LAND BUYING AND FARMING IN SOUTH-WESTERN MINNESOTA.

Western Star, Issue 374, 21 August 1880, Page 4 (Supplement)

LAND BUYING AND FARMING IN SOUTH-WESTERN MINNESOTA.

[Mr Keir, the writer of the subjoined letter, left Bideford, North Devon, in March, has brought 160 acres, and sends Mr Finlay Dun, Portland Place, London, the following account of his purchase, his entry on farming, and the way in which his capital is invested.] After a pleasant voyage, I reached New York, made a run to Niagara, saw Chicago and Milwaukee, and made tracks for St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota, where my introductions secured me a kind and hearty reception. Thence I came down 160 miles to the convenient new hotel at Heronlake Junction, nicely fitted up, the accommodation and cooking good, and the charges for hoard by the month only 1 dol, per day. It is a capital centre for sport. Betore I began work in earnest I had several days’ excellent duck shooting. In selecting my quarter-section of 160 acres and making my start I have been greatly assisted by Mr Jas. N, Drake, of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway, of whom I bought the land, and by Mr Kendall, who farms extensively here. My farm is in Springfield township, Cottonwood county, 4 miles from Heron Lake, 11 miles from Windom, another railway station on the St. Paul line, and 10 miles from Airlie, a town on the Southern Minnesota railroad. The land is undulating, a deep alluvium, sloping down to the Des Moines river, by the side of which I have 40 acres of grass. My location is well adapted either for grain or stock raising. It has cost me 20s an acre. I only wish I had the means to buy a full section of 640 acres. Land is fast rising in value here. The taxes are 2 per cent, on the assessment, which throughout this district is about one-third of the value. I am advised to postpone building my house until next spring, but through the summer shall get stones out of the Des Moines river for the foundations and cellar, and have the timber hauled ready to make a start twelve months hence. Meanwhile I shall live in the hotel at Heron lake or board with neighboring fanners. I have purchased three useful horses and a Cassidy’s plough, and am now at work breaking up the prairie sod, with a furrow 12 inches wide and about 4 inches deep. I ride, of course, comfortably on ray implement, and having got into the way of ifc, turn over 2 acres a day. I hope within the next six weeks to break up 50 acres for flax and 25 for Indian corn. Obliging neighbors will lead me seeding and other machinery, for which I shall make them return by giving an equivalent in work with myself and team. Laborers here receive 4s a day. With a favorable season, the flax should produce 8 bush, an acre, at 1 dol. per bush. lam counting on 15 bush, of mine at Is ner bush.

' These returns, although not great, twill pay expenses of breaking up; and besides, the land thus treated is in a much more favorable condition for growing wheat twelve months hence than if it were merely turned up and allowed to he idle. In the fall T am advised to buy about fifty ewes, ■which will probably cost 3 dols. to 4 dols. per bead, and a Cotswold ram, perhaps at 20 dols. Wool being high, worth 50 rents per lb, sheep are dear tor this country- The average clip appears to be oihto 4 lb. During the summer I Sail be able to board myself and my three horses on the farm adjoining my own at a cost of 10s to 12s a week. Food both for man and beast is cheap here, and when not busy on my own land I can get plenty of ploughing and other work, which will not only pay for the hire of such implements and help which I want, but besides bring m e in some ready money. Subjoined is an estimate of expenditure necessary to bring 160 acres of praire land Sn.fcv.lio..* The estimate, I may sav has been revised by Mr Kendall and others who have more experience than mvself. So as to be more readily understood I have converted the American into English money

Total expenses in buying and fanning WO acres of prairie land .. -• £6OB 10 o In little more than six months after jny leaving Devonshire I shall have something coming in to meet expenses. Prom my 50 acres of dax I should in August have 400 bush, of linseed to dispose of at Is per bush., netting L 8 0; and six weeks later my 25 acres of Indian corn will produce at a moderate estimate for such a crop37sbusm, -which, at Is per hush., with be worth LlB 15. During the summer I expect by working with my horses for my neighbors to earn from L2O to L 25, which will go far towards covering the actual expenses incurred for my own and their living.—A. B. Keir ' ■»

Payments already made: 160 acres of land at 5 dol. cash £ 160 8. 0 d. 0 Three horses at 25 0 0 ■One colt o Set of double harness .. Set of single harness 12 o 0 Sulky plough .. - £265 8 0 Payments to he made within the next Housr twoToricg 8 , 20 feet by 24 feet, with 120 30 cellar and five rooms 0 o 10 0 0 5wo cows.. .. •• •• Fifty head of sheep at 4 dol. * Shed for sheep through winter .. • • Stable for horses and shed for implements 40 12 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Three breeding hogs .. o Breaking 75 acres2Jdol. ■■ 13 0 0 Culth'ation expenses on 50 acres flax at 5.44 ft o dol. per acre , • •*. *L Cultivation expenses on 25 acres maize at Q o 24 dol. per acre Three months’ board and lodging .. 16 16 0 o Contingencies .. ■ •