fttiseeUaiiivus 
STATEMENTS SUBSTANTIATED. 
Advantages of Southwestern Minnesota 
and Northwestern Iowa for Stock 
Raising and Dairy Products. 
MESSRS. HOLMES AND SWEETLAND. 
[Special Correspondents of the Rural New-Yorker.] 
We aro always endeavoring to exhibit 
commendable diligence in gleaning informa¬ 
tion for the Rural New Yorker, by read¬ 
ing, observing, investigating, studying, inter¬ 
viewing, and in a general way probing for 
facts in all departments of agriculture for 
the edification and instruction of its readers; 
and in this way incidentally we came across a 
star-emblazoned folder from the pen of Mr. 
J. H. Drake, Land Commissioner of the St. 
Paul and Sioux City Railroad Co., w ith the 
pretentious caption—“ Something Better than 
Government Bonds at Four Per Cent.” Being 
somewhat familiar- with the magnetic and 
persuasive style of the writer, curiosity in¬ 
duced us to glance it over and see what kind of 
sennon he could produce from so unique a 
text, and what we read subsequently prompted 
us to visit a number of points and apply the 
inquisitorial pump to numerous individuals; 
believing the picture overdrawn, and intend¬ 
ing to ventilate what we thought the sophis¬ 
try of Mr. Drake. Finding, however, that 
the statements made w-ere fully substantiated, 
and in some respects w-ere really deficient in 
detail, and having, in our researches, gar¬ 
nered some valuable information, w e will give 
the salient points of the folder, and the re¬ 
sults of our investigations. 
“Something Better than GovermnentBonds 
at Four Per Cent.” asserts that in this country 
and Europe there is a vast amount of idle cap¬ 
ital seeking invastment: it challenges the atten¬ 
tion of the owners of this unemployed w ealth, 
who are seeking safe and remunerative use 
for it; and, for brevity, it sty las this class 
“ A. ” It then review-s the inexhaustible 
amount of brain and muscle in strong, active 
and energetic, noble-spirited fellow s w ho lack 
an opportunity in the battle of life and the 
necessary means to gratify their ambition or 
develop their enterprise, and these it denomi¬ 
nates class “ B. ’’ It next refers to the counties 
of Jackson, Cottonwood, Watonwan, Martin, 
Nobles and Rock in Southwestern Minnesota 
“as beautiful in surface and fertile in soil as 
may be found,” and says that they are not on 
the frontier with the hardships and depriva¬ 
tions to the settler incident to pioneering, but 
a re ti-aversed by competing railroads eager 
for business, with numerous thriving cities 
and towns; that this country abounds in beau¬ 
tiful lakes, pure streams and rivers, and illim¬ 
itable meadows of nutritious Blue-joint Grass. 
The pamphlet says “ there are 500 square miles 
awaiting the alliance of “ A ” and “ B ” in the 
great enterprise," the details of w hich it leaves 
them to arrange from the figures and results 
given, taken from the books and cash accounts 
in the experience of an English gentleman w-ho 
has thoroughly demonstrated them. Before 
quoting the figures “A” and “ B ” are remind¬ 
ed that no part of God's universe is an unfail¬ 
ing Utopia or earthly Elysium; and both 
classes are warned of the possibilities of calam¬ 
ity by the elements, snow- blockades, grass¬ 
hoppers and droughts, but the fear of all 
these is lessened by reference to the fact that 
figures are based upon tbe experience of the 
grasshopper years, 1875 to 1878 inclusive, and 
that any injury from the recurrence of the un¬ 
precedented snow blockade of last Winter 
could be avoided by timely preparation, while 
the destruction of the hay crop in Southwest¬ 
ern Minnesota and Northwestern low-a by 
drought is unknown. The w-ork then refers 
to the salubrious climate for both man and 
beast. 
Based upon the experience of Messrs Close 
Bros., & Co., the English Colonists and exten¬ 
sive farmers of this section, it assumes that 
“A,” having purchased three sections of land, 
gives “B” sufficient means to build a house and 
barns and to buy 50 heifers, one bull, 50 sows, 
25 young pigs, 500 ewes and 15 rams; then 
with a moderate know ledge of farming, fair 
business ability and good common sense, ' ’B” 
hires three foreman, one for each department, 
all being practica l farmers, and the outcome 
is that A realizes from the total investment 
of something like $20,000, fully 22 per cent, 
interest per annum, from which to pay “B” 
and reimburse himself: in addition to which 
the elaborate and exact statement of Mr. 
Close makes large allowances for disease and 
other contingencies. 
The most surprising item among the ac¬ 
counts of the Messrs. Close, is that of $117.20 
for cutting and stacking 200 tons of hay, be¬ 
ing about 60 cents per ton. Then comes an 
imaginary catechism. “But why does this sec¬ 
tion offer inducements for such investments 
superior to those of many other portions of 
the far West ?” To which the answer is made, 
“ In its freedom from disease, the cheapness of 
lumber here, its natural protection for stock, 
nearness to markets and cheapness of railway 
transportation, together with its schools, 
churches, and society where the daily papers 
of St. Paul and Sioux City are delivered before 
sunset on the day of their publication, to say 
nothing of the larger and more rapid rise of 
landed values”—“ But cattle must bo fed 
through Winter?’’ “Yes,” responds Mr. 
Drake “and the protection from storms as¬ 
sists in fattening and w ards off disease, while 
the small cost of feed is far more than coun¬ 
ter-balanced in the surety of the results.” 
FROM PERUSAL TO PROOF. 
A pleasant ride over a portion of the Chica¬ 
go, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Rail¬ 
road, brought us through several thriving 
towns into the territory under consideration, 
the topography of which is undulating prairie, 
interspersed with groves and farms, and dot¬ 
ted with beautiful lakes abounding in fish. 
The climate is invigorating and healthful; the 
soil deep, rich and fertile; the farmers, as a 
rule, thrifty and happy, and the towns seem¬ 
ingly enjoying substantial prosperity. One 
of these, Heron Lake, a stopping-place with 
us, is in the midst of the fishing and sporting 
region of Southwestern Minnesota, and the 
Chapman Hotel here is a favorite resort for 
sportsmen, who are hunting the ducks and 
prairie chickens which abound in the locality. 
This is certainly one of the finest grass re¬ 
gions iu the Northwest, the grazing being of 
the best quality, and unlimited in extent, 
Hay is cut and stacked at a cost of 60 cents to 
one dollar per ton; and corn can be raised at 
a cost of 15 cents per bushel, while in the East¬ 
ern States it costs from double in com to ten 
or 20 times in liar. Moreover, the lands on 
which cattle are grazed cost only from five 
to seven dollars and-a-half per acre, compared 
with Eastern lands at from $50 to $100 per 
acre. 
Calves can be raised to three-year-old steers 
at a cost of from $17.50 to $23 per head; in 
fact wintering for cattle is contracted at $4.50 
to $5 per head, including feed and care. We 
asked one party extensively engaged in stock- 
raising if he was not too far from market to 
render it profitable. He replied, “ No, there 
is now no point in Southern Minnesota, or in 
extreme Northwestern Iowa, that is over 20 
miles from a railroad. To send to the Chicago 
market costs one half a cent, per pound, so 
that our beef whirli sells there at $6 pel- cwt., 
nets us here $5.50.” And lie added: “ I know 
of one drove of 200 head of cattle sold iu 
Chicago by a neighbor of mine (over the line 
of Iowa), which averaged 1,455 pounds, at 
$6.25 per hundred, or an average of $90.03 per 
head, and these cattle were fed on $1 hay and 
fifteen-eent corn. 
Col. G. H. Campbell, of Boston, who was 
private secretary to Alexander H. Rice when 
Governor of Massachusetts, has over 3,000 
acres, and is preparing for extended opera¬ 
tions in cattle and sheep. A number of active 
hard-working young Englishmen are also 
located in this section, and they all attest the 
truth of the statements in “ Something Better 
Than Government Bonds at Four per Cent. 
Heron Lake, of which we spoke, is a great hay 
shipping point: one merchant here. Mr. J. T. 
Smith, is cutting 6,000 tons of ha} - this year, 
and will press and bale it for shipment. We 
quote further, as good evidence, from the 
Sioux City Daily Journal;—“ Alex. Elliot, of 
Woodbury Count}', is a splendid example of 
the successful stock-raiser. In 1863 he began 
operations by purchasing four cows, ten sheep, 
and a plug team of horses. This absorbed his 
capital, and he was in debt for his quarter- 
section of land. He never raised wheat, but set 
himself resolutely to the care of his little lot 
of stock. Time has elapsed, and he now has 
a flock of 1,700 sheep, 170 head of cattle and 31 
horses, all his own; his land is paid for, and he 
has 1,300 fleeces still to market. He lives in a 
house that cost, him $1,500, and has a barn of 
about the same value. He is to-day worth 
rot a cent less than $20,000—every cent of it 
made directly from his stock. Comment on 
this is not needed.” 
We confess to some surprise that neither 
Messrs. Close Brothers & Co., nor Mr. Drake 
have presented us with statistics, or elaborated 
the possibilities of butter and cheese making 
in this region. The dairy industry is left out 
of the calculation, while it is evident to us 
that it is one of the most promising. The 
creamery butter of the Northwest has ac¬ 
quired a reputation, not only in Chicago, New 
York, Philadelphia and Boston markets, but 
also in Liverpool, London, Glasgow, and Edin¬ 
burgh, which commands for it the highest 
quotations and promptest sales; and assuredly 
no section affords better advantages for 
creameries than this. The feed, water, atmos¬ 
phere, climate and cows are all here; and if 
the requisite skill is wanting, it should be 
secured at once. In fact we heard of several 
creameries in process of establishment, but 
there should be from one to five in ea< h 
county, one being at farthest within 15 miles of 
every farmer. In accordance with the condi¬ 
tions of the country these should be conducted 
on the Fairlamb, or cream-gathering system, 
the details of which we have repeatedly given 
in our correspondence. In our travels we 
have found many farmers who are receiving 
from $25 to $30 per cow per annum, for their 
cream, delivered at their own doors, besides 
the calves raised upon the milk and grass, and 
the sour milk fed to their pigs. There are 
many instances where cows return their pur¬ 
chase money in a single year. Taking this 
into consideration, with the price of lands 
sold by the Saint Paul and Sioux City Rail¬ 
road Company; or leased to desirable tenants 
by Messrs. Close Brothers & Co.; or Alex. 
Peddie, on exceedingly favorable terms; and 
the fanners of Europe or our own East¬ 
ern States in drawing comparisons with their 
present surroundings, cannot fail to be con¬ 
vinced of the superior advantages afforded 
here for grass and corn culture, stock-raising 
and dairy products. 
We met another gentleman in this section, 
strictly reliable and thorough-going, whose 
address we could give if necessary, who told 
us that he bought 30 head of yearlings and 30 
head of two-year-olds, and without doing any 
work himself, simply as an experiment, hired 
their herding in Summer and their feeding 
and attendance in Winter, kept them until 
they were tbrce-and-a-half years old, and 
realized a net profit of 33 per cent, per annum 
on his 'investment. We doff our chapeaux 
therefore to Mr. Drake, and are prepared to 
admit that we are convinced that here is 
something better than Government bonds at 
four per cent. 
Southwestern Minnesota and extreme North¬ 
western Iowa surely are for beauty, rich¬ 
ness of soil, accessibility, pure water, and 
healthful climate, exceptionally inviting, and 
the entire section would to-day be a sliining 
example of Western prosperity hud its early 
settlei-s adopted the theory so abundantly 
elucidated in this little document; and here is 
now a golden opportunity for the “ A’s ” and 
“ B’s " to invest jointly their money, brains 
and brawn for a successful life-work which 
will pay an average of over twenty per cent, 
per annum. 
Messrs. Close Bros. & Co. of Lemars and 
Sibley, Iowa, are backed by a vast amount of 
English capital and are preparing still more 
extensively for tenant farming, erecting 
houses and bams upon moderate-sized farms 
and offering advantages to tenant farmers 
who have not capital with which to start suc¬ 
cessfully. They controlled the breaking of 
27,000 acres in this region the present year, 
and had the Spring been curly und favorable 
they would have increased the area to 40,000 
acres. They now have about 45,000 acres of 
tenant farms, with some 350 tenants, and we 
learned that SO equitable is their dealing that 
a tenant seldom leaves them until he has ac¬ 
cumulated sufficient to enable him to purchase 
land and commence farming for himself. 
They built 270 tenant houses, and with each 
a stable, granary and cribs, this season, and 
by one year from now will have approxi¬ 
mately 500 tenant houses, farms and farmers. 
The Scottish American Land Company 
(limited) with $500,000. capital, represented 
by Mr. Alex. Peddie, of Emmetsburg, Iowa, 
own some40,000 acres within the limits of our 
investigation, which they, too, are placing un¬ 
der tenants upon plans and terms similar to 
those of Messrs. Close Bros. & Co. Both 
also aid the tenant where desired in procuring 
stock and getting a nice herd of cattle and 
hogs, or a good flock of sheep started for future 
growth and development. Tenant farmers 
who contemplate immigrating to the North¬ 
west might advantageously correspond with 
these gentlemen. As the “ A’s ” and “ B’s” 
cannot gainsay the statements made by Mr. 
Drake, and revealed by us herewith, we see 
for the future of this district a grand success 
in the combination of capital and labor. 
The wheat crop liexe the present year has 
been almost a failure, but the flax crop is 
immense, while rye and barley have yielded 
well, and corn (unlike that in Hlinois and the 
Middle States), promises to he the most boun¬ 
tiful yield ever known in the history of South¬ 
western Minnesota. At the advanced prices 
for farm product, Southern Minnesota will 
this year, despite the partial failure of her 
wheat crop, have more money distributed 
among her formers than ever before known 
in her history. 
-♦♦♦- 
CATALOGUES, ETC. 
Thomas Meehan, Germantown, near Phil¬ 
adelphia, Pa. Catalogue of the Germantown 
Nurseries, All kiuds of deciduous and ever¬ 
green trees and shrubs, vines and climbers; 
fruits, hedge plants, hardy herbaceous and 
greenhouse plants, etc. Also seeds of trees, 
shrubs and fruits. This catalogue will be fur¬ 
nished free to those of our subscribers who 
apply. Mr. Meehan is well known as one of 
our most experienced horticulturists. 
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. 
Is speaking of a persons faults. 
Pray don’t forget your own ; 
Remember those in houses glass 
Should never throw a stone. 
If we have nothing else to do, 
But talk of those who sin, 
’Tts better we commence at home, 
And from that point begin. 
We havo no right to Judge a man, 
Until lie’s fairly tried j 
Should we not like ills company, 
We know the world Is wide. 
Some may have faults—and who has not ? 
The old as well as young ; 
We may perhaps, for ought we know, 
Have fifty to their one. 
I’ll tell you of a better plan, 
And find It. works full well : 
To try my own defects to cure 
Before of others tell ; 
And though I sometimes hope to be 
No worse t ban some 1 know, 
My own shortcomings bid me let 
The faults of others go. 
Then let us all. when we commence 
To slander friend or foe, 
Think of the harm one word may do 
To those we little know ; 
Remember, curses sometimes, like 
Our chickens, " rooHt at home 
Don’t speak of other’s faults until 
We have none of our own. 
THORNS AND ROSES. 
CHAPTER III. 
(Continued from page 639.) 
I would have been content to pass the re¬ 
mainder of the evening in talking of Brandon 
and Kingston, but the day was not ended yet. 
We were sitting by the window, admiring 
the glorious sunset, when a shadow crossed the 
window; and hearing a ring, I glanced at 
Edith, but she apparently was too lazy to 
speak. 
The door opened, to admit a strange gentle¬ 
man—strange, that is, to me only—for aunt 
greeted biro cordially: Edith vouchsafing a 
distant, bow. 
“Mr, Nevil Varner,” said aunt Dorothy, 
“roy niece—Kate. Will you ring for lights. 
Edith!’’ 
“1’loose don’t bring lights for me,” said Mr. 
Verner, in a clear, high voice, “this light, it 
seems to roe, could not be improved.” 
He was standing by the window, speaking to 
aunt, 3vhen I glanced at him, rather curious as 
to the personal appearance of the roan whom 
Edith hated. Though not so tall us Brandon, 
lie was upright and broad-shouldered; his 
eyes calm, his face rather pale, its features 
small and regular; without approaching to 
dandyism, ho had the air of being perfectly 
dressed, and he was handsome to effeminacy; 
hut as Edith afterwards said, “that was his 
misfortune, not Iris fault.” In manner he was 
courteously kind, and, on the whole, I liked 
him. 
We tat down in the twilight, aunt at the 
table, with its old china and a vase of damask 
roses in the centre ; Mr. Verner faced me, 
whilst Edith had buried herself in an arm¬ 
chair in the shadows. From my point of view 
it was a pretty scene—the glimmer of silver 
and Sevres ; faces indistinctly seen in the dy¬ 
ing light: a glow of crimson on the opposite 
3vall; the dusky garden and glorious sky; 
whilst through all stole the sweet scent of 
roses. 
“ Your ‘ twilight tea ’ has become an institu¬ 
tion,” said Mr. Verner, addressing mint; “my 
mother envies me when I describe this room. 
I trust Miss Lovol” — turning to me—“that 
you will honor us by a visit to Newville ? 
Not that I can offer any attraction, but I ask 
it on behalf of my mother, who is quite isola¬ 
ted through sickness.” 
I replied that I intended to call with aunt 
Dorothy, and we fell into a conversation on 
riding and driving and walking, aunt chiming 
in with approvals; and but for Edith we 
should have been in perfect harmony. When 
Mr. Verner addressed liar, she replied provok- 
iugly, and struck in on our conversation with 
cool sarcasms and irony too subtle for my 
simple aunt to perceive, 
* CHAPTER IV. 
I felt rather annoyed with Edith; she might 
dislike Nevil Verner, but it was unkind to 
show her dislike in this way; and I thought 
him very agreeable, pleasing, and kind. 
“ I am glad you came this evening,” said 
aunt. 
“ It is always a pleasure to see Miss Lovel,” 
he replied. 
And then a monosyllable fell from Edith. 
“Which?” 
“ I beg your pardon. ?” said Mr. Verner. 
“There are three ‘Miss Levels’ present, 
which one did you mean?” 
“Suppose I say Miss Edith Lovel?” 
“ Miss Edith Lovel would believe you—oh, 
quite 1” 
He spoke about sports and some shooting he 
