Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-09
MINNESOTA NEWS
Crop Bulletin.


IRENE southwest during the week, and
tnough showers were general else
where and there were light showers
IN the Red River valley, the total
rainfall TOR the week was small in
the southern half of the state and also
In most OF the Red River valley. The
weekly rainfalls in Becker, DOUGLAS
ana "llkin counties were the largest
reported, and these ranged only from
o.7o OF an inch to 1 inch. The tenn
Peratures during the week were low
1or the season, and on the morning
OF the 21st, it is probable that severe
1rosts would have been general if
there had not been fresh winds during
the night; in the southwestern coun-
Ties the winds were light, and frosts
caused temporary injury to corn,
young tax, gardens and millet. The
cool weather has retarded the growth
OF corn, which is generally rather
small. The week has been favorable
for the cultivation of corn and pota-
toes. Potatoes are doing very we'll,
and the earliest have tubers large
enough for use. The dry and cool
weather has been beneficial for the
small grains and they continue in a
vigorous condition, though there is
fear of lodging on rich soils; a little
rust is said to have appeared in some
southern fields. In the southwest ear
~ wheat is beginning to head, and
elsewhere it will not be long before
1t is heading; early oats are also be-
ginning to head. Barley is heading;
early flax is in bloom, and rye is be-
ginning to turn color. Glover cutting
is begun, and timothy is coming into
blossom; haying will be general be-
fore the end of the month.
New Counties
A lively interest is being taken in
the matter of county division. At
least four propositions will come be-
fore the voters of the county at the
fall elections. Petitions have been cir
culated for a vote on three different
propositions, for setting off the town
ships on the southeastern part of the
county into new counties. One prop
osition for which a proclamation has
been issued is for the setting aside
OF eighteen townships in the south
east corner of Polk county for new
county to be known as Columbia
county, with Fosston as the county
seat. A similar proposition provides
for the setting apart of the same ter
rltory and the organization of Column
bia county with Mcintosh as the
county seat. A third proposition
covering nearly the same territory is
for the organization of Star county,
with Erskine as the county seat. The
towns of Fosston, Erskine and McIn-
tosh are all on the Duluth line on the
Great Northern and about six miles
apart. The fourth proposition will
be for the organization of Valley
county, with East Grand Forks as
the county seat.
Good Templars.
The report of the grand secretary
shows that the Good Templars have
lost heavily during the past year.
There were 2,7s1 Good Ten,plars re-
ported at the grand lodge session last
year and 1876 have been initiated
during the year, but the lodge has
lost 2,6o5 members during the year,
so that it now has a membership of
1924, nearly 1000 less than a year
ago.
A year ago the order had eighty
one lodges in Minnesota, and twenty
were instituted during the past year,
but thirty lodges forfeited their char
tiers, so that there are now only sew
enty-two lodges, nine less than a year