Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1889-04-10
STEVENS COUNTY.
Description Of the Garden Spot Of Mlnne-
sota,--lts Resources and Devel-
opments.

UeSCilpttOH " Tue ddIuCH opOL OF WtUHG-
sota.--lts Resources and Deve-
opments.
From the Northwestern Real Estate and FL
nancial Regster.l
Stevens County may be we'll called the
garden spot of Minnesota. 1t is located
west of the center of the State, 1t con-
tains 355, 1856 acres of the choicest land
the sun ever shone on. The lakes with
in its borders are many and cover sur
face of 10,412 acres, making total aver
age of s65,74S acres. The Pomme de
Terre River runs through the county
from the northeast to the southwest.
This river as we'll as the lakes in its
borders, abound with great variety of
fish, and on the river are several mill
sites, only two of which are utilized.
The lakes and river have generally gravel
bottoms and solid shores; the water is
deep and pure. There are numerous ex-
cellent sites for summer resorts on the
shores of many of those beautiful lakes.
The county is twenty-four miles square,
and contains 16 geographical townships,
designated in numbers 1913, 1874, 1875 and
1876 north and ranges numbered Al, AZ,
43 and A west.
THE SOIL
of Stevens county is alluvial, filled with
phosphates and other fertilizing proper
ties to depth of from two to six feet
with gravely or clay subsoil; it is be-
yond the power or ability of man to ex-
haust the soil by cultivation for many
generations to come. Its numerous
lakes and river, with ravine leaders fur
nish a good system of drainage, and its
grasses are so nutricious that its cattle
are at all times fat for the shambles.
The soil is exceedingly we'll adapted for
the growing of grasses and roots OF all
kinds for the raising of wheat, oats, flax,
barley, rye, sorghum and corn, and all
kinds of garden produce as we'll as that
of Illinois. 1t is emphatically a prairie
county; almost every acre can be cult
yated without the super human labor OF
cultivation, necessary in timber coun-
try.
Wheat yields on an average 10 bushels
to an acre. 1t has been known to yield
40 bushels, oats yield on an average 10
bushels and as high as 70 bushels has
been threshed from an acre. Other
crops yield equally as we'll.
| STOCK FARMS.
| Stevens county can boast of some OF
the finest stock and dairy farms in the
United States. Doubtless many people
will say that this statement is false, but
we have the proof to show for what we
say. Among the farms we mention
those of the Minnesota Agriculture
| Company, near Hancock, also the Pope
and Stevens County Association also
near Hancock. The farm of R. G. JEFF
tferson between Morris and Hancock, anc
several others.
| RAIL ROADS.
The st, Paul, Minneapolis & Manitobt
railway intersects the countyfrom south
cast to the northwest corner. The Little
Falls and Dakota Railway Ia branch o.
the Northern Pacifc) has its presen
terminus in Morris. The st. Cloud ant
Lake Traverse Railway IA branch of thu
st. p, M. & M. Ry.) running to Browns
Valley, also has it's eastern terminus il
| Morris, while two other roads are sur
:veyed running through Morris, whlcl
doubtless will be in operation in thu
near future, Thus (at presently we hav'
/ outlets in all directions for our produces
and especially have we a competing
wheat market between Minneapolis ant
Duluth.
The Government land in the county il
mostly taken up in Homesteads and tre'
claims, but there is still large amour
of uncultivated land for sale by the raj
road companies and spectators at from
$5 to $40 per acre on very easy terms
There is considerable quantity of in
demnity lands in dispute as to owner
ship between certain railroad companie
and the government, also there are farm
partly improved which can be purchased
a little above the value Of the improve
ments which are owned by that migra
tory class who are not satisfied to SETTLE
down in home any where.
We are pleased to. state that the count.
is almost wholly rid of this class o
shiftless, good-for-nothing people, anC
that their place is rapidly being taken by
a more industrious class of thrifty farm
ers, who are making good improvements
and building comfortable homes.
The official census of 1885 show thu
the populations Of the County 4,511 ant
we estimate the present population O.
the county at $500. The Scandinavian
Irish, and German nationalties are wei
represented; while the Americans pre-
dominate. There are As school districts
with good school houses in the county
it is well supplied with good public
roads and grain elevators on all the rail
roads running east, west, north and
| south.
The st. Paul, Minneapolis g. Manitoba
and also the Little Falls 6 Dakota raj
roads both run through what is called
the Big Woods, so that the county is
abundantly supplied with timber an6
fuel; the best dry, hard maple is gener
ally sold at about $500 per cord, and
other qualities lower in porpotion to
their value, while the Northwestern fuel
Co. has always on handza full supply OF
coal of all kinds, from Iowa soft te
Lehigh Valley, and anthracite at the
cheapest rates they can afford to work.
The elevators of the county took in