The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08
It's Superior Advantages and Re-
sources, Developed and On.
developed-A Deocrip-
tion Of
Pembina County-Its Rapid Ad-
vancement, Aggressive Pop
ulation and Wealth-pro-
duoing Capabilities.
Pembina, the County seat-Its Ad-
vantages Of Location vaxi-
cd Business Interests and
Favorable Prospects. ae'
Other Rising Business Oenters
with Sketches Of their. Pro.
gress, Advantages and
Business Prospects.

From late publication of the st. P. NJ
& M. railroad we take tho following:-
The Red River takes lis rise near the
center of the westerly side of the state
of Minnesota, and is fed by vast number
of beautiful small lakes, tlickly dotting
the counties of Otter Tail and Becker,
and innumerable streams flowing int6 II
Mt short intervals along its entire length.
The divide between the watersheds of
the Mississippi and Red rivers runs
little west of longitude 95 deg, and their
sources are but few miles apart. Tie
western limit of the valley is found at
abort the 99tl meridian, beyond which.
the streams take IL different direction,
flowing south and west. ..l
AREA AND CAPACITY. 2E {
The area in the United States drained
by the Red river and ITS tributaries, and
possessing the peculiarly productive soil,
isin round numbers 22,OOO.O 600 acres, or
about 222 miles long by l58 miles wide,
extending about an equal distance east
into Minnesota and west into Dakota,
and south to near q centra. fpint OH the
boundary line between the state and ter
ritory. This vast urea is capable Of pro-.
ducing, ut the low average of 20 bushels
to the acre, 44O,OOO,OOO bushels of wheat,
or 100000 bushels in excess Of the
estimated yield this year in tho entire
United States. Of these 22,OO0,00O sores
there were not less than 100000 in
wheat last year, and at the present rate
of fsettlemcntand Improvement the entire
area could be transformed into one wheat
garden within eight years. But large
areas arc devoted to oats, corn, barley,
flax and other crops, which are neces-
saries and are found abundantly profit
able. 90 /
when dry, has the appearance of soft
ashes, and when moist it is almost sapon.
aceous-slippery and adhesive. 1t is
extremely dark, and varies in depth
from 10 inches to 2! feet, and is fortified
below by Il very deep subsoil of clay. It
retains such degree of chilliness that
the eggs of insects deposited in it never
lncubatc, which fact accounts for the
absolute immunity this section has en-,
joyed from the ravages Of grasslloppes
and other insects. 1t would appear that
the splendid fruition of vegetable life is
obtained through the remarkable combl-
nation of soil and sun effects. The for
mer produces and supports strong, Wig
orous plants. while the latter, by the i'm
teGse heat it diffuses through the long
summer days. completes the process,
and expands the blossom and perfects
the fruit. The seeding is done as soon as
the frost Is out to the depth of harrow
tooth, and it is the frost's evaporation
which causes the plant to stool and be-
come vigorous and early in it's existence,
before the heat of the sun is sufficient to
invite a fast growth above the soil.
Wheat pens in from 90 to lO5 days.
TIE CLIMATE. Il
1t is certainly climate of extremes
hot in summer and cold in winter-but
it is not subject to those sudden and un-
expected changes which are SO fatal in
their effects, and which affiict seaboard
regions. The atmosphere is clear, dry
and pure, and nalarial and contagious
diseases are unknown. 1t has tonic
property which braces and develops the
energies.