Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-28
Gland OF THE DAKOTAs."
Some Interesting Facts from Family
Recently Residing here.

SOm0 IHbtTcStlns EdCto itcA.A ~
Recently Residing here.
a man came into the Immigration Office
in this city few days since, and handed
letter to DIR. Latham, which had been
written by him to the bearer some time
ago. The letter was addressed to the
stranger where he resided IN northern Da-
kota, and contained information concern
ing the climate and resources OF California,
and the opportunities for moderate invest
ments. He said he came to see II we
actually had a winterless climate, and a
good fruit country as he had been fold
there was a great deal of exaggerat1on in
statements concerning it. DR.. Latham
called his attention 10 some October
peaches that were upon his table, when the
man inquired what they We're. The Doctor
was surprised at the evidently sincere cues
ton, and replied that tn"y were peaches.
The stranger took one of them in his hands
and said " | never saw peach before IN
my life, except those that were canned"
He said that in Dakota, where he had
lived. no fruit whatever could be grown
but Siberian crab-apples, as no. other kind
would stand the climate, and the winters
are so cold that even crab-apple trees will
freeze to the heart and die. The ground,
he says, will freeze four or five feet in
depth, and the snow lies upon the ground
five or six months every year. The winters
are so long and severe that stock has to be
fed between six and seven months every
season.
DR.. Latham then took the man out to
fruit store, and, after witnessing the be-
wildering stare which was given 10 the
fine array of different varieties, purchased
few pounds of grapes and some peaches,
and accompanied the homeseeker to the
depot, where his wife and three children
awaited his return. Strange to say, nei-
ther the man nor any of his family had
ever before seen a grape nor peach. The
woman remarked that she was born in
northwestern Minnesota, and had always
lived there or in northern Dakota, and no
fruit was grown at either place, nor brought
there
After brief stay in the city they accom-
panied DR.. Latham 10 the foothills in
search of land for home. Stopping at a
ranch, fire was built in the evening to
take off the chill from the room where
they were sitting, which occasioned fur
ther remarks upon life in Dakota. The
wife of the stranger took mp a piece of
wood, and looking at it as if it was curl
osity, said: During seven years that we
have lived in Dakota, we have never had
stick of wood to burn nor piece of coal.
Our only fuel has been hay" They then
explained how the hay was twisted into
knots and then burned in a stove Every
time a stove-lid was taken off, the light
ashes would Use and float about the room.
The weather the man said, was SO cold
in the winter that they could not stand it
to twist the hay out of doors, preparatory
to burning, and preparing it in the house
kept the room constantly Uttered like a
fire but short time, and then it had to be
replenished. In the coolest weather it was
necessary to get up several times night
and put renewed supply of hay into the
stove, in order to keep vegetables in a
cellar underneath from freezing. The
country there they describe as bleak,
level plain, with cold wind coming
down from the north and almost beyond
endurance in its severity.
After looking about the foothills short
time, the home-seeker asked his wife if she
was willing to go back to Dakota, when
she replied that she would go only upon
the condition that he would take back the
trees, fruits and climate which they had
found in California. As result of the
foothill visit, the man purchased ranch of
100 acres, on which were very comfortable
buildings, and also a small orchard and
vineyard in bearing, and about 100 acres
cleared, paying about $1,000. They imme-
diately took possession, and are happy as if
they had merged from perdition into Para
disc. And yet Dakota is being doomed at
the East as a desirable place in which to
live!