The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-08-14

tural pursuits.
One of the counties that has pro-
crossed in the agricultural line dur
ing tae past couple of years has been
Sawyer. Col. R. L. Mccormick,
manager of the North Wisconsin
Lumber company of Hayward, says
regarding the development of his
county.
"Our company have sold lands at
from 81 to $40 an acre for actual
settlement, within two years, to
cover over 200 persons. Probably
half Of these people are now on the
lands engaged in making farms.
These lands are all in the valley Of
the Namakagon river, IN the north
western part of Sawyer county
Sawyer county was pre- eminently a
pine timber county, and it's owner
ship Of lands has been almost entire
| " in the different lumber firms and
corporations.
Tax Lands picked Up.
These lands have Ia times. past
frequently, but not generally been
abandoned for taxes after the tirc tbr
was cut. The abandoned lands were
picked up for taxes BY parties bav,
ing faith in their Ultimate value, and
today the delinquent tax list for
Sawyer county does not contain
more than one-tenfh the descriptions
of half a dozen years ago. | know
Of one company that picked up tax
lands until they secured over 100, 900
acres at a nominal cost. About two
years ago the stock was valued aud
sold on the basis Of ST. an acre. Last
winter the whole property was sold
at 50. % per acre, and this was aban
doned land. not supposed to have
value for sole timber. Several hun
dred thousand of acres have changed
hands within a year, usually being
purchased in lots Of from 5000 to
20, 600 acres by land companies, that
make business of interesting actual
settlers, so that from now on | have
no doubt but that the population
will increase very rapidly.
"This is especially a grass grow
| ing and grazing county, particular
| ly adapted for profitable stock rails
ing, but vegetables and root crops
of all kinds produce abundantly.
Oats, barley and millet grow luxuri-
antly; wheat and corn both mature
easily. In fact nearly everything
except fruit-growing trees seem to
be adapted to the soil and climate.
Small bush fruits and berries grow
naturally and bring excellent profit
to the operator.
Climate has Changed
at seems to me that both the
soil and climate have changed dur
ing my twenty years residence in
this county When | came here
first the car windows did not show
farm north of New Richmond.
Gradually the timber has been re-
moved; the dense shade of the forest
has given away to the air and sun
light, the dampness is leaving the
ground, the raw cold soil of twenty
years ago has undergone chemical
changes, and to-day is warm, quick
and fertile. Stumps and dead trees
are giving way to rolling farms, wa
tered with springs, brooks and rivers.
The timber age will soon be mem
DRY of the past and the wealth of the
forest a story that the farmer will
relate to his children as he gathers
golden grain, or herds abundant
stock on today's neglected cut-over
lands
Off in the northeast corner Of the
state, not far from the border III" of
the upper Michigan peninsula, and
distant from Sawyer county, with
Price and Oneida lying between, is
the county of Forest with popula-
tion according to the last federal
census, as small as any county in the
state. This county has some very
fine agricultural lands. and there is
a great growth of hardwood still
standing. Crandon and North
Crandon townships have received
many new settlers during the year,
and it is estimated that from July of
last year about sevenCy-tive families
have become actual settlers of the
county, casting their lots with 9TH
els who have taken up lands in
fhat vioinitu Groot orOnc of ta .na