The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1911-12-27
Believes Clearwater Destined to Be-
come Dairy and Potato Center of
This Part of Minnesota,
THREE CROPS OF HAY IN YEAR
Tells of Towns, Timber, Fruits and
Describes Bagley as Desirable Place
With Best of Schools.

Painting Clearwater county as one
of the best in the heart Of fertile
Northern Minnesota, E. H. Ref, of
Bagley, contributes an article to the
current issue of the Northwestern
Asriculturist, published at Mime
anolis by P. V. Collins.
While Mr.. Ref refers specifically
to Clearwater, the same general at
fractions for homeseekers apply to
Beltrami. Mr.. Ref says:
Clearwater Has 1880 Square Miles.
clearwater county is situated in
the west central part of Northern
Minnesota, about ESQ miles from the
Twin Cities, 200 miles west Of Du-
iuth, and contains an area of 1000
square miles. 1t is crossed by the
Great Northern and 500 railways, is
the source of the Red Lake, Clear
water and Mississippi rivers and the
home of the beautiful Itasca State
Park.
"The elevation of this county
above sea level is among the highest
in the state and the climate is unsur-
passed. 1t is here that consumptives
and people with all other ailments
come to get we'll and in most cases
they are not disappointed.
It's Scenery Picturesque.
"The rural districts in this county
are supplied with all modern con-
veniences, such as good schools,
churches, roads, telephones and free
delivery of mail.
"Its many picturesque lakes and
small creeks and rivers TEEN with
nearly all kinds of fish common in
Minnesota, including trout, pike,
bass and pickerel, and pure water is
to be had everywhere.
In Dairy and Potato Belt.
"The man of limited means will
find the best opportunities to make a
home here, to say nothing about the
chances that the man of means has.
"It has been safely said that Clear
water county is destined to become
the great dairy and potato center of
Northern Minnesota and although it's
seven creameries have only recently
started, they paid over $100, 100000
to the farmers this year.
s'The land here varies from a san
dy loan with clay sub-soil, TO rich
black loan from two to four feet
with clay sub-soil. There is also a
great deal of natural meadow land,
all of which is tillable and is fast be-
ing turned into tame meadows.
Three Grass Crops Year.
"The grasses, clover and alfalfa
grow to give at least two, and most
seasons, three crops in a year. There
is an abundance of native grasses.
'sSmall grain crops and fax have
never been a failure and corn is now
grown successfully on nearly every
farm, fifty bushels per acre being a
common crop, fodder corn going fif-
teen to twenty tons per acre.
Root crops make the most wonder
full yields, potatoes going from 200
to 500 bushels per acre and stock
carrots, rutabagas and mangels COM
monty going from fifteen to twenty
five tons per acre.
"The general surface of this coun-
ty is in most part gently rolling and
the drainage good. The rainfall has
always been sufficient and crop
failure has never happened.
Hard Woods; Many Berries.
"The timber consists of oak, ma
pie, birch, tamarack, poplar, spruce
pine and balsam and all kinds OF
- wild fruits such as plums, strawber-
ries, raspberries, cranberries, blue
berries, and Juneberries are founC
here, in abundance. -...
During the past few years. farm
ers have experimental with some o1
the harder varieties of apples, in.
cluding Wealthies, Duchess and
Greetings and several varieties Of
j crab apples, and tame plums and
cherries all Of which have proved 2