River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-02-12
Some Facts About Dakota.


The following extract from private
letter from our former townsman Joseph
Stephens to his nephew VIM. III. Tozer
will be read with interest:
GLENDALE, OAK, Feb z, 1891.
We have had beautiful weather this
winter; very little snow. All kinds of
stock runs at large night and day and get
their own living on the prairie and are
in good condition. Most of the horses
and cattle have not been inside of a shed
or stable this winter or been fed any hay
or grain. In fact no one has had any
grain to feed since harvest so the horses
have tn go without, yet they keep in good
condition as long as they can run out.
In regard TO the condition of most of
the farmers of this section, can truly
say that they are in a very bad condition
and must have help to get seeds of all
kinds or they cannot put in crop next
spring.
We have had two years of almost a to-
tai failure of crops. Yes, L might say
three years, for three years ago we did
not have near half ercp Jake IL tnIos:5h
the county. Ard, the last two years,
] don't think small grain of all kinds
would avera &c two bushels per acre for
all the VIII eat that was s0wn, and potatoes
and vegetables of all kinds were just as
| bad in proportion. The last two years
| thous a'Ids of acres of grain was never cut
at all.
was talking with an acquaintance OF
mine who lives about seven miles south
of Glendale, near the Brown county line.
| He said he sowed go acres to wheat and
| harvested only 30 acres of the best OF 1t.
| He had to pay $40 TO get machine to
| set up to thresh 1t and he only got 10
/ bushels of wheat The poor fellow al
most cried as he told me that the shei AZ
had sold his team lIat day under mort
gage He has large family OF children.
But this is only one out OF thousand ol
such cases.
| Now, viii, this is the first time have
| written much concerning the condition
of this country; but there is such a dispo-
sition among the newspaper men, money
loaners. land spectators, county commits
| sioners and others, 10 keep the real facts
| of the condition of the people from the
outside world that | am disguised with
the whole thing. They say it will hinder
emigration if the real facts are known
| think emigrants should know the rea
facts in regard to country they are golns
to, and then if they see fit to go there al
right, they can blame no one.
| A newspaper will accompany this letter
in which you will see that the people o
this county are getting very Indignant
over the proceedings OF the county com
missioners. Ry the way, | think thest
commissioners are very much like pigs
tall more for ornament than use. They
are very expensive luxury, assure you
| Several good citizens from here hav'
been up north trying to procure seeC
wheat for those who actually need it, ant
the people there are willing TO donate
wheat and all kinds of seeds, but they
want those who come begging to have
the endorsement of the county commits
sioners 50 that they will know they arr
not being imposed upon; but the com
missioners will not sign their papers
| You ask why? Well, il you knew hoy
many days they put in last year eXamln
ing and passing upon seed wheat appllca
tions, etc, at $500 per day and mileage
YOU would understand the reason why
you would also see why our taxes are s.
| extremely high. This county is In deb
nearly all it's worth.
Dicky county is the northen boundar.
of the drouth-stricken district, which eX
tends down into South Dakota a lon
distance. We have had a very mile
winter 50 far, otherwise there would hay
been a great deal of suffering. OF cours
no one can get one cents worth OF any
thing on credit now, for they do not know
| as it Will be any better next year, ant
most of the people have everything mort
gagged for all 1t will bring l have hear
tnat Brown county is IN just about th'
same fix.
Perhaps / have not been quite definite
enough in answering your letter. es
| Will, the most of the farmers OF this anl
Brown counties are very hard up anC
must have help from some source. An,
thing to eat, drink or wear VIII be yer.
acceptable to most of them. My wifi
asked one of our neighbors what h'
needed the most. lie said he did no
know of anything but what they die
need. He was poor, but very temper
| ate, honest man, with FAMILY OF nv
small children. This is only sample o
great many in this country. Peopl
need lots of warm clothing for this coun
try, the wind blows 50 much and so hard
Really, clothing is most needed.
Those who are able are going to irri
. eating with artesian wells. There ar,
two under way now and will be ready BY
spring. We have the very best of soil
but need more rains, or water. We ais,
have a real good class OF people here
Temperance sentiment strongly prevails
and prohibition is strictly enforced, anC
don't YOU forget it, John Boyle, our late
district attorney, and Judge Lauder, boti
River Falls boys, make the whisky mel
hunt their holes.
Bv the way, VIII makes a splendid
Judge and gives entire satisfaction.
asked him if he remembered the many
fights you and he had, and which wat
the best man? He said that was cast
| that WINS naver dapidpd