St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-02
MINNESOTA AS IT IS.
A Picture Of It's Resources
and Attractions for New
Settlers.
A Little Book That Shows
How the Farmers Say
They Prosper.
They Believe No State Has
Superior Advantages for
Their Calling.
Where and How Lands Can
Be Had by Those in Want
Of Them.

issued treating of The Farmers OPP
portunity'' in Minnesota. In view of
the recent activity OF many of the farm
erS in politics it might be presumed, eS-
pecially as it is the work of a political
writer, that it related to political affairs.
But such is not the fact. 1t is compi-
latlon and condensation by Capt. J. G.
Pyle, of st. Paul, of essential facts re-
lating to the resources of the state, with
its agricultural development and in
ducements for new settlers. There is
no suggestion in it of the romantic
picturing often found in the literature
of new regions prepared fol use
in other sections. The author
states in the introduction that
lie aims to avoid the fancitul
and exaggerated with the purpose
to provide reliable guide
book to the intending settler. He very
justly claims that he has sought dill
gently for facts bearing upon life and
its conditions in Minnesota, and has
stated them exactly as he found them"
He is led to believe that the conditions
of agricultural industry are more favol-
able to the new corners than in, per-
hap5, any other state. The writer says
further: at is believed by those who
/ know best, having had large experience
i'll many of the states of the Union, and
being familiar with the processes by
which men attain prosperity, that the
state of Minnesota contains within Itself
more of the natural elements of wealth
than perhaps any other equal area upon
the face of the globe"
Divisions of the Stale.
notfar Of oOnua,1ionoo q, @,oo+
ing of the local conditions, Mr.. Pyle
groups the frontier with divisions
which he terms the Red River valley
counties, the Park region, the northern
counties, the central eastern counties,
the central counties, the southeast
ern counties, the central southern
counties and the southwestern coun-
ties. Each of these he pre-
sents in some detail, explaining that
the Mississippi river, the Minnesota
! and the Red River of the North are
great natural dividing lines which indi-
cate themselves to the eye; but Just as
the divisions of the United States laid
down our standard biographies are
largely arbitrary, and intended only for
convenience, SO, for the most part, the
divisions which have been designated
are artificial. There is homogeneous
ness of soil and production in Mime
sofa which make it impossible to carve
up the state INTO sections distinct from
one another and differing in their prom
lnent characteristics.
General Outlines.
A hasty sketch is first given of the eX-
tent and general features of the state,
Its area, according to the government
surveys, is 1881 square miles, or 53,-
45S, $40 acres. More than 100000 acres
OF this is water surface, the state being
especially noted for the number as well
as the beauty of its inland lakes. Only
d, AT, 6S2-acreS of its surface have been
surveyed. The most of the unsurveyed
portion lies in the northern and north
eastern counties, which are largely tim
Der and mineral lands. Its area
exceeds that of all the New
England states together, and is
nearly as great as that of Ohio and
Pennsylvania combined. The general
elevation of the state above sea level is
high. There are no mountains, properly
so called, within its boundaries. AS a
rule the surface is pleasantly varied,
while there are within the state suf-
hcient elevations of a considerable
height to redeem it from monotony and
to give ample drainage. The highest
point so far as aScertained, is about 2, 200
feet above sea level. Within the state
three river systems have their source
The most important, of course, of
these is the Mississippi. rising in
the group of small lakes north
of the center of the state.
and flowing southwark, receiving in its
course the waters of the Minnesota and
its numerous tributaries. A narrow
watershed divides this from the streams
that flow into the Red River of the
] North waGfprn hnnnnaru xrrhiI a 70
the northeast other waters join the ST.
Louis and reach Lake Superior. This
| position OF Minnesota at the head of the
| waters, so to speak, of the continent. is
typical of her commercial and industrial
| situation. The extreme fertility of
MinneSota'S soil is accounted for in part
by the geologic formation. Prof. Win
chell says ''the states that are regularly
and deeply buried in drift deposits are
known as the best farming states in the
Union" Minnesota is no exception to
the rule.
The Climate.
1t is understood that for healthful-
ness and enjoyment the climate of the
state has hardly an equal in any part of
the county. The records of the signal
station at ot. Paul for ten years past are
| produced, showing that the average of
the rainfall near % inches annually.
| A point not always understood is noted
| in this:
The extreme long days of this north
ern latitude have forcing effect upon
vegetation. Crops mature in much
shorter space of time than than would
be possible elsewhere. The climate has
also notable effect upon animal life,
and upon one at least of our leading in
dustrles. The prominence which Mill
neSOta has attained as dairyIng state
is due very largely to the perfect adapta-
ton OF our climate to the production of
the finest grades of butter and cheese.
The farmer who is intending to make
change will commit very grave error,
both as to his future comfort and fut-
ure profit, if he leaves climate out of the
question. If he does consider the cues
ton. MinneSota's claims must be recog-
niZed.
| Population.
The increase of Minnesota's popula-
! ton is fair index to the uneXampled
development of the state. The earliest
| census was taken June IL, 1919. and
| gave the territory population of Abb.
| Just before the admission of the terri
| tory as state it had grown to 15O,O37.
In 1860 the federal census credited it
| WIFI Ii2,U|o. Ibis NUMBER was cOnSld-
erably more than doubled in the next
decade, notwithstanding the drain
caused by the War of the Rebellion end
the great Sioux outbreak in 1862, which
frightened away large numbersof settlers
and of intending immigrants. In 1870
its population was 439.4 07; in 1880, 7S0,-
| IT'S. There came no pause to this eX-
traordinary increase. The years be-
tween 1850 and 1890 added tremendously
to the muster roll of our people. The
records of the eleventh census give the
| population of Minnesota as 1901, S26.
The increase between 1870 and 1880 was
rs per cent, and between 1880 and 1890,
81 per cent. The latter rate of growth,
however, is much more remarkable,
since the percentage is calculated
on basis vastly greater. The
numerical increase in the past decade