen and heard during a few days in the
district to convince me that this part of
North Dakota is
WELL ADAPTED FOR STOCK RAISING,
and that the farmers and others appreciate
this fact, and will lose no time to demon
strate it. l saw bunch" of 1000 head
of young cattle shipped to Devils Lake by
J the Manitoba and trailed from the end of
the track toward Montana via the Mouse
river route. 1t is rather strong proof in
support of the early spring season
when droves of 1000 heads can be grazed
through North Dakota early in May. An
agricultural fair and stock exhibit for North
| Dakota, to be held at DEVILS Lake early in
July, is being discussed and meeting with
general Endorsement. The increase of acre
age this year over last in the territory be-
tween Larimore and Devils Lake is proba-
bly, IS per cent, but in the immediate vicin-
ity of Devils Lake proper the increase will
no doubt reach SO and perhaps 60 per cent.
| noticed large elevators at every station
between Larimore and the lake. and no
doubt the same system will be continued on
the extension, and farmers will be furnished
AMPLE FACILITIES
and stations with elevators located every
eight or ten miles, which means short haul
for the farmers. All kinds of theories are
| afloat as to the destination Of the present
extension of the Manitoba road. Some say
the Turtle Mountains and others the Mouse
River. While the exact destination may
be in doubt, one thing is certain, that the
line will be built far enough this season to