Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-05-09
MANITOBA N K o
Some Interesting Comparisons
Turtle Mountain.

interest in all matters pertaining to the
great Northwest territory, have
thought that a few facts from me might
be interesting to all parties. Three years
ago and again last summer l visited
both Manitoba and Dakota. At the
time of my first visit the Manitoba peo-
pie were just showing some slight signs
of returning sanity after the disastrous
financial crash of the previous winter,
but by no lea sufficiently recovered
for a sane man to do business with them.
As l had good reason to think that
southern Manitoba was the best part of
it I made my way in that direction.
The further south the better in that
north landx But after travelling over it
a good deal I was not favorably i'm
pressed with it as a place in which to
make a home. It was very evident to
me there was too much land in the
hands of companies and spectators.
And during a visit to the same part last
summer I was fully convinced that my
first impressions were correct. Though
over two years had passed since my first
visit I found the country with less
settlers than it had at the time of my
first visit, and I also found that the few
settlers there were very much discour-
aged. Some had gone to Dakota and
others were about to follow them. Much
Of the land is good, but want of railroads,
distance from market, and above all.
distance from neighbors: not to mention
many other drawbacks, are enough to
take the heart out of any man.
Now, l will give you my impressions
of North Dakota. I knew it vas south
of southern Manitoba, and that was all
I knew about it at that time. but that
much vas encouraging. South has
many charms in a north land. Three
years ago next fourth of July l made
my first visit to Dakota, crossing the in.
ternational line close to the east end of
Turtle mountain.
At that time there were no white
settlers in that part of Dakota. The
land was not surveyed nor could I learn
that there was any prospect Of its being
surveyed for some time to come. Quite
Il settlement of Indians and half breeds
lived at the east end of the mountain on
the American side, who protested to
have a claim on all the land that could
be seen. 1t was very evident to us (my-
self and n few Canadian friends that
had fallen in WITH that they wanted the
country all to themselves, and it soon
became evident to them that we were
just as anxious to have a part of it. 1t
was the best spot we had seen in the
Northwest. The land was good, the
water was good and the timber was beth
good and abundant. The location was
| all that could be reasonably desired and
in spite Of all discourngements We
pitched our tents and went to work, and
now the difficulties that have to be en-.
countered in beginning in any new
country are rapidly passing away
There is now Il large settlement OF
thrifty Canadian farmers and quite q
village at the east end of the mountain
Three years ago the whole country fol
nearly u hundred miles east, south and
west was unknown v to II few In.
dams and half breeds who lived ut the
mountain, but now the cosy homes OF
white settlers are seen in all directions
In a very few months it will nc difficult
to find n free home in that part of Nur,l
Dakota.
Turtle mountain is composed Of j.;
block of tin,bcrcd land about thirtv.live
miles wide and about fifty miles long
1t is misleading to term it a mountain
it is but a succession of hills and valleys
and small hills ut that. | was II dis
lance into the timber and found tina
both land and timber are good. ant
when the timber is taken of the lart
will be rs good for farmers as any lant
in the country.
The international line runs through
the mountain and | should Judge t!m
from twO-thirds to thrce-inur,lls Of tho
timber is on the American side Of III,
line. The settlements from he south
and east are fast making towards tho
mountain, and the settlement at til,
mountain is fast making its way both
south and east. The settlements ar.
now not more than twenty or twenty
five miles apart. This summer the,
will likely meet and make one gran,
stretch Of settled and beautiful countr,
from Turtle mountain to Devils Lake., i.
distance Of some eighty miles. and al
accomplished in the short space Of three
years.
Last summer paid my second visi
to friends in that country and vas sur
prised and delighted to zee the advance
ment which had been made in such
short time. 1t was very evident TO IN,
that the whole country will soon b,
turned into fruitful fields. The North
ern Pacific and the St. Paul, Minneapo
lis & Manitoba railroads are both max
ing for Turtle mountain and will likel,
soon be there. When / passed over tn
beautiful country last summe from
: Devils Lake to the mountain l won
dered that such an Ell Dorado had beel
allowed to lay uncultivated so long
, while thousands of people in the thickl,
settled parts Of all lands find it Difficult
t to get bread enough to keep soul an
, body together.