FROM THE WHEAT BELT

An Interesting Communication - A Fort Dodger Sojourning in Minnesota - Large Flour Mill - Meeting Old Friends

Nicolett, Minn., Aug. 30, 1888

Nicolett is a small town with about 200 inhabitants, mostly of German nationality, and is located on the C. & N.W. railroad, having three generalstores, no drug store, one harness shop, one plow factory and one flouring mill.

Mr. Gus. Rabe, a congenial German and post master, is one of the lions of the town, has earned enough by his close attention to business to make for him the rest of his life an easy and an indulgent living. He is always ready to help you and your friend to make your visit a visit of pleasure and enjoyment, and I think too much praise cannot be said of him. You can go out on the side walk and look north and you can see nothing but wheat and south east and west the same. In fact the county seems to be one vast field of wheat, with here and there a beautiful lake but the wheat this year, like our Iowa oats, was affected by rust and the yield will not be as good as that of last.

The flouring mill at this place is one of beauty, and the most compact mill I ever have seen; its capacity is 230 barrels per day; it was built only for business. I have been told by mill men that for conveniences and completeness it has not been surpassed by any of its size in the state. It is running all the time and can not fill all of the orders. It was built by W.R. Reid, a former Fort Dodge boy, he doing the planning, and furnishing the system throughout. The mill is owned and operated by Mr. Wm. Silverson, Wm. Reid and Chas. Silverson, the latter having a mill at New Ulm, Minn., which has just received from Mr. Reid's hands a complete over hauling and entire change of system has been made. They having refitted it with machinery of the latest and most improved pattern gibing it a standing with large and more costly mills. Its capacity has been raised from 300 to 450 barrels per day.

Mr. Chas Silverson is the controlling man in this mill and I am told he is a man to only be made acquainted with and you will like him for ever, he having only truth and honesty, combined with other good graces given to man as he himself is the soul of honor. There has been no expense spared to make this mill a perfect success in every improvement of flour. I find with Mr. Wm. Reid here at Nicolett, Mr. Chas. Humbal, Louis Ross, and J.J. Reid, brother of Wm. all former Fort Dodge boys all enjoying good and lucrative positions of which they speak in the best of praise.

The game in this country this year is not plenty, no chickens at all and few ducks. Your humble servant was out and succeeded in bagging a few nice braces; Jack snipe are plenty but there are no hunters for them here. I see quite a number of geese, have had no chance at them as yet but we are going to ride over the lake and camp a day or so on the island and try my L. C. Smith on the ponderous fowl.

Yours,

Frank S. Howey