Items from locals in paper 1884The following appeared in the Rock County Weekly Herald on Feb. 1, 1884:"Prof. Fogg is contemplating an enterprise which will prove of great value to Luverne and the county in general. Under his management the Rock County farm has yielded, during the past season, for the first time, some profit, but he understands fully the difficulties of farming so large a tract successfully and has decided to divide the place up into farms of 160 acres and build suitable houses and make necessary improvements on each for the purpose of renting the farms to tenants. In this way the land will undoubtedly yield a good profit both to tenants and proprietor, and the county will be the gainer in the way of increased personal property and the acquisition of more actual settlers. Mr. Fogg has rented one section of his land for the coming season for a cash rent and that portion of the farm will be used almost exclusively for the purpose of stock raising." "A meeting of some of the business men of Luverne was held in the editorial room of the Herald office Friday evening for the purpose of taking action with reference to the project of securing the establishment of a tow mill at this place. The project was earnestly favored by all who were present, but it was deemed advisable before any effort was made to induce anyone to engage in the enterprise to determine what encouragement could be obtained in the way of contributions of flax straw from farmers, and other contributions, from the people of Luverne. For this purpose a committee, consisting of A.E. Patterson, W.M. Raymond and A. Jaycox, was appointed, and as soon as their work is completed another meeting will be held. The project is an important one and should receive encouragement from all who are in anyways interested in Luverne. Undoubtedly a very large acreage of flax will be raised next year and the conversion of the straw into its market value in cash will largely increase the next year’s income of our farmers. Those who are willing to contribute to the support of the enterprise are requested to report as soon as possible to some member of the committee above named."Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
