The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-20

NOTln DdhOjS uIul COAltSr.
Worsts address was one Of the most |
interesting addresses of the day, pre-
senting, us it did, complete resume of |
the resources and possibilities of the |
great state he represents.
The Remarks of Mr.. Worst.
The resources of a new state like !
North Dakota at best is conjecture |
The statistician may elaborate upon its
production-its croqs of wheat, oats,
barley, rye, fax, corn, hay and potatoes,
Of the lumber Of cattle. horses. swine
and sheep within its boundaries, to say
nothing of its native coal and building
stone, End yet the full statement is but
a fraction of the possibilities OF the
state.
The resources of a state are its pOssl-
bilities developed scientifically and eco
nomically and not its present produc-
ton, nor what it would produce if every
available acre was titled according to
prevailing methods which are faulty
from necessity. With farms ranging
FROM quarter section up to 20 sections,
farmers cannot be expected to more
than obtain fragmentary results. De.
pending upon hobo labor for its man
agement during all critical periods,
waste and deficient help diminish the
net proceeds, besides paying out mill.
ions of dollars annually which goes
away and never returns. Though the
actual income of the state amounts TO
fifty or sixty million dollars, the major
portion of it is carried outside OF the
state in the pockets OF transient labor
ers, or for imported supplies.
Not Fair Measure of Resources.
Even at the depressed prices for all
cereal products, could the money actu-
ally received for them be retained
within the state, the labor having been
performed by the farmers themselves.
| which lmpnes smaller farms and a
| greater number Of farmers, and the
| money spent at home, the common
wealth would be enriched many million
dollars. The net balance under the
bonanza system Of conducting farm op-
erations is not fair test by which to
measure the resources Of the state.
The resources of the state would be
largely increased if the finished product
instead of the raw material were ex.
ported. 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
pra ries into flour, oats into oatmeal,
and potatoes into starch. Our mex
haustible coal fields will furnish motive
power and fuel for every engine, stove
and furnace within our borders for
sges. The prairie grass annually con.
sumed by fire if converted into beef,
mutton, wool, butter and cheese, would
alone enrich the state. To stay the
ravages of prairie fires is but feeble
problem aside of hundreds already
solved.
Easier to Change Products Than Wants
The soil Of North Dakota is exceed.
ingly fertile. If the world does not
want our wheat at remunerative
price. it is easier to change our product
than to change the wants Of the world
1t falls within the resources Of the
state to curtail our impOrtations by
supplying many of our domestic neces
sites.
There should not be q pound of but
ter. cheese. pork or lard shipped west OF
the Mlssiss npi river. and our WOO
should be carded spun and woven al
home.
No state in the Union offers superior
inducements to enterprising settlers
nor offers wider range for the profit
able investment of money.