The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-03-02
NORTH DAKOTA LETTER.

DWlSQC, N. D., Ecu. 81, Aoo0'
The Red Indian Valley is the pride of
North Dakota, and we'll may ue, for it
has an exceedingly fertile soil of great
depth, most favorably located for the hus-
bandman. The altitude of the valley
along the river varies from nine hurdred
and sixty-two feet above the sea level at
Wahpetan, which we can plainly see from
our village, to seven hundred and ninety
onefeet at at Pembina, fall of one hun
dred and seventy-one feet in an air line, a
distance of two hundred miles. Fargo,
about fifty miles from here, has an alti-
tude of nine hundred and three feet, and
Grand Forks eight hundred and thirty.
The valley slopes gently toward the
Red River, though. apparently the surface
is as smooth as floor. There are gentle
undulations, sufficient to carry off any
surplus water, but for all practical pur-
poses the surface is level, and except for
occasional Interruptions In crossing
stream, a ploughshare could be run In
straight line for two, hundred. miles.
There is little waste land. 1t Is not sur
prising that men were found to make
large investments in this rich soil, when
1t was found how we'll adapted to wheat
raising it was. 1t Is In this valley the
large Dakota farms have been carved out.
They extend all along the valley, but few
OF them, however, have wide notoriety.,
Our village is on the Dwight farm,
which gives 1t its name. The headquart-
ers are here. There is a very commodi-
Gus, pleasant residence in the midst Of a
beautiful lawn, we'll and beautifully shaded
by trees which have been cultivated. On
the north there is a gentle 'sloping of the
grounds towards creek, which here has
nice grove along it's south bank. These
grounds are as nicely cared for in the
summer as those of any city residence.
Barns and stables are built along the
creek and on the more elevated ground
are other buildings for the various uses
of the farm. One of these buildings was
cut in two and removed to three different
sections of land last fall and fitted over
into two story dwellings,, thus giving to
each section a large, commodious house
where later on a renter will find home.
One of the large stables was also convert
ed into three, and drawn out to these sec
tions. Il !; :.
The Dwight farm contained originally
about ffty.eight thousand acres, but now
| 1t is not much more than half that size
Late years the policy has been to rent and
sell off the lands. Quite good deal has
been sold and much is rented. This pol
icy will be continued. The proprietor
John w. Dwight, of: New, York city
comes out in the spring and stays unit
winter sets In. He gives his attention tt
the farm, and is. kept busy looking aftel
the various departments of it. The farm
is not, as you may suppose, all in ont
body Of land. There are; several divis
ions of it, and they are not all located il
the same county. "% ""'~-.
| In the early day of the big farms, o
| which there are number in this region
they were no doubt a real benefit to tn
country. They gave employment to
large Lumber of men they made road
Eand built bridges. y They eheoqrged 'fh
railroads to extend their aipss land rul
out spurs to elevators which they bni1t t
store the grain in. In these ways the
were positively good thing. Many set
slers came In and opened farms, and wer
able to improve them, even though thei
means were few, because they could re
Eplenish them by working paftxsSf tn
time at good wages on these large farms
They could use the roads and bridges tn
large farms had built for. their own spec
ial use. They had the Iailroads thes
had called into being.
When the price of wheat was way u
the big farms prospered; but it has a.
ways taken a great deal of money to SUI
ply these farms with working force c
men,. horaes and nachinsry,. - HorsesTan
maehinerg wear 'eatan j. hY years, an
have to be replaced by new. An easter
farmer has little idea of the amount {
machinery required on one OF tnese 1afms
This machinery is shipped in, almost tn
whole of it. from the wagon to the steam
threshing outfit. Most of it is out door
in all weather the year round. 1t wear
out when In use and when idle. The da
of big farms is over in this state. Thel
Is not SO much profit in it as there use
to be. The soil may be as rich, but it
more foul. Wild oats, mustard and 9th.
noxious weeds have fouled it. Abot
here.soms lands aIs- fearfallyfoulea wit
mustafd and Wild oats. B. 81 !
E.=Tnestale isalling 50 hstsvsith settle1
Lgood yacaptflaads pre- hard stS get. No
1.-The state iISedS sssfiersl md Here shou
be family on every quarter section
least. 1t is for the interest of every OF