Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1881-11-25
Farming in Dakota.

Herald, large clSnt page paper, winch
contains a lengthy article under the above
heading, written by some one OF the gen.
tlemen who visited this section this past
season. While some of it's statements are
at variance with the facts, it is well
written article and the writer evidently
endeavored to do justice to the subject.
Its extreme length prevents our publish
ing it in full, but we have made selections
as follows:
jamestown, on the Dakota or James
river, is situated on the main line of the
Northern Pacific Railway. This prcten-
tious city of three years growth now con-
tains about 1000 inhabitants. The situa-
ton on the valley of this stream, and also
on the line of the N p. II. is in a, few
years to transform this little place into one
of the most important railway centers in
northeastern Dakota. This is not alto
gcther because it is situated in the midst
of II rich agricultural district as that the
Jim valley is the natural termination of
the agricultural lands Of Central Dakota,
which is separated from the Missouri by
an extensive tract of rough ground known
as the "Plateau du Coteau du Missouri, -
From jamestown south the James valley
is tapped by six different lines of road,
and two more in course of construction.
There is no coal in Minnesota, and all
these roads want coal The nearest point
and route promising the greatest amount
of local traffic is north of the agricultural
district of the James River valley to the
Mouse River and Turtle Mountains in the
northern part Of the territory, where coal
is plentiful Two roads are rapidly push
ing up the James Valley as fast as men
Can be got to construct the permanent
way. One of these is already within a
short distance of this place. The North
crn Pacific is at present preparing to
grade a line north to the Mouse River
with all despatch, to get possession of that
country first. So that jamestown will in
two years have three competing lines Of
road for its traffic, one south to the Mis-
souri, for the New Orleans waterway, an
other to Minneapolis, and another to Du-
luth and the lakes. At present only one
way is open to Duluth by the n p. II.
need hardly refer to the Importance of this
to settlers, as railways having monopoly
generally manage to pocket the lions
share of the farmers profits, The compc
tition will not only lower the rate Of freight
but will also have the effect of lowering
the present price of fuel to about onc-half
its present value as these lines will all
connect with the coalticlds in the north
part of the territory. The situation of the
city is on flat level on the river bottom
lands, which are here about u mile wide,
and hcmmcd i'll by steep bluffs about one
hundred feet high, and studded with the
bouldcrs Of the glacial drift. had ten
mile walk after dinner, and first examined
| large field Of flax extending to about 100
acres. This had been sown in relays as
| soon as the sod was broken all the way
from 24tl May to Both June. The early
sowings were almost ready for reaping,
| and looked like eight or nine bushels.
The later sowlngs were not quite SO good;
and the latest sowing was yet quite green
l gave particular attention to this field, as
it was, so far as could learn, the only
trial to any extent which has been made
here, and this by a man totally unacquaint-
ed with its culture. 1t is very important
consideration for settler to know whether
he can SOW a crop on his breaking which
will repay all expenses for breaking, SOW
ing, and reaping the crop, and ploughing
for the next crop, or whether lie has to
break and hack-sct the breaking at total
cost Of 1Ss an acre, and let it lie fallow for
a season, and SOW it to wheat the following
season. From what L have observed
further south in this territory, and also In
Minnesota, l say most unhesitatingly that
breaking carefully done and sown with
flax will yeild from to 10 bushels if sown
not later than first week Of June, There
is to be largo quantity Of flax sown next
year in this ncighbourhood on new break
ing. Close by this flax field l met set
tier who came here siXycars ago. He was
one of those easy frontiermen who live
from hand TO mouth, and although lie
homcsteaded a quarter section, lie has
only q little bit Of it improved. and is not
in very much better shape than when he
came. At that time he said there was not
a single settlement on the high grounds,
and now there is nota Government section
open within 90 miles of Jamestown worthy
of being located He came 800 miles from
Central Minnesota in his Wagon and set.
tied down here. He has chosen q bad
location for agriculture, but does not seem
to be one of those men who are likely to
die from the effects of hard work. Two
miles heyqnd, On The high prairie, a quar-
ter section has been put in good form by
an eastern farmer, who has occupied it for
two years. He has a good house and
stable, with the half of his section under
crop.
4 little further along crossed the
James river and assembled the bluffs on
the opposite side. This flat for several
miles IS all taken up and mostly under
cultivation-somc of it the first crop of
wheat, but the largest proportion being
second and third crop. Part of it was
stacked and part in stock. examined a
| few of the fields particularly as L was
walking along: estimated them to thrcsh
from Is to 25 bushels per acre. The field
whic, ] estim.tsd ,t 81 bushels per acre
might probably be nearer 80 bushels: 1t
was crop OF really magnificent straw
and capable of carrying 80 bushels; but,
like all the other crops L have seen in
America with the exception of the irri-
CATION crops of Colorado, it was blightcd
with the hot sun, the nnper portion Of the
head WAS quite empty and the chatf
slightly dark colored. The grain was
plump and we'll formed and is known
| here as the Scotch Fife wheat, The av-
ersee of tl,, crops looked at would prob
ably 80 under - ohusliels :
In Stutsman county four years ago, l
understand. there was 50 acres of wheat
| grown: this year there will be over &c, 200
/ >,,l ,,oxt ,-aor tbn incrooSa will ho