Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-06

major part of the land has felt the civil
zirg influence of the pioE; Is fenced for
the pasturige of fiocks and herds or has
taken on the dignity of a meadow, where
its rich her3sge is converted into fra
gran hay. In some portions, instead of
scattering fields of grain, almost the
whole country as far sb the eye can see,
seems one vast grain field, and in many
localities substantial farm houses, barns
and outhouses are numerous, herds OF
horses and cattle scattered here and
there over the country. l counted 146
horses in one pasture that stretched for
at least a mile along the railroad.
The most embarrassing portion OF the
country between Minneapolis and Grand
Forks in Northern Dakota, is that sec
ton occupied by the great bonanza wheat
farms of the Grandins, Dalrym pie and
Others. from the fact that they seem to
be uninhabited. For miles and miles, on
the right and on the left, no sign of
human occupation appears in dwellings
or stock, nothing but the waving wheat
or its stubble shows that man has taken
possession and laid it's soil nnder tribute.
Social and morally considered, it is IN
doUbtediy misfortune to any communi
ty where large tracts Of land are owned
occupied and absolutely controlled by
one man. It iSolates the owner and his
employees from all neighbcrs. It natur-
ally com pels the boarding together of
large number of men to the general ex-
clusior of women and of family life. It
makes difficult any educational or moral
training Of the community, and further,
these great farms naturally compel the
production Of one crop, and that Of grain
which continually takes from the soil and
returns nothing to it.
It seems only question Of time land
the sooner that time comes the better)
when these bonanza farms must be div1d-
ed into a great number of small ones,
Owned and cultivated by individual farm
ers and their families, are thereby giving
a community OF independent citizens,
possessed by a spirit OF emulation and
healthful rivalry.
The natural result Of this division into
small farms of oneeight, quarter or half
section, accompanied by the exhaustion
of those elements in the soil necessary to
wheat production, would be the introduc-
ton of mixed farming. The raising of
cattle, horses, mules, sheep rnd pigs, with
the rotation of crops of wheat, barley,
oats fax and potatoes, would do more to
return and conserve the fertility OF these
Dakota farms, and I believe, would be
more profitable than the present system
Of exclusive grain farming. What seems
to be needed in the Red River Valley es-
Decially is more farmers, smaller farms,
more stock and greater variety of crops.
Every time / visit this wonderful farm
ing region L can not help wishing that
the scores of New England young men
who are scratching and coaxing their
stony, billy farms for living could visit
this valley during ths harvest season and
make note of its fertility, the ease with
which it is cultivated and the abundant
harvests it yields of every crop except
corn and even this is grown in abundance
for family use while green! This rich
and healthful region, it seems to me,
offers large inducements to enterprising
young men and with the increasing num-
Der of thriving towns and cities, the
monster Touring mills of Minneapolis
and the numerous railroads affording
cheap transportation and good market
for all products, there seems no reason
why scores of young farmer should not
go in and possess the land and reap a
reward for the labor bestowed.