Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-02-01
Few persons not intimately ac-

uuainted with the resources of
4 North Dakota realize the fact that
it is already the greatest bread
producing state in the union, and
that in a short time its products of
grain, meat and vegetables will ex-
ceed those Of any of the United
States. Already it raises more
wheat than any other state, yet its
area of land, capable of producing
grain, and meat and staple food
products is scarcely touched by the
plow, or utilized by the stockman.
North Dakota is destined to feed
more people in this and other
, nations, than any other state in
the republic, and in this lies her
permanent source Of wealth and
Of population. While her sup
plies are of timber and minerals
is much less than any Of the new
northwestern states, yet as a
source of wealth her native grass
alone will exceed in value both the
lumber and mineral output OF
any of these states, and the soil,
specially adapted by nature for
growing grain, is worth for what it
will actually produce now and in
the future far more than all the
mines of precious metals and tim
, Der in the northwest. AS a natur-
al agricultural, food raising region,
North Dakota is already without
an equal, and yet untitled lands
by the millions Of acres are lying
idle, waiting to be plowed and
ready to yield more returns of that
which the world must have to live.
North Dakota is situated in the
middle of the North American
continent, about half way between
the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, east
and west, and half way between
the Hudson bay and Gulf of Mex
leo north and south. The state
has an area Of 7O,795 square miles.
It is larger than all New England
with Delaware thrown in.
1t is preeminently " the greatest
grass state of the union. Its sur
face comprising mostly level and
undulating plains it a vast natural
stock range, and the soil which
raises grass is, as might be expect
ed natural producer Of grain and
vegetables also. Grains, grasses
and vegetables-the food trium-
virate of nature-are North Oak
ota's eminent and unexcelled pro-
ductions. North Dakota's unfail-
ing grazing lands have for ages
furnished the food supply of the
American bison. This fact alone
shows the wealth of grass that
covers the state. But the last
buffalo has disappeared over the
rounded knolls, and domestic cat
tie, horses and sheep are rapidly
coming in, instead. The Indian
has gone also; has ceased to chase
wild game and burn millions of
tons Of natural hay each fall. The
. farmer and the stockman have pos
session and the mower is cutting
the hay that the red mana few
years ago laid waste by fire. Along
the old buffalo trails the herds of fat
cattle now hasten to water, and
the substantial farm house often
surrounded by clump Of trees,
hasetaken the place of the Indians
skin tepee, that stood on the sum-
mits Of the bluffs, or nestled in the
groves along the streams.
The whole face of the country
is being transformed. The wild
lands are being plowed, towns
have sprung up, at frequent inter
walls. Modern, quick witted civil
lied white people are here doing
this great work, and laying the
foundation of their own future
prosperity and independence. All
this has been accomplished in
scarcely twenty-five years, yet the
work done is only the beginning of
what is to come.