The Republican journal., 1897-04-22
A Winter in Dakota.

The present winter has not been equalled
in Dakota for the past Is years. All the
stories we had ever read of prairie life in
winter have come true in our own ex-
pelience Stable roofs breaking in with
the weight Of snow and crushing the ami
mails; people walking and riding on snow
drifts 20 feet above the surface of the
earth, etc. Snow came very unexpected
/ ly the very first of November and winter
has continued ever since Owners of
| threshing machines had not threshed
their own grain, as they were not expect
ing snow for several weeks. All were
anxious to get as much work away from
home as possible, and do their own
tbreshing after others were through
The stock belonging to the farmers was
still in herds, where cattle are herded
during the summer for S1O0, horses for
s.. 90 and sheep for Is cents each. When
the storm came on in the night much
stock running loose about home drifted
away and was not found for weeks.
Thanksgiving day l fed stock through
the window over the stable door and the
next day went in through the roof of the
stable. This was the worst blizzard had
ever seen to cover buildings; but the first
Monday in January was far more pene-
trating, filing with snow buildings that
had been considered snow proof. Stock
froze to death in cars, and mail agent
started from a restaurant for his car aud
has not been heard FROM A couple of
neighbors got lost on Thanksgiving day
but were fortunate enough to find de-
/ serted house, and dead chicken found in
the stable was all the food they had for
three days.
One set of buildings, | am informed, has
been deserted on account of being so far
beneath the surface of snow drift caus-
ed by grove of trees. This is the first
instance l have ever heard where the for
ests of Dakota were an injury to the coun-
try. Trees 20 feet high are entirely under
snow and flag pole a25 feet high is also
covered. l am informed that heavy
growth of timber along some of the
rivers of South Dakota is wholly under
snow. Some of the inhabitants took
warning from the first SHOWS and fled to
the prairies. Aside from the billiards
which seldom last more than three days,
the weather has been moderately cold
just cold enough to keep the snow from
melting. We have sometimes had a week
of fine sleighing. But much of the time
it has showed Or blown every other day,
and some weeks every day. 1t requires
considerable time to keep stable doors
open when the snow blows every day in
the week. A hay stack - feet high is
sometimes hard to find; but if we find it
and shovel out a load of hay the place is
liable to be full of snow is a few hours;
or if we chance to get the hay out clear
to the ground, horses and cattle are liable
to fall in and break their necks or iniure
them fatally in some way.
Many of the low, straw covered stables
have been replaced by fine barns within
the past ten years and the remainder will
have to give place to better buildings or
the owners will find it to their advantage
to go out of business. Even in the best
barns floor is seldom seen, and the
stock is often found in foot of water
this spring. Though stock have been
able to rustic their own food and shelter
for the most part for several years. this
winter proves that we need the best of
| buildings, with water under cover and
! feed for at least five months. At the
close Of five months winter there are a
few bare spots on the prairie where stock
can Craze, but a chilly northeast wind is
/ liable to give us more snow. After the
| snow mells the undulating prairie will be
nearly half covered with water and seed
| ing will not be so very pleasing work.
/ But many farmers of small means who
have been trying to grow up in the stock
business will be sent back to raising grain
by the experiences of the present winter.
One prominent man of this county lost
some of his stock and his creditors took
the balance, so he has to start anew in the
world
Experience in this country seems to be
misleading. A crop which paid ten dol
lars per acre was on very shallow blowing,
while crop on deep blowing paid moth
ing; yet deep piowing on the average
pays best. The question of sowing wheat
in drills far enough apart for cultivation
is being discussed. Amid all the viciss-
tudes of Dakota life, the glare of inces-
SAINT lightning, the continuous rumble of
thunder, the hail and blizzard, the farm
er may lose some of his ambition for
riches and gain love for the beautiful as
exhibited in the millions of flowers and
intellectual riches stored in natures
storehouse and brought to light by every
intellectual worker GEO. NJ, COLE.
Monango, North Dakota, April 1, 1897.
Return of Yawl Cocheco.
PROVIDENCE, Apr. II. A thrilling trag-
edV of the seas tha ranOrt of ubiob c4or