The last half of December and the first half of January we had the cold wave, the mercury going below zero from 8 to 40 deg. We have from six to seven inches of snow on the level. Thermometer now ranging from 10 below to 20 above. We have had some windy days that make the snow fly. I was in Illinois before leaving for Dakota some forty-five years, and I did not in all that time see a more pleasant winter; but a very few days that a man could not be at work if he choose. The wind is no harder nor more frequent than in Illinois—just the same as near as could be made. Now for the land, etc.: Here in Brown county, about twelve to fifteen miles from the 46 parallel (south) the land is nicely rolling, just about as any one would wish. There is very little choice in location, only as distance from railway stations. The soil is black sandy loam, good for small grain, and, judging from experiment in sod corn, we can raise corn and a good crop mature if put in in good season, and of an early variety. I never say anything against Illinois. It is good enough, and Dakota is just as good, and in one-quarter of the time that Illinois was in developing, Dakota will be up even with her, the facilities being far in advance of those of early Illinois. Then we had to team all of our wheat into Chicago by wagon for nearly twenty years before we had a canal or railroad. But here we have the railroads to start with, and if emigration is as large next spring as it was the last there will not be a foot of land to be located. There is not a quarter section left now in Brown county, unless it has been overlooked. Towns are growing up as fast as toad-stools in summer. We are located six miles from Frederick (600 inhabitants), seven miles from West Port (200), ten miles from Ordway (500), twenty miles from Aberdeen (2,000), twenty from Columbia (1,000), county seat. The land is watered about the same as Illinois, with the elm and maple along the Jim river. For wells we dig from twenty-five to forty feet and get the best of water. I think Dakota as good a place for a young man of small means as can be found. There are some counties where the land has not been surveyed yet, where good location may be made. Our crops were short last year in Brown county, caused by a short time of dry weather in June, just as the wheat and oats were in blossom, at which time these crops require rain in order to “fill” well. The only drawback we have is in the matter of fuel as yet. Soft coal sells at from $7 to $8 per ton: hard, $12 to $13. Dry-goods and groceries are as low as in Illinois. Lumber from $2 to $4 higher. Our vegetables can not be beaten.