The Newtown bee., 1890-11-28
The Dakotas.

NHTFUTVH, DHKOIn, SCCOnW oily O
this state In size, Is near Its north boundary
and about 200 miles west OF its east line. II i.
town of 1000 inhabitants in good agricul
tural section, IL the county seat of Brown
county, has nice public and private buildings
III water supply Is from artesian wells l00t
feet in depth. Four railroads enter there
capital which are all In good condition. The
crops hereabouts have been quite poor, espec
Tally for the last two years. Yet business men
appear fairly prosperous, farmers ditto. Some
are very respondent. Eight years ago, the
the great rush for this country, which was
then (nnd is now with sufficient rainfalD as
could hardly furnish transportation sufficient
Tor the demand and, In n short time, every
available foot OF free land In the territory was
taken up under United States patent laws and
the bowling Wilderness, hitherto only occu-
pied by the red men, over whose broad do
main the buffalo, elk, deer, etc. roamed at
VIII, was occupied by stout hearts and willing
hands. The bone and sinew OF this and tor.
eign lands were here and soon the desert was
innue 10 bloom as the rose. The virgin soil
was upturned and many millions OF bushels
OF wheat were produced. Most who came
were without funds, fortune seekers DESTROYS
OF securing free lands, out OF which to secure
their fortune. Some capitalists bought up
large tracts upon speculation, but the most
were poor. After n little, capital found this a
favorable spot and millions OF IL came for In.
vestinent, and today, In every town of any
size IN either OF the Dakotas, You find from
one TO nall dozen loan companies and think
that one gentleman, u doctor whom / met
here. formerly from Norwich Conn, but who
tor 70 years has resided In Madison, wiscon.
SIN, ana was visiting his son, a farmer here for
seven years, put u about right when he said
farmers were suffering more from extortion
loan companies than from lack OF rain. The
companies take all the bonus they can get,
ibie (but know that II has been done), then
charging ~ per cent. interest for the balance,
on . To years time. and, often to 3 per cent
per month ON collateral security. No. hard
wheat IL worth u Oh in Chicago and only 75c
Is the farmers by right. the ra Ia a mid
dlernen get. The Northwestern farmers are
being frozen out, not so much by unfavorable
sensons, MS by monopoltsts and one here does
not wonder Mt the mighty political land slide,
as they call IL In the Northwest. Whole com.
munities, which formerly never cast more
than one or two Democrotic votes, went over
en- masse and voted solid Independent or
Democratic. The Northwestern farmers are
an Intelligent class. All business interests are
dependent upon the success OF the farmer.
Party chains hold but lightly. The more con.
servatiye hsepuDlican papers In the Northwest
since ciecuon are giving excellent advice to
their readers, which, IL needed by their party
leaders, VIII serve to the benefit OF the party
same In both the Dakotas, although some
parts are more prosperous than others. In
me middle 90, and western parts OF both. except
IN the blhck Hills region, where mining Is the
chief occupation and Is very successful, there
has been lack OF rain and short crops. AS u
are In good condition financially and doing
well. Thrifty, prudent managers, who came
here poor, are generally doing well. Where
and tools tor raising wheat, many have been
swnmped. stock farmers are making money
farmer whom visited In Clark county has $40
acres and has rs head OF cattle from calves up
are used here considerably; has also 100 sheen
sheep cost 81 and cows fl5 to $50; oxen $75 on
the average. sheep average 10 pounds of
average ~. SO the average Income from each
~ TO put itlowl o. and the cost Is very small,
IN land can be bought for % or o. per acre
sheep produce twice as much wool here as in
the East, climate being favorable. You will
scarcely find In our home markets better corn
led beef and mutton than you find here, sim
ply grass ted. native grass being so sweet.
FLAX Is very profitable crop, being. worth
acre this year. The finest quality OF potatoes
are raised, but poor crop, this year Barley
y much raised. Very poor crop OF corn. As
the sportsman's opportunity at present. Elk
and deer are quite numerous along the Red
river. saw several brought into amarket in
Fargo and geese are as plentiful black
birds Ut home. around the lakes. One man
brought IN 100 that he had shot Ducks are
Gus inkos abound In fish. stranger IL just
surprised ut the bounty and luxury OF this
a ago na
country. as had been led to suppose the Da-
kotas were going backward. The country has
viii soc where before was not a building y or
II perhaps occasionally n small shanty, nne
% anna oo q bn %
homes. Perhaps there are more less COSTLY
and unpretentious.hu the country Is well set
years the drought has cut the crops, many
nrtesinn wells have already been put down.
Many more Will = have 81, e be pnt down Where
wheat raising will have 70 be resorted to. On
evory hand You hear expressions OF faith in
perons seasons IN future, viii be the garden
0f Americn.--IIamesC q. johnson, South Dako-
ID. November ~, 1890.