Omaha daily bee., 1883-10-01
FARMING.
How Dakota Wheat-Growers Manage
20. OOO-ACre Farm.

FARGO, d. r., Sept. 17.-Nino or ten
years ago Fargo, which is go miles west
of st. Paul, and has n population of l0,OOo
was a mere hamlet, and lots now worth
5000 could be bought for a song. The
opening of the great Dalrymple wheat
farm proved the wonderful fertility OF
the Red River valley, in which this town
il situated, and the increase in its tor
tunes at once commenced, and has kept
up steadily ever since. Although the
LARGEST of the towns along the route, it is
n true specimen of what n score of others
will be in a year or two. 1T Is the i've,
liest type of a new Western town, and
its population has of late years doubled
every twelve months. Street cars run
about is thoroughfares, gas IN water
are in its houses, and ahuge electric-llght
tower, 200 feet high and of $4,000 candle
mower, throws its bright beams abroad
after nightfall. There are many hotels,
boarding houses, seven churches, eight
newspapers, two public halls, a theatre,
Court House, a high and several lesser
schools, banks, business houses, both
, wholesale and retail, by the score; Far
grounds and a driving park. Mapleton'
t twelve miles to the westward, as a new
born babe Of the Northwest with but ooo
, souls within rs grassy limits, but the brat
o already boasts "A steam gram elevator aliu
warehouses, two hotels, a hall, a church
Z. several stores, and one OF the prettl
est little schoolhouses in the country
Three miles further a twin baby towI
is already struggling to Guido Its httl'
sister. :.
1t is hereabouts that one can best Wit
ness in all its glory what is called bonanz
farming. The marked peculiarly {
~wheat-prowing in Dakota is the gran
- scale upon which it is frequently conduc'
n ed. As recently as 1875 it was declare
IS upon high army authority that beyon
al the Red River the country was NJ
susceptible of cultivation. In goihg we
vs. from that stream of the James there WI
on some fair land, but much that was us
less, and from thence to the banks OF u
Missouri there was little or no availar
area except the narrow valleys OF the SIN!
streams; in short, so said the soidi
30 observers, with the exceptions name
the country is practically worthless
ted This sweeping statement gained WI
ute publicity and caused much hesitation W
respect to undertaking the cultivation
the Dakota p~rairies. But two gentlem'
who were at that time directors OF
railroad company, resolved to test
v0@ matter. They first purchased $50 acr
planted il with wheat, and tho vent
proved SO successful that further 2
Die. chases have now given them II total az
age of 10000 acres. Nearly all of /
yearly laid out i'll wheat, which is
this moment being harvested
'or market. Farming operations ON
cab. gigantic II scale seem almost incrod
A 90 To pergOns who are familiar only v
the methods of the older and moro set
.-., States.
In managing the affairs OF a bona
r farm the most rigorous system is emp
ed. The plan adopted on the huge
u Ho rymple farm just mentioned, and
" nearly all similar ones, is to divide
land into tracts Of 5000 acres each
subdiyide each tract into three farm
1000 acres. Over each tract n suPerin
dent is placed, with n b~ookkeeper, b
co quarters building and a storehouse
supplies, Each farm is under the cli
Of a foreman, and is provided witt
nton own set of buildings, comprising board
the houses for the hands, stables, grana
machine and blacksmith shops, al
unity which on the three arms are 'o nmc
on with the tract superintendent oulc
conrt telephone. Tools, machinery and sup
Of every description, including live s.
are bought direct from manufacture
Des nrodncers in large quantities and d
pOra- buted among the farms on the requis
lpital of the foremen. The result of this "
sale manner Of farming and OF purch
n ,.,,Eas 10 that wheat ia raised