New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-08
NORTH DAKOTA,S CROP FAILURE.
VERY LITTLE WHEAT AND THAT POOR
HEAVY LOSSES I " THE NJ RIVER ~
A HARD WINTER A~HEAD-FARMEEs
MIST IIEIGATE or EMIGHATr:.

MUST 1EEIGATE or EMIGRATN:.
Ellcndale. y. d.. Sept. 3 HpcciaN.-A Although at thi:
dat" less than onethird Of the grain hercabout has bcci
thrcslcd. vet il has become clearly apparent that the
worst fears Of the farmers As 20 the outcome of thi,
years venture will be fully realized. Sample fields o
what WAS recognized Is the bcs; whca, in thi, county
have produced only eight bushels per acre. and these
are unfortunately but few in number. the general rur
OF the yield being from two AID a half 10 five bushels
with a very considerable proportion al or below The
lower figure. And. As was expected. the grade is "A.
unsatisfactory as the yield. the greater pa,t of III,
wheat being so shrrnken As 10 be rated " No. 3 north
ern" and rejected. where always heretofore " No.
hard" has been the prevailing grade.
In those counties adjoining on the east. south and
west. the thrcshing returns are 10 better than here in
Dlchey. but to the nOrtI the showing is slightly better
though not enough 10 shorten 10 any appreciallc ex
tent the elongated visases IF the unhappy farmers.
The entire crop Of This county will probably 10, cx-
coed 100000 bushels where a fairy good SEASON would
have produced 100000. and in no other county al
joining VIII there he a greater amount than here
win snch d condition Of affairs. il is 10 consolation IL
the bankrupt thousands In this section to catch the
echo OF rejoicing from the fortunate counties along
the Red River.
Another drop was this morning added to the general
cup Of bitterness by a terrific rain>torm. which 1t Is
feared has done considerable damage to the un,lrcshcd
stacks OF headed wheat. SA wcch, aO the same
storm would have been looked upon as a ~god>cnd. aud
would have been worth an immense amount Of money
Now that the extent Of Tie crop failure In the James
River Valley ha> been asccrtaincd with tplerablc exact
ness, it has become the order of the day t, devise way,
and means for living through another hard winter and
make preparations for conducting future operations,
Quite a number Of people have already left their mort
gagged farms and morigaScd stock in search OF some
locality where they can obtain a living "a the price Of
their labor, Others are preparing to 60 81 soon As they
can settle with their creditors and thus find out whether
they have anything TO take with them but III" majority
will stay-eithcr because they have no means OF getting
away. or because they are loath to leave their improve
ments. or because they still believe that a country 81
easy Of cultivation and with 80 rich a soil must have a
prosperous future before il. But Of those who VIII
remain many are IN such ,traitcned circumstances
that il is difficult TO see how they Will be able to i've
through the winter without help. oriliariIy th'i;
~neighbOrs would aid them. bat ,hh year there are very
Few 20 situated that they Will tr able I" lend inuc'
assistance in the way Of charity. However. that Is a
matter that will have to be met and practically dis
posed Of later on. Meanwhile some are talking m
doubling up two or three families in one house to che''
a saving Of fuel and other living expenses.
The all encrossing topic Of discussion Just now i
irrigation. Politics and religion are for the time
being subordinatcd 10 the important question Of " 10"
shall We obtain a supply Of moisture ,uficicn, t.
believe that in this great valley It has come u the
point OF either irrigation or emigration. and n move
HfII d ''i VII NJ w bH'H '''"'
sufficient amount Ia sink IA stated number "f ar'r>iai
wells for irrigation purposes. Nature appears la have
atoncd in some measure for her nicsarilinc>> III tn
amount Of rainfall vouch-afed this section 10y .i1rin-
an inexhau,tibulc supply Of water from l,oN' U
To 200 feet underneath the ground ana this hh"rr
ground lake. when tapped. sends forth "a powerful
stream Of water admirably adapted I" the piiri'N"
The chief point OF dispute Is the heavy cNl"h>r
which would make II impossible for any county Il
bond for an ainuun, large enough properly :" iri
gate Onctcnth Of the land. thu, giving Il favor,T
few All incalculable hcnci, AT the cApriI>c "' ""
neglected many. This objection l. met hy the arSn
ment that In case the experiment. should prov" 'h'
ce>sfnl any amount Of out>id" capital 'pnh b" oh
taincd to sink we'll, a. a private enterprise. ana ~
for TAXATION. while all property would. 81 ronr"r. J."
responsible for the debt. yet 1t IS proposed T." nIah'
the b~ncfciares pay OF IN" bonds. principal a,r'
interest. BY charging them 81 per acre each year fr ~"
use Of the water. The scheme appear feasible on the
face uf IL. but in the event Of IT. failui" 10 WORK a.
desired a heavy additional burden would lie place
on an already overloaded people. still. from th'
expertence Of the laSr two years. II is III fact either
irrigation or emigration. and the pr0nlof"rN 81 th'
artesian we'll project may pcrhap. bc pardo'ird for al
ronai willingness 10 be hanged for an old sheep a.
for a young lamb. In case the bonding s'h'nn'
should fall through. It is probable that a f." we'll
will be sunk ny private enterprise. Though the NUN
her must Of necessity be very small Oh account of th'
exceeding scarcity of money.