Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-12-12
Dakota Correspondence.

EDITOR HERALD:-We read ia the Tel
Ter which with the HERALD comes week
ly to our Dakota home, that the editor
of the former is making trip through
the west. | was about to say that |
wished him all possible enjoyment of
said trip. but Judging from his first aud
second letters, descriptive of Dakota.
I'll withdraw tho wish, not on the ac-
count Of any i'll will toward the man,
but because we have come TO the con-
clusion Gudging by his grumbling) that
he is altogether too bilious. We're he
to stay time in Dakota, breathe our
pure, health giving ozone, walk or
drive over what he terms our "bleak
prairies," aud open his heart to con-
viction, he'd soon cease grumbling and
wear the ruddy smiling ear to ear smile,
OF the despised Dakotian.
Indignation has driven your cores
pondent to take up the pen and attempt
defense for our dear Dakota The
second letter commenced with the
drouth. We had drouth to b3 sure,
but it was partial in its severity. Some
portions, including Rchland county.
where we live, never gathered better
crops, in any year. The majority of
farmers in North Dakota haye enough
TO carry them over, and like farmers
everywhere expect to do better next
year. Too much has been written
about this same drouth and consequent
suffering. Those who suffer next win
ter are class who always ''sutfer," be-
cause they can not or will not work, OF
have been otherwise unfortunate
through accidents which are liable to
overtake farmers, and especially mex
perienced ones everywhere. Each
county in N. Dakota is more than able
to provide for these unfortunate ones,
giving them the necessities of life at
their request. Lancaster people need
not think of sending their old clothes,
dried provisions, butter and eggs to us,
we don't need them and won't stand any
| gratuitous contributions of that sort.
Choosing the most unlovely time OF
the year, the editor passes over the best
of our country with his eyes shut, pass
ing through Fargo and jamestown, with
fine surrounding country, and opens his
eyes at Bismarck, section we all con-
cede to be poor. We venture to say
that even at that God-forsaken place,
he might have seen as much to COM
mend as to deplore. "There are many
people in Bismark who are ill bred, is
the next pleasant piece of information.
Dakota ranks 4th in regard to general
Intelligence. There are statistics prov
ING this to be the case. Education is
more general here than in the older
states. We do not say this in sny boast
full spirit, but because it is true and we
invite all to inform themselves on the
subject. Your correspondent has heard
many ladies', who have travelled con-
siderably, say that they received in
creased politeness in direct ratio rs they
journeyed westward. Lecturers and
others in their tramps over the country
are surprised at the bright, quick witted
people they meet, SO we'll informed on
all the important topics of the day and
many even more than this, cultured
Having lived here number of years
myself, can say that as far rs | have
been able to observe that my views
comedies with this last statement
The people as a rule are neither fool
no Indians, as many eastern people
seem to imagine. There is mixture
of nat:onalitieS here. The American
Element come mostly from the eastern
states, and in no town of any size i
there lack of good, intelligent, Christ
ian people, who are ready and anxiou:
{ to greet others of like aspirations.
} A few years ago. in remarking how
many had gone to Dakota (partic
. ularly Teller Typos Mr. Pollock re
| ferred to these same migrants in word
t to this effect. The wild geese are hyin!
west 1t strikes some here that thes
| Same geese, if geese they were. Ii
upon a fine country, veritable whea
field In this country they have bull
J their nests, and some of these nests arl
, lined with down. refer to the home
= of Samuel and BENZ, Taylor and tn
: Judge family who left Grant Co som
years ago, James A. Walsh is another
: who has done well in Dakota. 1t is tru
, his place of business is in Helena, Mont
) but he and his partner, Mr. Newman
t still own valuable land in Sargent c.
/, The divers, Blandings. and Falleys ar
other families coming from Grant Co.
J and settled here years ago, and have al
t made a good living and are conented
r This is beautiful country, to ap,
who admires an agricultural prospect
t Of course there is all the difference il
2 the world between The scene here AM
: in Grant Co. We have no hills, rock
( nor chasms to amount to any thing, bu
' we have a fine rich prairie. aud jus
} here let me say that it is comparative J
easy task for farmer coming to Oak
to gain footing aud home. He take
{ up his or sec. Of land, paying the Coy
eminent 81. 25 per acre, puts up house
breaks few acres, and the land is his
After breaking the sod the farm is won
and requires no grubbing nor fencing
which takes the very life of the back
wouds farmer. He may take up tw'
otter claims in like manner
presumption and tree claim after tho
homestead has the house and ten acre