The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-12-17
Letter from Dakota.

GRAND RAPIDS, N. DAKOTA, Dec. 8, 90
To the Editor OF The ESTERPRIsK;
The last month of the fast recedine
year. How time flies! And yet We are
not so surrounded by pleasures or the!gay-
eties of lie that we take no note of time.
All no. The rushing work of the fall
months In Dakota, leave lew leisure mo-
ments. From daylight until dark, every
day must count, for the chilly blasts Of
old winter may be lurking near, ready to
spring upon us at any moment and woe TO
the ones who are caught mapping, where
once his icy breath sweeps down from the
north west, fastening itself with tenaciiy
from which there is no escape usually,
until the warm rays Of the returning sun
loosens little by little its icy fingers and
slowly but surely relaxing Its grip, 1t
slips away and once more Dakota bios
SONS forth Without digress. Instead
Of balmy spring, l look out and see the
snow covering the earth and realize 1t Is
December. We had the finest weather
all through November, much more like
June, but since the beginning OF Decem-
Der colder weather has prevailed and o
light fall Of snow is now on the ground.
There is always so much TO do on farm
in any country, but our winters here re-
quire more preparation than with you,
but thank fortune we meyer have the rain
and mud to contend with. Stock OF all
kinds is going into winter in fine con.
ditiOn, The hot winds which so "demor.
allied" oul crops did not effect grazing
which was abundant. Wheat averaged
from nothing to s bushels per acre in this
county, ofpoor quality, very few oats and
no millet. A light crop Of rye will be
about the only feed raised In the county.
The situation | must confess, is any.
thing but nattering. Deplore 1t as we may
II nevertheless remains fact, that the
continued poor crops are compelling great
many TO leave and seek other fields Of
labor, u few returning TO their former
homes in the several states, while the
majority by Ear, are pushing on west to
Washington and Oregon and few to
Idaho, etc. Probably 80 or more from
hereabouts have located in Duluth, but
1--WE still livep No doubt of those re.
naming, not few have invested in land
stock and machinery, made extensive and
expensive improvements and realize that
To leave now, would be simply TO abandon
everything for there is absolutely nc
sale for any Of these things. II Is not an
easy thing 10 do, so they still hold on and
"hope on, hope ever" | would moi
have you believe there are more staying
here from choice, for there are many sucl
and they are taking the advantage Of The
lessi fortunate ones and increasing thei
herds, acres and implements, ETC., at thei
own figures The ground was in excel
lent condition flor plowing, better thar
since 'S4, one thing favorable toward
next seasons crop. A great many far
mers are buying sheep. Thousands o
head are owned 10 this county alone ant
thousands have passed through on thi
line for South Dakota. The low price Q
dairy products and beef have somewha
discouraged good many cattle owner
and sales are slow. Dressed beef ca
. be bought for 81 cts. per ID, but H. 4
has been buying few hundred gauge
Of cream per week at 10 cts. per gaug,
/. He closes up the creamery this week, b.
will buy dairy butter and dressed poultr
S for the western market. He has paid OF
9 oveI $4,000 TO his patrons The past seasC
9 and although II Is by no means what Il
Q same products would have brought fe
r years ago, II is fair compensation und
g existing circumstances.
!. Politics waxed warm indeed here, Al
g although somewhat disappointing in 7
'e suits, find our record as State cor
N pares favorably with most Of our old
q. sisters, who seem 10 have been "oif 4
nl hooks" as the saying goes.
ID La Moure Co. sends Democratic ST
IL Senator, but Republican 10 the Hou
D. White Co. officers were about equa
ce divided between the two parties. A cou
w ty composing district alone as spars,
st settled as this Is bound TO make stirr
a campaign, Personalities entered large
es into this one, the Democrats being re-
q. forced by so called Independents maxi
strong ticket II. II. and myself alten
ed the South Dahoka Fair at Aberdeen
% October. II was decided success N
~ withstanding the sore trials they are Il
nj ing. One notable feature was "woma
ny day" The gate receipts that day amour
" ed to over $24O0. The day was given
~ To the ladies' and among the ma
: speakers we're such prominent women
Susan B. Anthony, Rev. Olympia Brow