St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-11-22
CORN BELT NoRTHwARD
Discussed by B. S. Russell, of
North Dakota.

North Dakota.
The first paper of the morning was
presented by B. S. Russell, North Da-
kota. 1t was an exceedingly interest
ing one Mr.. Russell said:
The advancement. of. the corn belt
northward" is a theme thar commends
itself most practically to the members
of this convention. / venture to say
that there is not one, who, has watched
for the last sixty years the settlement
of the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wis
consin, Iowa and Minnesota but what
will bear witness to the fact that stead
lily progressive has this great belt fol-
lowed in the wake Of the settlements
of the Northwestern states
The soil, like the Indian and the buff
faIo, is wild. Corn loves a rich, mel
low and we'll worked land. In such
land it thrives and richly rewards the
cultivator. If the question Is asked
How IS the Indian to be gotten out OF
the soil? answer, simply by intelli-
which the lard is subdued, and brought
in contact with the with the chemical
properties of the atmosphere.
To carry the sfmile yet further, l
call your attention to the fact, that
has for more than sixty years been
the first, as well as the later produc-
tons of the Western states, and that
is the fact that wheat has proved itself
to be the most natural civlllzer OF the
soil.
The first twenty or twenty-five years
in the history of Iowa and Minnesota
this great cereal was the only crop
grown. In that period, however, the
land on which il was grown was thor
oughly subdued, and the way prepared
for corn.
In 1871 wheat was the only staple
crop in Minnesota. Corn was not then
grown in any appreciable quantity.
But, nine years later, in 1880, the acre
age in corn was 43S, 600 and over, and
the product nearly 100000 bushels,
and in 1890 the acreage was over 100000
and the product nearly 25,000,0O0 BUSH
els, while in 1894 the acreage planted
was 939, 600, with propOrtionate yield,
and in 1895 the acreage planted was
1850 The yield for this year VIII
not be reported and compiled until
next spring.
The territory OF Dakota began to be
settled in the southern part in the lat
ter sixties. In 1880 the total acreage
in corn was a little over 10000, and the
Ten years later, when South Dakota
had been admitted to the Union as an
independent state, the acreage planted
in corn in South Dakota was over
753 600. and the total product was over
Is, ,0C0, 600 bushels.
in 1872, while it was yet a part of
the territory of Dakota; four years
later, viz, in 1876. the total product of
wheat was estimated to exceed 100000
bushels. 1t was not until 1888, and
while it was yet part of the territory,
that statistics began to be compiled,
and the product of that year was over
q. COO, COO bushels The cultivation of
wheat as the great staple crop con-
tinued. and in 1891 exceeded 5S,000GG0
I11r- II, In t,I r,1rrA
planted to corn in North Dakota was
$4,000, and the product was over 2T,-
900 bushels. while in 1891 the acreage
was over 10000, and the product over
100000 bushels, and in 1894 the acre
age was $4,000, and the product $4,000
the acreage planted was over 109 900
and the returns as to the product will
not be gathered until next spring.
In the above figures of acreage and
product I have omitted fractions,
which in all cases overran the round
figures.
A singular and most instructive les
son is taught to us by the northward
advance of the corn belt. 1t is a law
in the natural world that whatever
fort of the human race is produced
from the earth by the labor of the
hands, guided by the power of the
mind. AS, therefore, the corn plant
goes nOrCn "a variety adapted to the
season and climate is produced. Nat
ure loves to mature the ripe seed of
every plant that grows. An Immature
plant is unnatural. A succession of
experiments may have to be made by
the one who cultivates the soil when
ever he introduces a new plant to a
neWly-settled country. And herein lies
the practical intelligence of him who
would cultivate corn in the northern
latitudes. This has long been known,
and was acted on in the Atlantic states
very early in their settlement; not
only so, it was. early found that the
corn grown in the milder climate of
Maryland and Virginia was not suited
as food for the colder and more rugged
climate of New England, and therefore
the remedy was found in studying
nature and her laws, and there was
a variety produced that was in every
way adapted to the soil and climate,
maturing in the shorter season there,
and at the same time rich in all the
elements of nourishing food for the in
habitants. This has been repeated in
the Northwest and is being repeated on
the prairie lands of North Dakota now,
and with natures assistance, and the
wise study of her laws, l venture to
predict that before this century ends,
or in the early years of the Northwest,
the corn of North Dakota will hold the
same unrivaled position in the markets
of the world that her-r'N [ hard
wheat has held for the past twenty
years. .=z % S5S