The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-11

the railroads, though even along the Ket-
tie River, the district mention, the
grass-growing quality Of the land Is sur
prising. But the average man not hav-
Ing his attention called to the district
and seeing it only from the railroad,
would be inclined to pass it by, but when
came to go over the county carefully
was surprised at the extent of the mead
ows and the good quality of the soil.
was ready to agree with Professor Thomas
Shaw Of the State Agricultural College,
who said in speaking Of Pine county:
Prof. shaw's Statement.
The tide OF emigration has gone west rather
than north, and seems to have sought the
treeless prairie rather than the forest, even
the semiforest country, and the only solution
that I can give that would seem to be the
true one is, that the average land-seeker has
Stunned locating on land that had to be
denuded of timber by the use Of the ak. The
preference has been given to prairdes open
to the pillow, and from which the settler
could get some return the next year. The
fact has not been duly weighed as to the
great advantages such a forest country as
that now being considered has over the tree
less prairie for stock production. It's grasses
are much more luxuriant. Its crop produc-
ton is more varied. It furnishes timber for
buildings and fences. If judiciousfy cleared
that portion of the forest uncut may be turned
into windbreak.S Abundant shade may be
furnished in every hsld and wood may be on
hand for generations in country whose citi-
zens are now paying So ton and more for
hard coal.
am not pleading for this area, am Civ
ing my opinion dn regard to it. Personally
it will make no difference to me though it.
should remain wilderness, but from the
day that my eye first saw this country in the
winter OF 1894, when>covered with snow, the
high opinion which then formed of 1t has
been more than sustained by occasional trips
made here and there through it since in the
summer season. My opinion has been asked
in regard to it, and for that reason give IT.
AS one interested in the agricultural Develop
ment OF the state, would that intending
settlers would look this country over, which
Is SO easily accessible to the two cities. be-
fore they push out into the treeless areas of
the dry west in search of a home. The land
in this region is probably not more than one
fourth OF the price of that in the southern
areas of the state. and for bookkeeping it
has no superior in any part OF Minnesota
Nearly $4,000 Acres Sold.
although we did not get our appraisal
completed until nearly Nov. L." continued
Mr.. NOVEL;, I'VE have, as I have stated
already, disposed Of nearly $4,000 acres,
largely to actual settlers. Our purchasers
have come from South Dakota, Iowa, Ne
braska, Kansas, North Dakota, Wiscon-
sin and Southern Minnesota, and mainly
from farmers who have turned from
grain growing to stock, the dairy, sheep
and potato growing, and for this class OF
farmers we feel sure that we have lands
that are more valuable than the high
priced lands in the districts I have men
toned. Only yesterday I sold full sec
ton to farmer from South Dakota, who
has lived there for twenty years. He
visited Pine county, was impressed with
the wonderful yield of grasses, and said
that he had made all his money@in South
Dakota in the past three years since he
had gone into datrying; that he is sat-
isfed that Pine county is better for cat
tie and the dairy than his district in
South Dakota, while the pure water and
tim Der increases the attraction. This i