Meeker County, Minnesota - Chapter 1: Location, Topography and General Remarks, 1888

INNESOTA is located in the geographical center of the continent of North America - midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and also midway between Hudson's Baj' and the Gulf of Mexico. It embraces territory extending from latitude 43 degrees 50 minutes, to 49 degrees, and from 89 degrees 29 minutes to 97 degrees 5 minutes west longitude. As to its area, it can only be estimated, as portions of the State are as yet unsurveyed ; but as near as can be arrived at, the area is 85,531 square miles, or about 53,760,000 acres. In size Minnesota is the fourth State in the Union. From its southern boundary to the northern is about 4()0 miles, and from the most eastern to tiie extreme western point about 354 miles. In altitude it appears to l)e one of the highest portions of the continent, as the headwaters of tlie three great river systems' are foun<l in its limits - those of streams flowing northward to Hudson's Bay, eastward to the Atlantic Ocean, and southward to the Gulf of Mexico.

Nearly three-quarters .of the surface of the State is made up of rolling prairie, intersjiersed with frequent groves, oak openings and belts of hardwood timber, watered by numerous lakes and streams, and covered with a warm, dark soil of great fertility. The balance, embracing the elevated district immediately west of Lake Superior, consists mainly of the rich mineral ranges on its shores, and of the pine forests which extend over the upper Mississippi country, affording extensive supplies of timber. But a very small portion is broken, rocky or worthless land ; nearly all is arable. But few States are so well watered as Minnesota, and the numerous rivers and water-courses give excellent drainage. A number of the rivers - the Mississippi, the Minnesota, the St. Croix, the St. Louis, the Red and the Red Lake rivers - are navigable, and nearly all of the balance afford water power. The lakes of Minnesota are among its principal ])hysical characteristics. The estimate of 10,000 lakes in the State is not an unreasonable one.

With all these natural advantages, favorable climate and rich soil, Minnesota has become one of the most successful agricultural States in the Union, and stock-i-aising and dairying is rapidly becoming a leading industry. Lumbering is also carried on very extensive!}', and the manufacturing branch is rapidly becoming large. While at first it was supposed that this State was destitute of valuable minerals, recent discoveries prove to the contrary. Inexhaustible sujiplies of the best iron ore exist, and are now being mined and exported in large quantities. Silver veins have also been found near the boundary line ; copper ore has also been found, and it is known that plumbago and gold quartz exist. Building material, gran-

A few words as to railroads and history relating to tlieir construction will also be interesting. Twenty-five years ago (1802), there were only ten miles of railway in operation in the State. At the close of 1885 there were 0,721 miles in operation. The general government has granted to railroads within this State 12,151,527 acres of land, and the State has given 1,811,750 acres of swamp and other lands, making a total of 13,933,277 acres of land within the State given to railroads, valued on the average at $5 per acre, making $09,000,385 thus given. In addition, local, county and State bonds have been given them amounting to over $0,080,000, making in lands and cash a total gift of $70,490,385, or about $19,345 for

In concluding these general remarks it may justly be h:aid that the outlook for the State is most gratifying. Its population is raj)id]y increasing, and its taxable wealth increasing in similar ratio. Every year sees an enormous area of its rich soil brought under cultivation, while there are still millions of acres awaiting the plow of the settler.