The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-12

Mile Laos county contains an area
of SIC square miles or 339,191 acres.
1t takes its name from a French term
meaning a Thousand lakes. Mile
Laos lake in the northern part of the
county is one of the largest in the
state. The first census, that of 1860,
showed 70 population, that of 1900
was S,O66, but the last three years
showed large increase, the estimate
now being above 10000.
1t has been classed among the tim
bered counties, but much of the large
saw timber has been cut off by the
lumberman and farmer. Around the
lake there is still a good deal of pine
standing, but it is fast disappearing.
The south half of the county was COW
cred with jack oak, but much of it
has been displaced by potato and
clover fields. The residents called it
the land of big red clover" to which
they could just as appropriately add
the appellation of land of big mealy
potatoes"
At first sight from the railway train
A view of the brush land is not cal
culated to create a favorable impress
sion, but a careful investigation of con-
ditions will make a difference, greatly
to the advantage of the country.
The soil is sandy with clay subsoil
making it warm and productive. There
is water in plenty in streams and lakes,
and in wells at easy depth, and it is
good water too. Potatoes have come
to be the main crop, and a profitable
one. Potato warehouses stand along
the railway tracks in the towns, as
grain elevators do in the towns of the
prairies. Two years ago a train of
fifty-two cars left Princeton, on the
Great Northern, the largest consign-
ment of potatoes, it is claimed, that
ever left any original shipping point
in the country at one time.
Potatoes yield from IS to 800 bushels
to an acre. This year has not been
seasonable, too much rain, but never
theless there is a good crop, some
reports showing yields above 100
bushels to the acre, which at 40 cents
a bushel at the warehouse gives $40
an acre. Onions are also a prolific
crop, the yield being very large, small
tracts showing an average ranging
from 600 to 1000 bushels to an acre.
Beans also do exceedingly well. Con-
ditions are most favorable to the
growth of clover, which under proper
care will produce two crops of seed,
besides the hay, not to speak of the
fertility it imparts to soil.
Lands are not held at a high figure.
Many good farms can still be picked
UP at from $12 to $40 an acre. The
S432 an acre, about SO less than the
general average of the state. Rum
river runs through the county from
north to south, connecting the lake
Mile Laos with the Mississippi. 1t has
been and is still great logging stream.
The St Cloud and Hinckley branch of
the Great Northern crosses the county
east and west, with stations at Bridge
man, Milaca and ToSca, while the Elk
River and Milaca branch of the same.
road runs through Princeton north to
Milaca. Along this latter branch trains
run from st. Paul to Duluth. Prince
ton is the chief town and county seat.
It was incorporated twenty six years
ago, and for ten years or more was
jumping-o off place and headquarters for
lumbermen. Then the railway came and
Princeton has since had a steady and
reliable growth, the census of 1900 CIV
ing it 1919 population. 1t is located
near the south line of the county, not
more than a mile from the Sherburne
county line. 1t is we'll built, and sup
ports two excellent newspapers, the
Union-long edited by Bob" Dunn,
late auditor of state and a prospective
candidate for governor-and the News,
now in its first year. edited by M L.
Germany. The business interests of
the county seat are varied. The stores
carry large stocks, there is a large
Touring mill, a potato starch factory
and other industries.
Milaca.
This place is the second town in size
and Importance in the county. 1t had
a population of 1904 in 1900, a gain of
over 500 from 1890. The present esti-
mate is 1900. In it's first days it was
known as Oak City. The name is a con-
traction of the name of the county.
The lumber business has been the main
stay, the Foley-Bean Lumber compa-
ny's plant being one of the largest in
the state, giving employment to over
300 men. The annual output runs into