Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1892-01-14
WESTWARD Aol
General Passenger Agent Fee
of the N. II. Talks About
Immigration.
How the Craze Once Started
Cannot be Stopped or
Directed.
Additional Information About
the Stntslnan County Tax
Certificate Case.
North Dakota Next.


"A good many persons in your state
have been inclined to harshly criticlse
the management of our company because
We have not brought IN new host Of
settlers for your unoccupied lands," said
Chas s. Fee, general passenger agent of
the Northern Pacific road, to an Alert
reporter recently. "But as n matter of
fact it has been nearly impossible for the
last three years to get an intending emi-
grant to even consider Dakota as place
Of resinence. We have tried repeatedly
to get up an interest in eastern farming
communities about thst big state, but it
has been up hill work. Most Of our ad-
vertising folders, pamphlets, and other
agencies have been directed towards
securing attention to your state. Humid
reds of thousands of documents have
been distributed in North Dako:as inter-
est, and the work OF our emigration and
travelling agents has been directed the
most of the time to North Dakota. But
with little avail as long as that Wash
ington and Oregon craze lasted.
II have watched these sudden migra-
tions of people westward" continued MIR.
Fee, "with a great deal of attention dur
ing the last few years, and have come to
conclusion that ,Ahen movement of that
kind once gets started it is next to i'm
possible to prevent it. It's hardly possible
tc check it. The most that any agency
can do however powerful, IS to direct
the course of the travel and prolong the
stream few months. Take the South.
srn California craze, of few years ago.
Tue Southern Pacific and Union Pacific
roads did everything in their power to
continue that wave of settlement. Low
rates were offered, the east was secured
with agents describing the glorious eli
mate of California and the marvellous
productions of the soil, and the people
every where east of the Rockies were
Sesought to take an excursion into that
wonderful country where riches were
supposed to await the industrious in an
incredible short time. The boom sud-
denly bursted, and no effort or expense
has since been been able to revive it.
California property is now cheap. and the
sxtravagant claims made for that section
Of the United States are now seen in
their real light. Take the Oklahama
sraze-for these unexpected impulses to
get up and go west are nothing more
than crazes, ard think arise from the
same motive that started the Romans to
Britain or sent Columbus to a new world,
and brought Ponce de Leon aud De
Sofas adventures to Florida and the
Mississippi that is another sample.
The dream of q free farm, and new
home took the tide Of travel to Okla
homa, and while it was going that way
nothing could stem it. The Washing
iug.on rush was the same. We found
people all over the United States who
we're bound to 60 to the Puget Sound
country. They had but dim notion of
what was there for men who were accus-
toned to earn living on farms, or in
cities, but they we're sure of great deal
better place to live than the localities
from which they started. If the North
ern Pacific had not solicited this travel
while it lasted it would have gone over
other lines just the same. All we could
do was to try and get our share. Even
in your own state and South Dakota we
found it necessary to direct the travel
already starting, for our own protection.
That Puget Sound stream of emigration
is now over. Where the popular mind
will next decide to go is question no
one can answer. but certain it is that
the restless spirits Of the nation will not
remain Inactive long and new crusade
can be- looked for soon. The portions OF
this country where vast outpouring Of
people can go are getting fewer and more
hunted each year. In fact about every
new district has been visited. think
perhaps the development Of the western
mines will attract q certain number OF
rovers, but not the stream Of families
that have gone to Kansas, Nebraska,
California and the northwest"
"Where do you think the next general
movement will be-" was asked.
"Well, I should not be surprised II
North Dakota would be the locality
answered Mr.. Fee. "These crusades start
from the poorer classes. The increase il,
the price OF farm products, the tempting
idea Of owning 16O acres Of land, and the
prosperity Of your state this year, will
attract the attention OF the renting