42 LAND AND LABOR. 



tendent supplied the fanner with what he needed 

 and sent the men to him. In town I was informed 

 that the small farmers were generally hopelessly in 

 deht ; and so I was told by some of the farmers. 



Flour was selling in the towns at seven dollars per 

 barrel. I did not anywhere along the road notice any 

 flouring mills. 



The valley of the Red River of the North in the 

 northern part of Dakota and southern portion of 

 Manitoba is about three hundred and fifty miles in 

 length, north and south, and sixty miles wide, east 

 and west, of unsurpassed fertility and beauty. The 

 surface is nearly level, with hardly sufficient dip to 

 afford to all parts a thorough drainage, on which ac- 

 count some portions of its area are unfit for cultiva- 

 tion without artificial drainage. But much the larger 

 portion is well drained by the smaller water courses 

 that empty into the Red River, giving large bodies 

 of rich vegetable and alluvial loam well adapted to 

 the growth of wheat, rye, barley, oats and the vegeta- 

 bles grown in the northern States. But it is too far 

 north for corn. The wetter portions of the valley af- 

 ford abundant grass, which is used for feeding and cut 

 for hay. It is claimed that the capabilities of this 

 valley are equal to the present wheat production of 

 the whole United States. The Northern Pacific Rail- 

 road crosses the valley at Fargo, which lies upon the 

 west side of the river, and about fifty miles above its 

 southern end, and holds a land grant of forty miles 

 on each side of its track. The St. Paul and Pacific 

 road traverses the valley from south to north, about 

 ten miles to the east of the river. 



