Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-04-16
SENATOR CASEY ON n. D.
He Tells of the Present COn(li-
tiOns and Future Prospects
of the State.
Reasons why Congress Should
Make II Liberal Irrigation
Appropriation.


An Excerpt From " Two Column
Interview in the New York
Tribune.
Enlightening New Workers as to n. ID.
New York Tribune: When asked to
give his views upon the present condi-
ton and future prospects of his state,
agriculturally, financially and politically,
Senator Casey said:
"North Dakota belongs to that list of
states which occupies the Great Plains
extending midway on the continent
from the Gulf of Mexico far into the
British possessions. The name given
that region clearly indicates its super
fetal characteristics. TO most people in
the east, Dakota is just Dakota, as Rhode
Island is Rhode Island. Many have not
yet comprehended the division of what
was the territory of Dakota IN two states.
Let your readers realize that the area OF
what was that territory exceeds that of
New England, and that in it's extent of
nearly four hundred miles square it
necessarily had various climatic char
acteristics; then they will be less likely
to assume that a statement as to GER
tain condition in one locality is neces-
sarily u statement as to all of both Da-
kotas, or even as to one of them. The
county where l live is larger than
Rhoue Island, but an account of condi-
tions in Rhode Island would not be ac-
cepted as including Maine, although both
are in New England.
"To form the states of North Dakota
and South Dakota, the territory was di
vided very nearly in half on IN
east and west line. The Red River OF
the north forms North Dakota's eastern
boundary. This valley long since be-
came celebrated for it's fertility and at
tractiveness in the annals of the Hudson
Bay company, and has fully justified its
fame to thousands OF prosperous settlers.
The section now known as the Red River
valley comprehends wide expanse, large
enough for several New England states.
Then to the west there are the Cheyenne
and the James valleys. The Missouri
runs nearly midway in the state, and la
central to the sub-humid region. When
million people are engaged in agricul-
ture east OF the Missouri there will be
room for more. All parts of North Da.
kota, but especially, of course, the more
prosperous eastern portion, have repu-
tation, I may almost say fame, from the
production OF the best wheat grown IN
the world, the laOst nutritious aud the
highest IN price called mo. hard. " Flax
seed and barley also are of extraordinary
quality, and are profitable crops.
'Sheep husbandry is likely to find q
permanent and distinct center, especially
in the central and western portions. The
dry atmosphere and sandy loan are par
ticularly favorable to the health Of the
animal. and the cold winter conduces to
heavy fleece. Under the protection OF
the present tariff law, herds are multi
plying, and the industry is becoming OF
great value to the state. To home
seekers. North Dakota presents az at
tractlve conditions today as any region
in the Union open to settlement. As to
our general prosperity, it is like that of
the various states IN the great plains,
very great, fair and lacking. TO under
stand this, the wide expanse of country
view ana conditions varying accordingly.
1.-The sub-humid region is character
lied by alternating periods Of abundant
and dimished rainfall. In it's eastern
parts crops rarely, it ever, fail from lack
of moisture. In certain portions drouth
is liable to prevail in recurring periods.
These several states have lately been
experiencing such period, and where
the drouth has fallen, Encouragement
and sometimes ruin have resulted. The
people who settled in the regions which
have suffered we're in no sense to be
blamed for doing 80. They were simply
misled by the government, and they had
fair cause for complaint. After exami-
nation as to the natural conditions by
the proper and authorative department.
the government rated it all the sub humid
region AGRICULTURAL as distinguished
from 'arid,' and so offered them to the
public for settlement under the national
land laws.
Naturally and properly, land.seekers
accepted this as guarantee that these
lands were as desirable for homes as
were agricultural lands further east,
and eagerly bought them in the several
states without knowledge of the risk
they ran IN going too far west. Yet ex-
listing government records, scientific and
other, covering period OF forty years,
should have led the department at least
to warn settlers of it. As the trans.
action was conducted, had it been be-
tween individuals, the buyers would
fairly have charged fraud upon the
seller.
"The great influx of immigrants o.cur-
red in North Dakota from 1878 to 1888,
years of abundant rainfall in the whole
state. Thousand Of happy and satisfied
settlers paid millions into the national
treasury in order to secure homes IN this
favored region. Then the period Of d.
minished precipitation ensued, and IN
those parts where the condition amount
ed to drouth many men lost all they had
made, some all they had invested.
"Is it unnatural that settlers who have
paid for these lands feel that this great
government has not given them value re-
ceived? Are they to be blamed for ask
ing to be helped out in the matter? The
senator's and representatives of the states
in the plains area asked congress for
some little sympathy, and an expression
of IL in the wav Of an investigation Of