Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-02-11
SOME PLAIN FACTS.
Blizzard Stories Refuted-Nsmet
ana Figures.

aloft to the world as the last place on
earth for intending immigrants to come
to in search Of homes, I have q few
words of explanation which I trust will
give hope and confidence to those PEG.
pie. In respect to the late storm which
caused such destruction of human life
and cattle. we in the northern part Of
the territory suffered but very little from
its effects. In this part it might only be
termed q blizzard of unusual severity,
whilst 200 miles further south it was a
full grown cyclone. Those who will
give the matter some thought and in
vestigation will at once see the gross in
justice these papers are dong lis by
publishing such statements calculated to
retard the progress and development of
our part Of Uncle Sans domain.
Again, in North Dakota we do not
have cyclones and tornadoes, which are
the terror of some parts of Minnesota,
as for instance the awful catastrophe at
st. Cloud, Sank Center and Rice's Cor
ners in the summer of 1856. In regard
to chinch bugs and other innumcrable
pests which make such havoc and de-
strCy the best efforts Of the tiller of the
soil, we do not know anything about
them. unless it is by reading accounts Of
their d~epredations in Minnesota, Iowa
and Nebraska. Despite all that is writ
ten and printed to our disadvantage we
are able to uphold our dignity and to
offer to the right kind Of people, Of
whatever nation or nationality, Il well
come here to make for himself or her
self q home. As an example Of what
men of pluck, energy, and fair business
endowments can accomplish in q very
short space of time l will mention in the
first place Edmund ingalls,, of Meeker
county, MIMI, who came here IN the
fall of 1885 with his wife and three boys,
one span of horses and wagon, some
machinery and $64 in his pocket. He
was enabled to get employment for him
self and oldest son at the outset. which
carried them through the winter, and
the following spring and summer he
built a snug frame house and barn on
his lands, broke up about 100 acres OF
prairie sod and backsetit which last sea.
son produced 23OO bushels of No. l hard
wheat. That man today is clear of debt,
has two teams Of horses, two COWS, all
the machinery requisite for carrying on
successful farming, and has still In his
granery 800 bushels of wheat waiting for
4 suitable plice before selling.
My next is in connection with men of
a business turn of mind. Robert Cairns,
after spending the best part Of his life
IN Canada, Nebraska and other parts,
finally in 1883, with his wife and one
child landed at Devils Lake city, then
terminus Of the St. P, NJ. & NJ. railroad.
He had the sum of $500, the accdmula
ton of ten years of toll and self-denial.
He at once secured a lot at boom prices
and put up the shell of a hotel which
was soon filled with boarders, for people
were not very particular In those days
of frontier life. Without going further
I may state that he is today acknowl.
edged to he one Of Devils Lakes
staunchest citizens and has a record OF
being a general rustler all over North
Dakota.
These men I haye described are only
two out of many who have met with
marked success,
visited the Red River valley which, at
that time, with the exception of some
settlement around Fargo, was an unbro.
ken and hoaseless prairie to Pembina
on the international boundary. Now it
yields millions of bushels Of wheat, oats
and barley, and has towns and cities Of
no mean proportions with adequate
railway facilities, besides navigation on
Red river. In the summer of 1885,
the St. +. NJ. & NJ. railroad company
extended their line Of road to Minot, Il
distance of about l25 miles from Devil
Lake and the following year added 7U
, more to 1t, reaching Helena, Montana
By the extension Of this line OF railroad
a country has been opened for settle
ment that is marvellous a. regards tn,
production of cereals and good Ignite
coal veins have been found and devel
oped which in the near future will be
source Of revenue to the Investors AM
: give to the thousands who will inhabi
{ those plains m abundance of cheaI
: fuel.
In conclusion 1 strongly advise a
!. those i'll search of homes to como her
where at this present time they ca,
secure lands along the St. P. n. an. raj
road ut easy distance from towns contain
ing elevators for the storage OF whea
also schools and churches, and / Nigh
say all that is necessary for pioneer life
No one need come here who intend
to spend his life and money the 81
loon or gambling resort. The kind {
men we want are moral, sober, industri
Gus, go.ahcad, pushing fellows, who wi
meet difficulties to the face and over
come them. These are the kind Of me
who today are giving to Dakota ,ha
impetus which in q few short years wi
make her the wonder G. the age.