Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 20, 1896

Chapter 20

Never perhaps in the history of the northwest; was the new year ushered in by a more beautiful day, than the first day of January. 1874. It much exceeded, in this respect, the first day of January, 1873. The skies were cloudless, the sun shown all day long with peculiar radiance, the winds were hushed, and the atmosphere was soft, balmy and spring like. Fires died out, doors were thrown wide open, and the old and the young came forth to enjoy the open air and genial skies.

The winter of 1873-4 was quite a mild one, there being no severe storms and no great depth of snow. On the nights of the twenty-first and twenty-second of February, however, a quantity of snow fell, which on Monday, was blown into drifts, causing a suspension of business for the day, and also on the sixth and seventh of March, the snow fall was considerable.

The commissioners assembled January 6th. W. W. Potter, of Verona, was elected chairman for the year. Another session of the board was held, commencing March 4th. At this latter session a contract was entered into with E. Raymond & Son, residing near Blue Earth City, to keep the county poor.

The county not having yet erected the necessary buildings on the poor farm, the poor who were supported by the county were lodged at various places. This system was expensive and led to the l^ractice of more or less fraud on the public. According to the agreement entered into at this time, Messrs. Raymond & Son con tracted to board and lodge and take the general care of the poor for two dollars each, per week, the county to furnish clothing and medical attendance. At this time some sixteen persons were being supported by the county.

When the arrangements had all been made, notice was given to these persons to repair to Mr. Raymond's, where comfortable quarters had been prepared for them. But lo! only three obeyed the order! The others refused, on the ground that they were not going to the poor house! not they, they could do better than that - they had not become so poor as that yet! Not quitel So long as many of them could live comfortably among friends and relatives, and the county pay their expenses, it was all right, but this thing of going to the poor house, they could not stand. And we are compelled to honor the spirit they manifested in keeping out of the poor house, so long as possible, still they seemed to make a great distinction where there was not much difference. The county, at all events, was by this action relieved of their support.

The board held three other sessions during the year, namely, on .Tune 23rd, September 15th and October 8th, but no business was transacted at either session worthy of special mention.

The district court held its regular general term, commencing on the sixth day of January'. Hon. P. H. Waite, presiding. There were twelve criminal and fiftj'one civil cases stated on the calendar, one of the largest ever had in the county.

"Gen. R. W. .Judson tells a good story. It was of a case in the United States district court at Albany many years ajfo. A patent right suit was on before Judge Nelson. William H. Seward was counsel on one side. In summing up he occupied a whole day. Peter Cagger came in while he was talking, and after listening an hour turned to a learned lawyer and inquired: 'What the deuce is Seward talking about?' The counsel on the other side made a long speech, and the judge chargi'd. After the jury had been out about two hours they camo into the court, and the foreman said: "Your honor, the jury w<iuld like to ask a (|uestion?' Judge: 'You can proceed.' Foreman; 'Well, your honor, we would like to know what this suit is about?' "

The Farmers' Society

The annual meeting of the Agricultural Society, for the election of officers, was held at Blue Earth City on the sixth day of January. F. A. Squires, was chosen president; P. W. Temple, secretary; Chas. Stockman, treasurer.

This was one of the most spirited contests for the offices yet known in the history of the society. It was made a question of localities, between Winnebago City and Blue Earth City.

Another meeting was held May 16th at Blue Earth City, at which the question of locating the fair grounds and headquarters of the society again came up, but the meeting was adjourned, without definite action on the question, to the second day of June. At the latter meeting, the following proposition on behalf of the citizens of Blue Earth City was submitted:

"That in consideration of, and on condition that the Faribault County Agricultural Society shall hold the annual fair of said society at Blue Earth City, the citizens of Blue Earth City hereby agree to furnish suitable fair grounds, buildings, track, stalls and pens, free of charge, to the society for the purpose of holding such fairs for the period of ten years from date hereof.

-'Provided, that for the period of ten years from this date, all moneys or property now, or hereafter, belonging to said society, after paying the necessary expenses thereof, shall be applied to making improvements and repairs on said fair grounds and buildings."

A tract of twenty-five acres of ground, situated a half mile north of Blue Earth City, was hired for ten years, an excellent race track was prepared, a capacious building erected on the grounds, and other conveniences provided, mainly through the contributions of the people of Blue Earth City, and subsequently the grounds were mainly enclosed with a high fence.

The annual fair was held on the first, second and third days of Octobei-. The weather was fine, the attendance large, there being fully twelve hundred people present on the second day, and the display of stock, farm products and articles of domestic manufacture, the best that had been seen for a number of years. But the location of the fair gi'ounds did not give satisfaction in several localities, and considerable fault was found for some years, with this action of the society.

The Solons

1st. A memorial to Congress to establish a post route from Banks, in Faribault county, Minn., by way of Coon Grove and Benson's Grove, to Forest City, in the State of Iowa.

Bailey Madison, of this county, was again sergeant-atarms in the House, Charles A. Rose, fireman for the Senate, and Master E. J. Vial, senate messenger.

On the sixteenth clay of February, the Winnebago City Pre's changed proprietors. Mr. J. L Christie became the proprietor and editor. The retiring owner, Mr. Huntington, says: "We have sold the Press office to Mr. J. L. Christie, for the reason that we are not a printer and thei'e is no particular profit in the investment. We will confess that we rather like the business."

Mr. Christie introduces himself in the following words: "After an absence of seven years, we again find ourselves seated in the editorial chair and making our best bow to our many old friends and patrons of Faribault county, through the columns of the Press."

A Fine Spring

The spring opened about the thirteenth of March. The wind changed on that day into the south, and on the next day we had the first rain of the season. It was remarked that the crows arrived about this date in great, in fact, in unusual numbers, and the wild geese and ducks, doubtless, were anxiously expected.

As seeding time approached, serious apprehensions were entertained by many in the west half of the county, that the grasshopper eggs, innumerable quantities of which had been deposited in the ground the preceding year, would hatch, and produce that pest in such vast numbers as to again eat up the crops. The eggs were mainly deposited in the west tier of towns, and the west half of the next tier east, in this county. The subject was one of serious consideration, indeed very perplexing, and many a head turned restlessly upon its pillow at night, with evil forebodings. No one could give any reliable information, or advice, as to what was best to-be done. Opinions were various and the reasons for them curious. No one had had any experience, and printed information was not at hand. The majority of the people, therefore, concluded to risk their seed, and did so.

There was but little wheat sown prior to the first day of April. The weather during Mai-ch was pleasant. Nearly all the snow went off and the roads became quite dry, but the frost came out of the ground so slowly as to delay the seeding. Indeed the spring was remarkable in the fact that in the earlier part of it, there was no rain, and the days were clear and bright, but the nights were quite cold. The wells, generally, "dried up." and many of thom had to be sunk deeper. The crops were never, probably, put in more successfully than in this year, though sometimes earlier.

Melange

In March the first religious newspaper published in this county appeared. It was named the Church Messenger, and its motto was "Evangelic truth and apostolic order." The prospectus says "this paper will be published monthly, at Wells, Minnesota, under the auspices of the church of the Nativity (Episcopal). The terms of subscription are twenty-five cents per annum, payable in advance." This paper was a two column eight page quarto, neatly printed and full of original and well selected matter relating to religious subjects. It was a sort of little gem, in the newspaper line. Rev. S. S. Burleson was the editor and proprietor. The paper did not long survive, however.

On the twentieth day of March, the Blue Earth Valley "Blooded Stock" Association was organized at Winnebago City, of which H. W. Holley was elected president, H. M. Huntington, secretary, P. W. Temple, treasurer, and F. F. Harlow, corresponding secretary. The object of this association was to introduce into Southwestern Minnesota the best blooded cattle which could anywhere be obtained. A number of the members residing in this county, secured quite a number of very fine animals of the best breeds.

On the twenty- fourth day of March, a great Teachers" Training School commenced at Wells, and continued in session until April 17th. This was the most important school of the kind yet held in this section of country. There were ninety-one ^lersons in attendance from this county, four from Blue Earth county, and forty- six from Freeborn county.

The instructors were. State Superintendent Wilson, Prof. H. J. Buckham, principal of the Normal school at Buffalo, N. Y.,J. P. Bird, James N. Lee, Sam'l Rutledge, and County Superintendent Richards, of this county. The school was claimed to be a great success, and it was certainly an important event in the history of the educational interests of the county.

The Post

On the second day of May, with the issue of that date, Mr. W. W. Williams retired from the editorial chair of the Bine Earth City Post, with these brief words: "With this issue of the Post its control passes into the hands of C. H. Slocum, Esq., late of the St. Charles Herald, who becomes its proprietor by purchase. The undersigned would be ungrateful indeed, were he to allow this opportunity to pass without returning to the people of Blue Earth City his warmest thanks, for their uuvaryiug kindness to him, and their generous support of the Post, from the date of its first issue (May, JbtJ'J) down to the present time, and that they may prosper in all good things, will always be one of his fondest hopes. - W. W. Williams."

On assuming the management of the Post, Mr. Slocum says in the issue of May 9th: "'The present manager of the Post is sufficiently well known in this county, and throughout the State, to render unnecessary a formal introduction. * * * It (the Post) will continue to be republican in principle, reserving the right to criticise fully all acts that ai'e essentially wrong, and will not tie itself to the fortunes of any local faction, or clique. Further than this, let each issue speak for itself."

One of the great holidays of Norway, observed by the Norwegian people, not only in their native land, but also in this, the adopted country of many thousands of them, is the seventeenth day of May. This is Norway's independence day as the Fourth of July is ours. This great holiday is, therefore. one of interest to a large portion of our people, and it has been celebrated in this county a number of times. What does it mean, and how is the anniversary observed?

By the peace of Kiel. January 14th, 1814, made by certain of the great powers of Europe. Norway, in the general parcelling out, was given to Sweden, whose reigning monarch was then Charles XIIl, a very able ruler. But this arrangement was wholly arbitrary. The Norwegian people had not been consulted about it, nor given their consent to it.

The act was highly otfensive to Ihem, as it would be to any people, that possessed any national spirit, or self-respect. It touched their national and patriotic feelings, which are exceedingly strong, very deeply, and they indignantly repudiated it. . Action was at once taken by the great leaders of the people.

Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark, who had been governor of Norway, called together a national council, which met in May at Eidsvold. and he accepted the crown of Norway, with a written consiiiution, made on the spot, and which was adopted May 17lh, 1814. This constitution declared Norway independent. and established a limited monarchy, in which the powers of government and the ancient rights of the people w'oro well guarded. Christian, however, could not Laaintain himself, as the Swedish king was sustained by all the powers of Europe.

changes, Avas accepted by the Swedish king, November 4th, 1814. This constitution declares, and it was required to be acknowledged that Norway is "free, independent, indivisable and inalienable." Norway preserves her own flag, her currency, her accounts, her bank and her official language.

And while the king of Sweden is king of Norway, yet Norway has its own governing body called the Storthing, which is the legislature, or parliament of the nation, and the king of Sweden cannot be king of Noi'way, until he has been crowned at the ancient city of Trondhjam, in Norway, as King of Norway.

No one, at least, no American, can but admire the indomitable resolution and courage with which the Norwegian people maintained tlieir nationality and the rights of the people, in the face of the untoward conditions and vast combinations against them.

There is mucli in this histoiy and tlieir declaration of national rights and their maintenance, which reminds us of the era of our own independence and our establishment as a nation, and which awakens the old "Spirit of 76," in our own hearts and prompts us to take part in these celebrations, with our drums and flags and thundering cannon and general rejoicing, and wlien they raise their voices in singing enthusiastically the inspiring national song of old Norway "Ja vi elsker dette Landet," the echoes answer back "Hail Columbia! happy land."

And there is move propriety in this, tlian may at first sight appear. It is altogether probable, if not certain, tliat we originally derived our notions of personal liberty of action, of opinion and of speech, and our principles of civil and religious liberty, from the old nations of Norseland, rather than from what may be termed the deductions of political philosophy, or the examples and constitutions of the ancient civilized nations of the south of Europe. Besides the day is not far distant when Norway itself will be an independent republic like our own. At all events, the American is constitutionally inclined, and exercises the right to hurrah for any people who have made a stand for liberty and nationality.

Such, briefly stated, is the great event in the history of Norway, usually celebrated by our Norwegian citizens, and certainly v/ith great propriety.

As to the manner of the observance of the day, it is sufficient to say, that it is very much in the same style in whicli we celebrate the Fourth of July. The programme of exercises usually embraces, in their order, music, a speech of welcome by the president of the day, national songs and a formal oration, the subject matter of which relates to the event celebrated. In these proceedings, this, the country of adoption, is never forgotten. The flags of both countries are displayed. Our Declaration of Independence, as Avell

While it may be said that, no well founded objection can be made to the custom of our Norwegian citizens in celebrating Norwegian Independence Day, for it is, after all, but a recognition an4 honoring of what are, essentially, American political principles, yet there has been considerable said and written, of late years, questioning the wisdom, from an American standpoint, of our foreign born citizens, of any nationality, keeping up their political views, customs and usages of their native countries, thus perpetuating, here, where all should be one and American, the spirit, the national characteristics and methods of separate and distinct nationalities, and thus weakening their loyalty to American ways and institutions, and causing divisions and contentions and rivalries in social life, educational methods and political ideas and ambitions.

And it must be admitted that in many localities, the matter of nationality and religion have been carried to extremes, in relation to education and politics, especially.

But that they will have any very long continued ill effects, considering the fact that the children of our naturalized citizens, born under American skies, and whatever else may be done, largely educated in their advance to maturity, under American institutions, and amidst American associations and influences, may well be doubted. It is no discredit to any man that he was born under foreign skies, for he could not control the matter, and all Americans, or their ancestors, (except Indians), but a few generations back, were born in foreign climes.

But it is believed to be a correct proposition, that our people born in alien lands, whatever kindly memories they may choose to cherish of the old home, life and friendly associations of their native land, should, when they become American citizens, make all reasonable efforts and haste to become fully assimilated with our people and Americanized. Our political institutions, language, sciences, literature, our religious toleration, customs, ambitions, aspirations, genius and spirit, must be theirs also now.

The old governments and conditions which they left, and which -were failures, in all that governments should be instituted to secure - the welfare of their people - or at least failures in so far. at least, as they were concerned who left them - are no more the home and country of the naturalized citizen here.

Faiubauli Govnty, Minnesota

ment, under which they and their children are to live henceforth. So far as nationality is concerned, the old citizenship and nationality have, in fact, ceased, and all of whatever nativity, are here to be one - all Americans now, in fact, in spirit, in life and labor, having one country, one hope, one destiny, not only for themselves, but, perhaps for their children forever.

Oh! you men who have left the old rotting, dying, hopeless despotisms of the old world, where you were, at best, but political serfs, and have come to free, progressive, enlightened America, with its grand privileges and possibilities for you and your descendants, you know that this is a land in which you are free men. where you have been freely granted political rights and privileges, unknown in the old world, and where you can have hope in the future, a future which you can help to make - a land which you can love, support, and defend, as the patriot defends, supports, and loves his country. And this your adopted country is entitled to, demands and expects of you and your children, and of all citizens, whether foreign, or native born. And the splendid pages of our national history, which record the loyalty, the heroic devotion to the Union, the patriotic services and self-sacrifice of tens of thousands of our foreign-born citizens, during the late war, makes the assurances for , the future doubly sure.

But there are a few words that should be added here. There is a class of foreign immigrants which America has no room for. We want none of the criminals and paupers of any of the nations of the old world. Nor are the ignorant, turbulent, lower class of Bohemians, Huns, Russians, Poles, Italians, Roumanians, Greeks, Turks, desirable. They are too difficult of assimilation with American ideas, and political principles. But the better classes of these people - the law abiding, the industrious, will always find a welcome in America.

S. S. Association

The fourth annual meeting of the County Sunday School Association was held at Winnebago City on the 28th and 29th of May. The meeting was well attended, and of more than ordinary interest. It was resolved at this meeting that the association recommend the use of the international series of lesson leaves, in the schools. Among the resolutions adopted, it was resolved that the church ought to be held to a strict accountability for the growth and maintenance of the Sunday school, and it should exercise a fostering care and general supervision of the school both in its temporalities and spirituality.

Tilt; officers elected for the ensuing year were: C. H. Dearborn, president; E. S. Levitt, vice-president; C. H. Patten, secretary; Thos. Blair, treasurer.

The Judiciary

There were six criminal and twenty-three civil cases on the calendar. Here is a little joke which occurred in the Court of King's Bench, which should not be lost. If there is any place in which dignity, decorum and good manners should prevail it is in our courts of justice, and lawyers should set the example.

Sir Fletcher Norton, whose wantof courtesy was notorious, happened, while plead iiifi before Lord Manstleld on some ciuestion of manorial ritiht to say: "My lord, I can illu.slrate the point in an instant in my own person. I, myself, have two little manors." "We all know It, Sir Fletcher," the judge interposed, with one of his blandest smiles.

A Gloomy Picture

As giving a truthful account of the condition of the countrj', the last days of June, we quote the following brief statement from some memoranda of an old resident of the county.

The value of history lies in giving a correct representation of the times and events, and their legitimate results and instructive deductions. The gloomy and discouraging times and events, with their causes and effects must be detailed, as well as those of a brighter character. Thus, is seen, through what discouraging times individuals and communities are occasionally called to pass, and the important lesson is learned that however gloomy a period may be, the clouds do not remain forever, but sooner or later pass away, and the sun of prosperity again shines forth. It is well to remember always, that however thick and dark the clouds above us may be, above and beyond them the sun is shining in its full radiance and ever ready to break through.

.June :i9, 1874, Monday - Things look pretty ploomy financially, in the western half of Faribault county, at this time. First, the people, generally, are much in debt, many farms and much other property mortgaged, a great stringency in the money market all over the country, owing to general causes, but operating more severely in this particular section, because of short crops last year.

Many farmers, by the utmost efforts, were only able to secure seed enough to seed their grounds by giving chattel mortgages, looking forward to and hoping for a good crop, but yet timid and uncertain, because not knowing what damage might be done by the grasshoppers.

Second, The grasshoppers have now proved their destructive powers. Hundreds, nay, thousands of acres of small grain in the west half of the county have been destroyed by their ravages. Probably two-thirds of the crops in Verona, considerable in Winnebago City township, much in Jo Daviess, Pilot Grove, Elmore and Blue Earth City townships, have been ruined. These pests have, for a week past, been migrating northward on a strong S S.-W. wind. On Saturday evening last the wind changed, and during Sunday and to-day, blows from W. N.-W., and these plagues are now traveling eastward. The crops not already destroyed, never looked so well and gave such promise of a bountiful harvest at this time, but the myriads of these pests, now spreading over them, may destroy all, and at all events, will greatly injure them.

Third, The hope of securing a north and south railroad from Mankato, by way of Winnebago City and Blue Earth City, thence to the coal fields of Iowa, for which we have long labored, and which is almost a necessity to this county, has vanished. It was confidently expected and promised that the road should be built this season, thus affording employment to many, and causing a revival of business, and above all things, secure the future. This fact has a serious effect on the value of lands, and on every financial and business interest. The price of lands here has certainly touched bottom. There is no sale for lands or anything else, because of the scarcity of money, the stagnation of business, and the discouraging look of the future. I have lived in this county for seventeen years, but in all that time have not seen a worse outlook than at present. Heretofore there has always been some hope for the future, at least."

Our Natal Day

Notwithstanding the hard times, the scarcity of money - the destruction of crops by grasshoppers, as the Fourth of July approached the patriotic spirit of our citizens began to awaken, and they proceeded to prepare for that event. To some people, this event may seem very tame, trite and unimportant, but it should be remembered that to many hundreds of others, it was a day of pleasure, and perhaps of considerable profit and instruction. The day proved to be clear and warm.

Formal celebrations were held at three places in the county. At Easton, Hon. J. P. West delivered the oration, and Mr. Whitney read the Declaration. This was the first Fourth of July celebration held at Easton and was a dedication of this young city, forever, to the great principles of civil and religious liberty - to American freedom.

At Blue Earth City, the Good Templars took charge of the festivities. Hon. James E. Child, of Waseca county, this State, was the orator, and Geo. B. Kingsiey, of this county, was the reader of the Declaration. A large company was in attendance, and the day was well enjoyed by all.

It is well known that no holiday of the year is so enthusiastically celebrated by the young people, as the Fourth of July, and the noisier it is, the better they seem to like it. It is, indeed, "Young America's" day, but it is not usually celebrated with the vim, indicated in the following incident, told in reference to a boy who appeared at the Sunday school after the Fourth of July. "I believe you are all here," said the teacher to the class. "Yes'm," said the boy, speaking for himself, "all 'ceptin' three fingers an' a piece of an ear and the hurrahin'."

The red osaka variety of wheat, of which so much had been said, and which was thought to be the hope of the country, proved, this year, to have suffered greatly from rust. In many places it was almost worthless, and some large fields were not even cut. It was generally considered that this wheat had had its day. The varieties that proved best this year were currently named as follows: the Halstead, White Michigan, Rio Grande, White Hamburg or Amber, China Tea, Fife and Golden Droii. Oats, where not injured by locusts, were a fair crop. Corn was a good crop. Potatoes suffered for want of rain, and were not generally a large crop. But little barley was sown, and the crop was light. East of the lands in this county, affected by the locusts, the crops, with the exception of barley, were very fair, but prices ran down in the fall, and wheat became as low as fifty eight cents, at Delavan, and went up as high as seventy-two cents, but - at the close of the year stood at sixty-five cents - oats thirty-five to fifty cents; corn forty-five to fifty cents; potatoes fifty cents; pork six and a half and seven cents per pound for dressed hogs; flour two dollars per hundred.

The Locusts

A brief article in reference to the grasshoppers, or more properly speaking, locusts, as they appeared to us during the years of their visitation here, may be of interest and value to the readers of the future. Most of the observations in relation to this insect, here recorded, as to their habits, were made at Blue Earth City, in this county, during the years 1873 and 1874.

When this plague came so suddenly upon the county, but few knew anything of them and their destructive power, or of the methods of dealing with them. The numerous references to the grasshopper and the locust, in the scriptures, were, indeed, dimly remembered by a few, but they little thought, or realized, that the following magnificent description by the prophet, Joel, of their ap-

"A Are devoureth before them: and behind them a flame burneth; the land "is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; "Yea, and nothing shall escape them.

"The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horseman, "so shall they run. Lil^e the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall "they leap, like the noise of a flame of Are that devoureth the stubble, as a "strong people set in battle array.

"They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of "war; and they shall march, every one on his ways, and they shall not break "their ranks."

This pest is not the grasshopper with wliich most western people were acquainted in the eastern and middle states. It is much larger and possesses much greater powers of flight. It has been variously named, the grasshopper, the red legged locust, caloptenus spretus, the Rocky mountain locust, and is, undoubtedly, a species of locust, though much smaller than the full grown locusts, seen in the east, at long intervals.

As to their natui-al habitat, the better opinion appears to be that it is in '.'the higher valleys and dry sandy plateaus, within the limits of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming. Idaho, Montana and a strip of the same width, extending northward into British America, the northern limit being unknown," and that they are carried by strong and steady winds abroad over certain sections of country.

The following extract, from an article on the subject, written by Mr. J. W. Taylor, gives the best account we have seen of their various visitations.

"In the records of the Jesuit missions of California, we find early mention of the scourge: but with much evidence of its periodicity. Theyear 1722 wasdisastrous; the next visitation was in 1746, continuing three years; next in 1753 and 17.54, and afterwards in 1765, 1766 and 1767. During this century the periods of great destruction in California have been 1828, 1838, 1846 and 1855. In the latter years these insects covered the entire territories of Washington and Oregon; every valley of the state of California ranging from the P^ciflc Ocean to the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, the entire territories of Utah and New Mexico, the immense grassy prairies lying on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the dry mountain valleys of the Republic of Mexico, and the countries of Lower California and Central America, and also those portions of the state of Texas which resembles, in physical characteristics, Utah and California. The locusts extended themselves in one year over a surface comprised within 38 degrees of latitude, and in the broadest part 18 degrees of longitude. "In 1856 there was much injury in Texas, Kan.sas and ISIinnesota; and ten years afterwards, Kansas and the western districts of Missouri and Iowa suffered greatly, creating a necessity for public contributions from the eastern states to relieve the destitute.

"Since the settlement of Minnesota there have been Ave grasshopper year^, 1856, 1857, 1865, 1873, and now, 1874 - in each case with a loss of one-tenth of the entire crop of the state.

"The history of the lied River Settlement presents a similar proportion of years of suffering and exemption. Since the settlement under Lord Selltirk In 1812, the locusts have appeared in 1818 and 1819. and then a long interval to 1857-8, next in 1864-5, doing slight injury: In 18(!7-8, the famine year; in 1869- 70; in 1872 3; and now in 1874, with ttie proliahility that the ova deposited will threaten the crops of 1875. The last seven years have been peculiarly unfortunate - there being hut one full crop, while the average; loss cannot have heen less than one-half. With the extension of settlements in Manitolia, the loss will prutiably be reduced to ten per cent - the rate observed in locust years in the states west of the Mississippi river, equally exposed to the pest, although the calamity is still greatly heightened by the circumstance that special districts are the scenes of devastation.

By reference to the history of the preceding year, it will be seen when the locusts made their first visit to this county, since its settlement. At that time they remained here long enough to do much damage, and to deposit their eggs in the ground.

They bored innumerable holes in the ground, even in the dry, hard beaten road, about a quarter of an inch in diameter and an inch deep, and deposited their eggs at tlie bottom. The ground, in many places, had a very strange appearance indeed.

Many persons in the spring of this year, (1874), prophesied that we should not again be troubled with the grasshopper, they believing that the frosts of winter had destroyed the eggs deposited the previous year, and that this country was not natural to them, not adapted to their wants. How vain were all these hopes I About the 7th to the 9th of May, the weather being quite warm and dry, they began to hatch and come out of the ground. They immediately - though as small as fleas - commenced the work of destruction, and grew rapidly. About the 15th to the 20th of June, they began to gel wings. Up to this time they had already done an immense amount of damage to the wheat and oats, especially in the towns uf Elmore, Jo Daviess, Pilot Grove, Verona, Winnebago City and the west half of Blue Earth City township.

It should be stated here, that it is a vain supposition, sometimes entertained, that streams or lakes, or tracts of woodland, will impede their migration, or that frosts, wet weather, floods, storms or tempests can seriously affect them.

The question may be asked here, what all do they eat? The answer is simply - everything that is eatable, and some things that are not. They have a preference for garden vegetables, except peas - cultivated crops of all kinds, wheat, oats, corn, barley, flax, potatoes and tame grasses, and in default of these, then wild grass and the leaves and bark of shrubbery and young trees.

In looking over the fields which they have desolated, one realizes what is meant by the words "the grasshopper shall be a bur den," and the words above quoted - "The land was as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; nothing did escape them."

After having destroyed the crops in the several towns, above mentioned, the pests left us on the seventh of July. The event is remembered as the great exodus.

The day had been oppressively warm, the themometer standing from one o'clock to five o'clock p. m., at 102° in the shade, and there was but little air astir. About 4:30 p. m., it was discovered that the sky was full of flying locusts. But these words do not give an adequate idea of their numbers - they were in swarms of millions, flying high and passing rapidly to the southwest. For an hour or more, they kept passing thus, while other millions, all about, were raising from the ground and joining the hosts on the wing, and on that day, over a vast extent of country, they arose and left. It was a great exodus indeed, and it was thought, by many, that they were taking their final leave of this country, which in the main proved to be true, so far as this county was concerned. Yet there were places where they remained in the State, and deposited their eggs, but (with the exception of Brush Creek and several adjoining towns, where they did no damage) not in this county, nor in the counties west of this. Their subsequent appearance was that of those that could fly. The greatest injury is done where they hatch, for they must subsist upon the country until able to migrate.

The territory desolated by the locusts during this year, was northwestern Iowa, the western portion of Minnesota, that is, west of a line running north and south, coinciding with the Blue Earth river and continued to the north boundary of the State - large districts of Dakota, a great part of Nebraska, southern and western Kansas, and a part of Missouri, and in all this vast territory, great destitution and suffering was caused by their ravages, requiring regular organized systems of assistance and contribution, from more favored localities, and thousands of dollars of State aid, to prevent starvation or depopulation.

A serious question presents itself; is there not some method by which the locusts may be destroyed and their depredations prevented. When they first appeared in this county, the people were, as above stated, unacquainted with them and practically pei'fectly helpless. The remark was often made, "were these plagues only wild animals, say even an army of elephants, or an organized army of human enemies, we could fight them and at least hurt them some," but against these pests there seemed to be no human device. And such was almost, literally the truth. Yet there were certain things

Most of the methods employed in certain portions of Eurojje and Asia, where the people have been troubled with locusts annually, for centuries, and now care little for them, are not practicable here because of our sparce population. The principal methods of destroying them here, were tirst to destroy the eggs on plowed land, which may be done to a considerable extent by early fall ))lowing, which breaks up the nests and throws the eggs to the surface, the exposure killing them. But this is of no avail when the eggs are deposited on wild lands. Small fields were sometimes protected temporarily by two persons taking a long rope and passing it over the grain, when the hoppers were quite j'oung and thus drive them out of the fields. Still another method used somewhat, in small fields, before the pests could fly, was that of laying wini-ows of hay at intervals through the field, and then drive the locusts upon the hay and immediately setting fire to the hay.

But the most effective instrument ever invented for the destruction of the grasshoppers in this country on cultivated lands, was the famous death dealer, known as the hopper-dozer. This invention, like many another much needed invention, came at a late day - 1877. It consisted simply of a common piece of sheet iron, six or eight feet long, with a small strip of board along the two larger sides, to give it stiffness, and a string, or wire, by which to draw it, extending from the two front corners, and the whole sheet covered with coal-tar. By drawing this instrument over the fields and gardens, at the period between the hatching and the winging of the insects, the young hoppers jump upon it, and are held by the tar and soon die. It is simply wonderful what quantities of the insects can thus be gathered and destroyed. They were used very extensively throughout the infested towns of the county after their introduction. Large quantities of tar were purchased at the public expense, and distributed to the several towns for this purpose in 1877.

But in any genei'al invasion of the country, all those local methods of destroying the insects are of but uncertain advantage, for if destroyed in one locality to day, to-morrow others might light down again, as thick as ever, and, therefore, any real remedy must be one of a general character, such as will destroy them over large districts of country, at the same time.

Some one of a practical turn of mind may now be ready to ask, can not these locusts be put to some practical use? Certainly they can, as will appear from the following article quoted from a good authority. And any one who chooses, may make use of them, when

"In Turkey, Persia, Arabia, anrl all that region of country, locusts - genuine i)OMo^de locusts - have been eaten from remote antiquity, and to this day, they form an important item of the food used by the common people. The Bedouins collect them in immense quantities, and, after a partial drying, pacli them in sacks. Then at their convenience, when the season for collecting is over, they steam the insects in closed vessels over a hot Are, winnow them in broad baskets to remove the legs and wings, and then pulverize them between flat stones. When wanted for food, they are only moistened with a little water, just as the Arabs do in preparing their date-Hour, and then the repast is all ready."

In relation to the damages done by the locusts during this year in our own State, we present the following estimates, made by the St. Paul Press, which were doubtless very correct. In our own county, undoubtedly one-third of the entire crop of the county was destroyed by them this year.

Grasshopper Ravages

"It is safe to estimate the tilled area in the ravaged district at 275,000 acres, and of the area of wheat in that district at 200,000 acres. Of this area, probably not less than 150,000 acres have been destroyed. This represents not less than 2,500,000 bushels of wheat devoured in the germ by the grasshoppers, or about one-twelfth of the wheat crop of the State. Add to this area 40,000 acres of oats, at 33 bushels per acre, or 1,320,000 bushels in all, or one-twelfth of the oat crop of the State; 20,000 acres of corn, at 32 bushels per acre, or 340,000 bushels, or one-twelfth of the corn crop of the State, and perhaps 20,000 acres more in rye, buckwheat, barley, potatoes and other crops - and the full extent of the grasshopper havoc can be easily estimated."

The Newspapers Again

The Wells Atlas "changed hands" in September. W- Keller becoming the editor and proprietor, Mr. Calvert retiring. Another change was made in the early part of December, and on the sixteenth of that month the paper came out under the new name of the "Faribault County /yeader," H. L. LaDue, editor. The paper continued to be a seven column sheet, neatly printed and mainly devoted to local affairs. The inside was printed abroad, outside at home.

An important election was now near at hand. Among other public officers to be chosen, were two judges of the sujDreme court, a judge of the sixth judicial district, and a member of congress.

Mark H. Bunnell was the republican congressional candidate, and Franklin H. Waite, for some years our district judge, was congressional candidate of the opposition.

On the first day of October, a County Council of the Patrons of Husbandry was held at Delavan, at which, among other business transacted, the following nominations were made:

The Republican County Convention met at Blue Earth City, on the eighth day of October. A. A. Huntington was chosen chairman, and G. W. Buswell. secretary. The convention proceeded to make the following nominations:

The Democratic and Liberal Republican Convention was held October 10th. D. P. Wasgatt was chosen chairman, and G. W. PoUeys. secretary. This convention nominated Robert Andrews and Thomas George for representatives, and the following named per.^ons for county commissioners: 1st District, Allen Shultis; 2d District, Geo. B. Kingsley; 4th District, J. A. Latimer; 5th District, D. Catlin.

In consequence of the resignation of Franklin H. Waite, judge of the 6th judicial district, to which this county belongs, a republican judicial district convention was held at Madelia, Watonwan county, October 13th. Daniel A. Dickinson, of Mankato, was nominated as the candidate for judge.

A few days before the day of election, Geo. A. Barnes, a candidate for representative, withdrew, and on Friday preceding the election, Geo. W. Whallon, of Blue Earth City, came out as a candidate for representative, in the place of Mr. Barnes. The campaign was not a very lively one, except for about three days immediately prior to election day.

The following table taken from the official canvass of votes for representatives and county officers, other than commissioners, pre sents the final results:

Amos Preston was elected county commissioner for District No. 1; F. W. Temple for District No. 2; E. H. Hutchins for District No. 4, and D. Catlin for District No. 5.

The Bee

About the first of December ''The Delavan Bee," published at Delavan, by C. Huntington, was removed to Blue Earth City, and the name was changed to The Bee.

With the remark that 1874 was the last year of the second decade in the history of the county - ^twenty annual milestones past - we close the record of the year.