Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-05-20
WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
JULIAN RALPH ON THE DAKorAs

that the Dakotas, and especially North
Dakota, have been misrepresented. ma
~liciously and %ignorantly, in numerous
eastern publications. It is difficult, in
n case, accurately and correctly to set
forth the " and advantages, or
the drawbacks and discouraging features
of any new section of country; and par
ticularly is it difficult to sit in some New
York or Boston office and write a COM
prehensive treatise on a land which the
writer has probably never seen, and
whose ideas of which he has taken from
sensational blizzard and famine reports
to eastern journals. The Atlantic Month
ly seems to have been particularly
favored(?) in securing the fertile imagi-
nations and flexible pens Of these unique
and original writer's, and, in view of this
fact it is pleasing to read Julian Ralph's
article, "The Dakotas," in the May
number Of Harper's Magazine.
Mr.. Ralph begins by speaking of the
newness of the great northwestern states,
North and South Dakota, Montana and
Washington. He describes the Dakotas
as, "the vast plains country-monoto-
nous, all but treeless, a blanket of brown
grass almost as level as the mats OF
grass that the Pacific coast Indians
plant" again he says: Here we come
upon the yellow wheat fields, that turned
their golden kennels into millions of
golden dollars last year. Here, also, we
see the more than half savage cattle,
whose every part and possession, except
their breath, is converted into mer-
chandise in Chicago" He contrasts
Montana and Washington-Montana,
the and of mines. of speculation, in
which agriculture has been wholly neg
lected and Washington, in which
the forests of Maine and of
the great lakes are exaggerated, where
flowers bloom in the garden at Christ
mas, and where the production Of small
fruits threaten the prestige of Cali
fornia. He notes with surprise the alb
sance of New England leaders and lead
ership. The people who populate these
states he characterizes 'distinctly, de-
cidedly, pugnaciously and absolutely
American" "To treat of them in a sem
tence," he says, "they act before they
think, and when they think, it is mainly
of themselves"
In speaking Of the farmers in North
Dakota he says: Having gone to Da-
kota because of the marvellous yield Of
wheat, in the Red River valley, the I'M
fortunate settlers put all their holdings
in wheat" And, in speaking of crop
failures, and the disasters attendant
%thereupoD, he says, again: "And yet it
is not fair to the state to say that it can
do nothing without irrigation. We shall
see that the belief is that it's worst mis-
fortunes have came from it's dependence
upon a single crop and that by diversi-
fed farming, the wolves al be kept
from the doors when the wheat crop
fails"
He comments upon the extraordinary
crop of last year, quoting the estimate
that the money product of the harvest
would leave each farmers family $3.50
after the payment of all debts, and
characterizes as sharks those agents,
who, he says, borrow money from the
east, paying 6 and 8 per cent. therefor,
and for which they charge needy farmers
"a per cent.
At some lenght he discusses the rela-
tive profits of cattle and sheep raising;
he mentions the intention to organize
into counties all that now unorganized
territory west of the Missouri, that the
cattle kings shall not avoid the payment
of tax; discusses the value and useful
ness of Dakota coal; speaks of the pro-
hibition law, it's advantages and its
drawbacks; and treats co nprehensively
of the fertility and productions of the
Red River valley, ''the bread basket of
America"
In speaking of North Dakota's most
important cities, he says: "North Da-
kota has many attractive towns, those I
have mentioned in the Red River valley,
being the largest. Bismarck, the CAPT
tai, on the Missouri river, has $500 pop
u~lation. It has more than it's share of
brick buildings, and in it's numerous
pretty villas are families of a number
! and character to form an attractive So
cial circle. By great enterprise it Sc
cured the position of capital Of the terri,
tory in 'e3, raising 100000 for a capital
building and adding a gift of 100 acres
for a park around the editice, as we'll as
100 acres elsewhere wholly for good
measure"
In fact all of the advantages and pros.
poets of the two Dakotas are discussed
in a mastery, and eminently fair man.
ner, but a review of the whole article
would be too long to use here. In closing
he says: "Butt the best news about both
the Dakotas is that the moisture in the
soil last New Years day was said to be