Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-07-25
Sale or Norlhwe.,ern Lan,l..

An interesting population movement
is now at it's height in the Northwestern
States, according to a correspondence
from Minneapolis, MINI. Owners OF
high priced farm lands in the older Of
these States are selling out to richer or
more contented neighbors, and are
moving west ard northwest. where they
buy cheaper lands from proprietors who
are desirous OF selling and putting the
proceeds into still cheaper lands still
farther west and north. A farmer in
Illinois or Iowa will sell his land OF
from $50 to slO0 an acre, and, moving
into Southern Minnesota, buy new
farm at from $50 to $40 an acre. The
land OF his new farm will be as rich az
that Of the old one, it IS just ss ad.
vantageously situated as regards the
markets, and will yield as good an
income. Yet tho moving farmer may
have made several thousand dollars by
the change. In the meantime, the man
he has bought out in Southern Mime
sofa moves on into the forest regions of
the northern part Of the State or into
the new farming lands that arc being
opeued in the Red River valley and
North Dakota. raging from 81 to $40
for land which is often very rich.
In consequence of this movement OF
population and the great speculative
interest which has been aroused in
Northwestern lands in the last few
years dealing in farm lands has grown
into business OF large proportions.
On railroad trains headed toward the
region of cheap land may be seen farmers
and speculators, and the little towns
where they take teams TO drive into the
country are full of sellers and buyers.
The available cheap lands may be
divided into three classes railroad
lands, cut-oyer timber lands. ana home
steads. The railroad lansls were those
originally granted by the State or
Federal government to railroad com
panies. These lands have been regularly
sold by the railroads for many years,
but the policy of the Northern Pacific
since its reorganization of dis
posing OF the lands as rapidly as
possible, with view to encouraging
the promotion of its tributary territory
has given the process great impetus
within the last three years. The com
pany has sold its lands in North Dakota
and Minnesota in few large tracts of
hundreds OF thousands Of acres each, at
very low prices-sometimes not more
than 20 cents an acre, and rarely more
than 81. The companies or firms pur-
chasing these Lands have generally
placed them on the market ut double
what waa paid to the railroad company.
These purchasers 10 turn add so cents
or 81 to the price. and cell to individual
settlers or to colonies made up of farmers
from the more settled regions. In the
end few of the lands actually taken foi
cultivation will have more than q Sec
ton. $40 acres, to the farm. and the
usual holding Is quarter section.
This cut-oyer lands, found 10 southern
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan,
are those which originally were covered
"hbh ptho fbohSs sDbHlHbiIubS EDRHn
lands are barren, sometimes they are
sandy and suited only to particular
crops, but often they are as rich as any
in~the State. well wstered, good grass
growers, and ideal for general farming
or dairy purposes But as they are held
by the lumber companies. which have
no further use for thsm after tina timber
is removed. they are sold very cheaply.
In fact, the lumbermen often fail 10
attempt to pay the taxes. There is TO
be general forfeit sale OF such lands
in Minnesota this fall, and thousands
of acres may be obtained at small
prices.
There still remains iu the remoter
parts Of tue forest region of Northern
Minnesota much government land which
may be taken up under the homestead
laws. Last year the desire for CHEAP
lands brought 10000 people into the
Northwestern States. New settlers have
been coming in by special trains, and
railroad officials estimate that 200, oOC
thrifty, hard working farmers will be
added to the population there this year.
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The death of Peter L. Cooper, Jr.,
which occurred Sunday at Clifton
Springs, N. ", as result of a recent
unfortunate accident, is distinct loss
TO the bar of New Castle county aud Ia
the people of the State. Mr.. Cooper
was one of the prominent lawyers oil
Delaware. and one of those VINO hao
attained distinction through no favor,
but by native ability, persistent study
and labor, and intense love of his pro.
fession. As deputy attorney general
he scceptably served the State and
made q high record, while the fact that
he was the nominee of his party for the
Office Of attorney general was proof Of
| the confidence and esteem reposed 10
him by the people. Death always
leaves sorrow in it's train, hut rarticu
iarly when the victim is one whose
career gave promise of great usefulness
to his fellow man
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1t ia announced from Washington thai
Secretary of War Root has forwarded