The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1895-11-23

DO Il l. l4N "
senting, as it did, complete resume Of
the resources and possibilities of the
great state he represents.
The Remarks of Mr.. Worst.
The resources of new state like
North Dakota at best is conjecture
The statistician may elaborate upon it's
production-its croqs of wheat, cats.
barley, rye, flax, corn, hay and potatoes.
OF the number OF cattle, horses, swine
and sheep within it's boundaries, to gay
nothing Of it's native coal and building
stone, and yet the full statement Is but
fraction Of the possibilities Of the
state.
The resources Of state are its posi-
bilities developed scientifically and eco.
nomicslly 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 it's 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 implies 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 tho 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
prairies into -four, 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
eyes. 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. e----7A+rss, '-, ,.-sa '.+ ....-.
Easier to Change Products Than Wants.
The soil of North Dakota is exceed.
ingly fertile. If the world does not
want our wheat at a remunerative
price, it is easier to change our products
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 Mississippi river, and our wool
should be carded, spun and woven at
home.
No state in the Union offers superio,
inducements to enterprising settlers,
nor offers wider range for the profit.
able investment of money.
Instead of about 100000 population
North Dakota can support 100000,
and she invites them to come. Every
one now there and everyone who comes
will be benefited. Six million acres
await the plowshare. The bonanza
farms are waiting to be subdivided
when, with better tillage, one acre
will equal two at present in productive
capacity. The increased population will
benefit the schools, the churches, bust.
ness of all kinds, the professions, and
the bulk of the labor being performed
by citizens the money earned will re.
main at home.
At present our state Is undeveloped.
Only the surface has been stirred, and
every activity has been along the lines
Of least resistance. This is true Of me-
oessity rather than of choice. Many OF
our farmers knew nothing Of farming
before coming here, and q few have
learned but little since.
The Cold 10 . Blessing.
The severity Of winter is an exploded
myth in so far as it materially inter
feres with the general prosperity of the
country. In many respects it is bless.
ing rather than curse. No climate is
more conducive to domestic happiness
because in no country is the family re-
lation more closely cemented. The