The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1885-02-06
NORTH DAKOTA.
AS Seen by an Eastern Visitor who
Observes Carefully

AS Seen by an Eastern Visitor Who
Observes Carefully.
An intelligent correspondent of the Akron
IN. Y. Breeze, after travelling over large Dor.
ton OF this wonderland, gives his impression
OF it in the following interesting communica-
ton: Much has been said and written about
Dakota, and one cannot pick up paper but
there is something said about this great North.
western Territory. Facetious editors have tried
to ridiculc the country by publishing extrava-
CANT stories about the soil, climate aud general
character of the country, calling 1t the banana
belt and the goose orchard; but the fact still
remains that Dakota has climate less rigor
Gus than Minnesota or Northern Iowa, soil
unsurpassed for fertility even In the famous
valleys Of Ohio or the corn regions Of Illinois,
and AZ beautiful prairie country az tho sun
ever shone upon. The endless tide of settlers
who are pouring in to occupy tho free homes
of the territory, the thousands Of excunionists
and tourists who are visiting tho country all
testify to its great ueauty, tho fertility Of tho
soil and the midnsss and hsalthfulness of tho
climate.
Dakota was once supposed to be nameless
expanse Of dry fertile plains, capable of sus-
tanning only a meagre population of Indians
who lived along the rivers, and il such were
the facts, there has hesn very remarkable
change within the last twenty five years. The
rain fall Of Dakota Is now sufficient for all
farm purposes, coming as it dses at tho season
Of the year when it is needed. Tho rainy sea-
son comes in April aud continues through May,
June and July, embracing the four growing
months Of tho year. There are usually few
rainy days in September aud October, but the
fall is season Of bright, clear days and star
light nights; the cold, drsary, rainy days of the
Eastern States are unknown here.
The people who are settling in this favored
spot are not lunatics or land sharks, but they
represent the most enterprisng, energetic ele-
Iilentf Of the older States. They came out to
this new country simply because they wished
tn better their condition, and having once seen
the country nothing could induce them to re-
turn to their old homes. Many of them owned
valuable farms and beautiful hsnss but they
sold them and came here. In conversing with
one of them IN this class, tho question was
asked, what induced you to sell your farm in
Illinois and leave your home whore you were
doing we'll enough and come out to this coun-
try? The answer he gave will stand for large
number of men situated as he was. He said,
'My farm WAS too valuable for me to own.
had too much money locked up in my land to
roaze anything but small per cent OH the in
vestment, so sold out for $66 per acre, loaded
car with household goods, another with my
team and farming TOOLS came on here and got
farm for nothing twice as large az my old
one, and had the money for my home in ILL
nois to build better house here and buy more
stock, and in five years my home will be worth
more than double the money Of the old" That
is the reason 30 many men are leaving good
homes to settle in new country, for farming
land is too high in most Of the Eastern States
to make farming very profitable business.
There is room for thousands yet, and not until
the whole vast area Of Dakota is occupied by
actual settlers will immigration cease.