The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1895-11-23
Every State and All the Larger
Cities of the Northwest Are Rep.
resented at the Opening ses.
slOn-T. l.. Schumacher of st.
Paal Chosen President.
THE SPEECH MAKING BEGINS.
Addresses Delivered By Lieut.. Gov.
Worst Of North Dakota and J. J.
Hill Of st. Paul.

Wulk OI lie. whose interests are 0ll
centered in the Northwest, whose zeal
and indefatigable industry in every
movement the tendency Of which ia
the upbuilding of our country, is we'll
known and highly valued, will address
you. \ great deal will depend on the
thorOughness with which this conven-
tion discharges the duties for which
1t Is called, and have no doubt that
the thought will lie uppermost in the
minds of all delegates that this is one
of the. If not the, most important con-
ventlon that ever assembled in the
Northwest. and being such, its work
must he done well, and wisely. Our
country Is yet in it's infancy Of devel-
opment. Happy homes for honest
seekers are to be found in every state
and under conditions and advantages
particularly unknown to the other sec-
tions of the North American continent.
Our climate, from the great lakes to
the Pacific, is everything that can be
desired. The fertility and resource
fulness Of our lands arc unparalleled
and the maximum Of results at the
minimum of expense can be realized
from our virgin SOIL"
At the suggestion of p. V. Collins of
Minneapolis. the assemblage united in
singing "America." as expressive of
the national character of the gather.
ing's influence. and in respect to the
memory Of the author of the hymn.
now lying dead and awaiting sepul-
ture.
Upon motion of Il. V. Smalley T. L.
Schtrmeier of st. Paul was retained
as temporary chairman. and Mt the in
stance of President Footner, of the
Commercial club. IL. X. McGinnis was
chosen to otficiatc as temporary secre-
tary. both elections being unanimous.
Later the temporary officers were
made permanent.
Resources of North Dakota.
Chairman Schumacher introduced the
Hon. r. NJ. Daily of Ottawa, Can, a
member of the dominion cabinet, be-
ing minister of the interior The con-
ventiOn received him rising.
Lieut.. Gov. Worst of North Dakota
spoke. his topic being 1.-The Resources
of North Dakota" He spoke as fol-
lows:
''The resources of a new state like
North Dakota at best is conjecture.
The statistician may elaborate upon
its production-its crops of wheat,
oats, barley, rye, fax. corn, hay and
potatoes. Of the number of cattle,
horses, swine and sheep within It's
boundaries, TO say nothing Of it's
native coal and building stone. and yet
the full statement is but a fraction
Of the possibilities Of the state.
"Last year we raised Of the above
grain products 55.OOO.OOO bushels. This
year our wheat crop alone will reach
far above these figures and the other
cereals will swell the number to 1885,
100000 bushels. OF the 4G.OOO.OOO
acres comprising North Dakota only
100000 acres were farmed the pres
ent year. leaving not less than 6.OOO.-
600 acres of farmable land untitled
and for the most part unbroken. The
35.OOO,OO0 acres not taken into account
is in many places adapted to agricul-
turc, and what is not. is we'll adapted
to grazing. or to the production of hay.
Half million sheep thrive on ranges,
with room for many times more. One
third of million cattle roam the hills,
100000 horses keep them company,
and yet SO scattered that wide areas
seem tenantless.
"The resources of state are its pos
sihilities developed scientifically and
economically, and not its present pro-
duction. nor what 1t would produce IL
every available acre was titled accord
ing to prevailing methods. which are
faulty from necessity. With farms
ranging from IL quarter-section up to
twenty sections, farmers cannot he ex-
pcctcd to more than obtain fragmen-
tary results. Depending OH hobo labor
:or it's management during all critical
periods. waste and deficient help d.
minish the net proceeds. besides pay
ing out millions of dollars annually
which goes away and never returns.
This class Of labor is sbiftless, unrc-
liable. wasteful and forces the citizen
interests into the minority.
"Thc resources of the state would
be largely increased If the finished
produ' instead Of the raw material
were exported. The ability to do this
Is one of the paramount resources of
the state. Home mills should convert
every bushel of wheat that grows
upon our prafrics into -four, oats into
oatmeal and potatoes into starch. Our
ineXhaustible coal fields will furnish
motive power and fuel for every en-
gine. stove and furnace within our
borders for ages. The prairie grass
annually consumed by fire. II convert
cd into beef. mutton, wool. butter and
cheese. would alone enrich the state.
To stay the ravages of prairie fires is
hut Il feeble problem aside of hum
dreds already solved.
''rhere should not lie q pound of
butter, cheese. pork or lard shipped
west of the Mississippi river, and our
wool shoud be caried, spun and woven
at home. No state in the Union offers
superior inducements to enterprising
settlers nor offers wider range for
the profitable Investment Of money"
J. j. Hill Speaks.
j. ]. Hill was introduced, and, after
the hearty reception accorded him,
proceeded to speak OH 1.-THE Northwest
Past. Present and Future"
Mr.. Hill at the outset began to dis
cuss the advantages OF Minnesota in
an easy, conversational fashion, with
one hand on his hip and his eyeglasses
poised argumentatively between his
thumb and forefinGer. He spoke of the
climate, seas0nable and healthful; of
the business interests, growing and
substantial; Of the agricultural re-
sources, extensive and extending; Of
the schools, modern and expansive; Of
the iron deposits; Of the people, Of
such character that crime has never
yet been able to thrive In Minnesota,
not even in the case on the Great
Northern yesterday morning.
"But want to impress on this con.
vention." he said. that this country's
greatest wealth lies in the soil. in the
.