The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-02-09
RESOURCES
OF Bottineau, the Prize Wheat
County Of Dakota, the
Land OF Plenty.
Valuable Information for those Who
Contemplate. Coming West.
Letters from the People.
BoTT1NEAU TO THE FRONT.
EDITOR OF PIONEER,

Dear Sir:-I no.
ticed an article in your paper some
time ago requesting the settlers of
Bottineau to give their experience in,
and tell the advantages Of Dakota
over those of Manitoba, and the 9th.
er older provinces.
In David Dinwoodie's article he
gives very fine description of Botti.
neau County but he does not tell the
intending settler that he cannot get
free land in this settlement he has just
described.
There is land short distance from
Bottineau, but it has been passed over
for the past five years and rejected
by all, consequently it would not be
advisable to settle on it. There is
land in Bottineau County vacan. yet
that is second to none in the North.
west, but it is outside of the limits of
schools and churches. The same law
governs it that governs Bottineau,
and in short time it will be just as
desirable to live in as the Bottineau
settlement, if the right kind of set.
tiers come in. 1t is the people who
make the schools, churches, &c.
Five years ago there we're only ff-
teen of a population in Bottineau
County. 1t consisted of six men, two
married women, one single, and six
children. Now the population is
about 1900. At that time there was
no railroad nearer than Bartlett, a
distance Of about 100 miles. Now
there is branch of the St. P. NJ. &
M. Ry. right in the centre of the Co.,
so that those settling in the extreme
outskirts, will not have more than 20
or % miles to come to our thriving
town Of Bottineau, where they can
buy as cheaply as in any town in
North Dakota, and they will always
find ready market for their produce.
And, further, it is very likely that
those settling in the incoming season
will have q market nearer at hand by
the time they will have anything to
sell, as Jim Hill is not slack in sup.
plying the demands Of a country with
rail- Dad facilities. will not 60 over
the old rhyme Of comparing the ad-
vantages Of this place with those of
old settled states and provinces, as ev.
cry one knows what it means to buy
land at $40 or $50, or even $100 per
acre, compared with that of getting a
free gift Of 800 acres and 100 more as
a presumption, for 81 .25 per acre.
Some say that "this country is so
cold that it is not fit to live in." Of
course our country is cold and we
would advise every one who thinks it
"too cold to live in" to leave it as
that is not the kind Of "grit" we
want. Grumblers only make them.
selves miserable, and those who are
associated with them. The kind Of
settlers we want are those who come
to stay, are willing to bear the priva.
tions Of new country, and will work
to make their home and country sec.
ond to none.
To such as those. we would say,
come, you are welcome, and bring all
the money you can, honestly. (not
otherwise.) There is no limit to the
amount to start on, from one dollar
to as much as you can. The man
who starts with lots Of money and lit.
tie experience, generally comes out
with little money aud lots Of expert
ence, and vice versa. Il
In comparing this country with
Manitoba, I would first call your at.
tention to the land laws. Here they
have stood the test for years and are
not changed twice per year as those
in Manitoba. We have only two Sec
tions in each township reserved here,
and that is for school purposes, leav,
ing 81 sections in each township open
for settlement, which would be 1856
settlers in each one, In Manitoba,
the H. b. Co. has a reserve Of two
sections in each township, two more
are reserved for school purposes and
the G. P. r. gets 16 more, leaving
only Is open for settlement, and at
800 acres to each one would be only
80 settlers, where We have 1856. With
q sparse settlementl,k that il is diff,
cult to keep up schools and churches,
The taxes is the next thing 70 be look