Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-09-05
LAND HERE is CHEAP.
Nebraska Editor Describes Trip
Thru This Country.

Ross L. Hammond, editor of the
Fremont. Neb., Evening Tribune,
recently made trip thru West Cen
tral Minnesota, and gave this section
of the country most complimentary
write-up when he returned home. It
is pleasure to reprint the article In
full -
AS all roads once led to Rome SO
just now all. or nearly all, land ex-
petitions lead to Minnesota. The
Texas panhandle" is proving disap-
pointing and the little fruit farms on
the gulf coast are going out of fa-
shion. The exodus to Canada has
largely ceased. There is not such a
movement toward the irrigated sec
tions as formerly. 1t is Minnesota
that is now in the limelight. From
Iowa, Illinois. Kansas and Nebraska
farmers were going to the other
places, but are now coming to Mime
sofa. They went through this state
to the northwest. but are now stop.
ping here. Land prices in this state
are now much below those of the 9TH
er midwest agricultural states and
the difference is so striking as to prove
very attractive. Seventy-five dollar
land here in many places looks as
good as $3.50 to $500 land in other
states. This is one reason for the
boom now going on. Everywhere in
adjoining states Minnesota land is be-
ing advertised. with the result of
bringing in large nubmer of buyers
and many new settlers.
A few days ago / returned from a
tour of four or five hundred miles
through west central Minnesota.
From camp 80 miles north of Min
neapolis I went to that city, thence
west 10 the state line along the Min
nesota river to its source. 1t rises in
Big Stone lake, in Big Stone county.
on the Dakota border. In the county
adjoining this on the north, namely
Traverse county, begins the famous
VALLEY of the Red River of the North.
Here is the continental divide. north
and south. Within the distance of q
fstones' throw water runs beth ways,
lpart into Hudson S bay and part into
the Gulf of Mexico. Here | saw 3
beautiful county. Traverse county
is devoted to wheat. The county
seat, with 1900 people, has sever
elevators. Coils, Barry, Graceville
and others, with from fifty to 1,00C
inhabitants, have from two to five
elevators apiece. The miles and miles
of wheat fields all in shock when
was them, explain the presence of sc
many elevators. The crop is excel
lent and much money will be brought
in for it. The market is a good one,
for it is convenient to Minneapolis
and Duluth, the latter the head o!
lake navigation. The day / wal
there the price was 80 cents. 1t viii
run from seven to ten cents highe
the year round than at Fremont. Th'
soil is of deep loam, with sufhcien
mixture of sand to make it easil,
workable. The presence of blue-sten
and rosin weeds proof of its fertility
aside from the quality of crops grown
The subsoil is clay. Good farms ar
selling at from $50 to $50. 1t locke
so good to me that almost before
, was aware / had bargained for a cou
' pie of farms. Good crops of corn a
: we'll as of all kinds of small grain ar
grown. Alfalfa is being successfU
introduced. There is scarcely foe
. of soil in Minnesota that does nc
] yield abundantly of clover. Their
3 is no drouth at this time and whe
e other states are suffering Minnesot
t looks 'luxuriant and green. This is
general condition throughout tn
! state. In Traverse county and thos
! Immediately surrounding there are n
. evidences of drought. Vegetation G
: all kinds is rank and strong.
4 This west central part of Mime
: sofa is doing great things for itself
The people are filled with a spirit G
remarkable enterprise. They are OF
! ganizing for the development of thei
reg ion. though it is surprising tha
in county like Traverse there
scarcely any uncultivated land. On
: would naturally expect to find goo
deal of prairie. The excellent agri
cultural conditions account for this
D There are seventeen counties in thi