Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1890-03-14
A Fatr Statement.

Posto6fce as second-class matter
A Fair Statement.
H. T. Helgesen, state commissioner of
agriculture and labor, has issued the fol.
lowing circular, which Is true statement
of the condition of affairs in North Da-
kota.
The suffering for want of provisions,
clothing, fuel and feed for stock in sev-
eral counties Of North Dakota Is unprccc-'
dented in the state and needs some
authoritative explanation. The destitu-
ton is mostly exclusively confined to the
newer portions of the state, where settle.
ment dates back only two. three and four
years, except Nelson and Ramsey coun.
ties, which have been settled about SIX
years. These new settlements were, like
the earliest settlement of most new coun-
tries, composed largely of people whese
resources would have been greatly taxed
to succeed and keep themselves above
want with favorable seasons I; but Just as
they were becoming started in their new
homes an unprecedented train Of disasters
overlook them and swept away the res
suit of his labors Those that put in a
crop in 1885 were rewarded by an ample
harvest and, thus encouraged, every acre
they could turn over was made ready for
crop in 1888. That season, though back
ward, promised fair yield, but severe
frest early In August--something there.
tofore uuknown--utterly destroyed their
crops. leaving many of them without any
means of support and without seed. The
frost alse did much damage in semc of
the elder and better Settled portions OF
the state, but there the people were we'll
enough established 10 tide themselves
over comfortably.
But the settlers ia these new counties,
with courage that deserved better res
ward, hired out and earned what they
could to carry themselves through the
winter and procure seed for the following
spring, quite number receiving aid from
their neighbors or from their counties.
A good area Of grain was sown In 1889.
Everything was staked on the crop--and
lost. As unprecedented droughts parohed
the fields of Kansas and Nebraska a few
years ago, and again in 1887 killed all
vegetation IN sections Of Wisconsin, Illi-
nois, Indiana and Iowa, 80 in 1889 the
rains refused to molsten the soil of these
North Dakota counties, and second en-.
tire failure in succession left many people
wholly destitute.
While nearly all the entire state suffered
from drought, only seven or eight coun.
ties need much assistance. The eastern
edge of the destitute section reaches to
within thirty or forty miles of the Red
river, extending west nearly 100 miles,
and stretching from little south of Dev-
lis Lake to the Manitoba boundary--a
distance of about eighty miles. In this
area are the following counties, where
the greatest amount of assistance is need
ed: Nelson, Ramsey. Benson, Pierce,
Bottineau, Relette and Towner. Cavalier
county will also need some help. as will
probably Eddy and McIntosh-the latter
in the southern portion of the state.
The impression has got abroad--very
naturally, when the recent appeals for aid
are cOnsidered--that North Dakota is
practically bankrupt. Nothing can be
further from the truth. The assessed val.
uation of the state--about one-third of
the true valuation--was last year $685.
857, 436. 80, not including the geo, ,O00, 600
in railroads not assessed, 1t should also
be noted that little ever 10000, 600 acres
of the more than 1850, 600 acres in the
state are assessed, and then at the low av-
erage of 81 an acre. Millions of acres arc
not assessed, though often highly cultl
waited and containing good buildings, be-
cause the occupants have not proved up
on their .cla1ms lands not being taxable
until "fnai proof IS made, and settlers
being allowed seven years occupancy be.
fore proving up. From this 1t will be
seen that the state has an enormous re.
serve fund, and there is something of
value to show for every dollar nf indebt-
edncss
The Indebtedness assumed by North
Dakota MS her portion Of the territorial
debt ut the time of the division was $3.50,
907.46. The state constitutions allows an
increase of the public debt of but $780,
900 above this amount This added to
the $3.50. SO7. 46 gives total debt Of $739, :
eO7 46. which the state IS allowed to in.
cur This IS but 1-1C ger cent Of the
states assessed valuation. The debts of
many of the other states eqGal, and In
several cases greatly exceed, this. The
state debt Of Missouri is about II per
cent of the assessed valuation; Nevada,
11.b per cent; Mississippi, 2t per cent;
Minnesota, nearly ! per cent ! Louisiana. ..
81. per cent; V,rginia, 4 per cent These
figures are for the year 1ss7--the latest to
which the compllss Nd Daeesss, The AZ.