The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-28

combined. AS | have ridden through
the part above named, have been sur
prised to see the enormous quantity Of
wheat, oats and barley stacked ready to
be threshed-and in great number of
instances the work of threshing was in
progress. ! am told by persons in po-
sition TO know that the yield of small
grain far surpasses their most sanguine
expectation. There is also an enor-
nous amount of hay in stack and
very large quantity still to cut, as it is
| just the right time to cut the native
prairie grass. This dry weather is very
favorable for the work, as the farmers,
or ranchmen as they term them here,
don't have the uncertain weather to
contend with which Vermont farmers
have experienced this season. Corn is
very good, but not equal to the crop in
western Iowa, where there is an i'm
mense growth. The variety raised
here is smaller than farther south and
consequently doesn't make so great a
show in the field.
The fields and prairies are thickly
dotted with fine cattle fit for market.
In large yards adjoining the buildings
are to be seen fat hogs, and one won
ders where they are all consumed. The
prices are Chicago prices, less freight
and commission charges. There is a
ready sale at all times, as there is a
competition among the buyers unknown
in Vermont at the present time. In
no section of Dakota travelled over
(and have left the train and driven
out among the farmers), have | seen
the least sign of restitution or suffer-
ing at present or indications of winter
coming. On the contrary. there is a
look of general thrift, prosperity and
cortentment, to a much greater degree
than / have constantly seen at home
among our Vermont farmers. + ON
the most reliable information | have
been able to obtain, the wheat crop
(Which is the most desirable crop here)
of 1856 was estimated at 30000,000
bushels; in 'S7, $4,000, 900 bushels; in
'SS, 70000, 000 and the present crop,
so 900 600 to $1,000, 900 bushels, a
steady increase both in acreage and
amount produced per acre. Corn, oats,
potatoes, flax and other crops show
corresponding increase. This is not
a one-crop part of Dakota. The soil is
a deep, black, rich soil, capable of
long series of cropping without fertil-
ization, and of still producing what
seems marvellous to cultivator of our
eastern land. 1t is adapted to all crops
raised in Washington county unless it
is apples. | have never seen any one
has tried to raise this fruit, as all say
they can raise grain and stock and buy
their apples at saving. There are
also many kinds of produce not raised
in Vermont. The acreage of all farm
crops increases yearly as the land is
taken up by newcomers. Scarcely a
train but brings in purchasers and set
tiers from the old country and our
eastern and middle states. have also
met many from Illinois and Minnesota.
The new country just opened across
the river, the Sioux Reservation, en-
braces II 900, 900 acres, or as much as
, Vermont and New Hampshire COM
bined. l have just met a man who has
been over it, who says the general lay
of the land is similar to that in western
Iowa, with higher elevation, it being
from 800 to $500 feet above tide
, water. The soil, he says, is superior
, to any we have ever seen east
of the river. In the last
elcCIlOu lUeTe were 10 ,UUU VOIeS cast.
| while there are about $4,000 farms
, showing that there is still room fol
>, more from our over-crowded cities. Al
this place there has been marked
change for the better since my last visit
t in October, 1888. The opening of the
! Reservation, with the very probable
choice of this city as the capital, has
had very stimulating effect. Although
there is no craze, or wild boom, still
+ property has advanced from ten to one
Y hundred per cent, according to location
o and circumstances. With the impetus
which the opening of the Reservation
i added to the probable selection of the
t city as the capital, unless political wire
q pulling and the use of money secures
a the choice to some older and richer
town, will give it, Pierre is destined tC
. be city of importance. 1t is the nat
:, ural gateway to the West. There il
!, now corps of engineers in the employ
n of the Illinois Central railroad survey
ing road from here to Puget SounC
{ via the Yellowstone Park 1t shorten'
:, the distance between the two oceans
# nearly two hundred miles, and has
i grade across the Rocky Mountains o
only two per cent. Please excuse tn,
: length of this communication Their,
J. are so many points new to an Eastern
e man that it is difficult to close.
/ A. O. CUMMINs.