Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-22
DESTINED FOR DEVILS A
Where All Emigration is Heading
For-The Railroad.

DESTINED FOR DEVILS LAKE.
Where All Emigration is Heading
For-The Railroad.
Emigration Commissioner A. E. John
son writes the St. Paul Globe as follows
concerning several live topics in this re-
gion: 1.-TWO years bring wonderful
transformations in Northern Dakota.
Where two years ago the emigrant's
covered wagon served as the temporary
home for the family while the sod house
was being built, is found today a COM
Portable dwelling, and on this identical
claim from twenty-five to fifty and in
some cases one hundred acres under
cultivation. With a. good field glass on
any Of the elevations to the north or
northwest of Devils Lake scores of farms
may be counted where two years ago
only a few claim shanties were visible.
Last years yield was something fabulous
in the Devils Lake country, and grain
this season looks sven better, if anything,
than in the Red River valley, because
seeding was done earlier and the soil
is naturally warmer and responds more
quickly to the warm spring weather.
The territory between Larimore and
Devils Lake, a distance of about eighty
miles, which two years ago was the
center of emigration of North Dakota.
and through which the Manitoba extern
ded its Devils Lake line, is now one
continuous settlement, and a more pros
porous and contented people can no.
where be found. The overflow of emf
grafton to the Devils Lake district in
1884 went out beyond the lake, spread
ing out through the rich valleys reach.
ing towards the Turtle mountains. The
information received from the early pic.
neers was of a character to induce an ex.
traordinary volume Of immigration in
1885; in fact, a stream of immigration
large enough to bridge the entire coun.
try between Devils lake and the Turtle
mountain and the Mouse river, a dis
lance of nearly 100 miles. The impor.
tance Of this country and the number
and character Of settlers may be rapidly
formed when the Manitoba road. which
has proven itself the co-worker and com.
panion of the pioneer, has decided to
continue its line this season from Devils
Lake to the tn. tie mountains. The
grade for a distance oftwenty-five miles
from Devils Lake is literally swarmlng
with men and teams, and this 100
miles will no doubt be completed IN
time to move this seasons crop and add
that much to the volume Of the railway
system tributary to St. Paul.
Enough was seen and heard during a
few days in the district to convince me
that this part of North Dakota is we'll
adapted for stock raising and that the
farmers and others appreciate this fact.
and will loose no time to demonstrate
it. l saw a "bunch" of 1000 head of
young cattle shipped to Devils Lake by
the Manitoba and trailed from the end
Of the track towards Montana via the
Mouse river. route. 1t is rather q strong
point in support of the early spring sea.
son when droves of 1000 head can be
grazed through North Dakota early in
May. An agricultural fair and stock ex-
hibit for North Dakota, to be held at
Devils Lake early in July, is being dis.
cussed and meeting with general indors-
ment. The increase of acreage this
year uver last in the territory between
Larimore and Devils Lake is probably
IS per cent, but in the immediate yicin-
ity of Devils Lake proper the increase
will no doubt reach SO and perhaps GO
per cent. noticed large elevators at
every station between Larimore and the
lake, and no doubt the same system will
be continued on the extension, and far
mers will be furnished ample facilities
and stations with elevators located every
eight or ten miles, which means short
haul for the farmers. All kinds of the
cries are afloat as to the destination OF
the present extension Of the Manitoba
road. Some say Turtle mountain and
others the Mouse river. While the ex-
act destination may be in doubt, one
thing is certain, that the line will be
built far enough this season to accomo-
date and afford facilities to the settlers
and farmers who have located in the
territory between Devils lake, Mouse
river and the Turtle mountains. This
is only carrying out the well.known pol.
icy Of the Manitoba to keep pace with
emigration, if indeed not to lead it.
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