St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-27
THERE IS ROOM FOR THOUSANDS
OF INDUSTRIOUS AND INTEL
LIGENT FARMERS.
MORE SETTLERS ARE WANTED.
CONVENTION AT FERGUS FALLS TO
DEVISE MEANS OF GETTING
THEM.
BADGERS ALSO WIDE AWAKE.
immigration Convention at Eau
Claire Begins Today-General
News of the Northwest.
Special &c the Globe.

special &c the Globe.
FERGUS FALLS. Mimi, Feb. 20
Inc immigration convention for the
seventh district opened this afternoon
IN the Lyceum theater, with an attend
ance OF several hundred, half of whom
were from abroad. Owing to the alb
sence OF E. Balentine, member of the
state committee from this district, the
convention was called to order bv
James Brown, of Fergus Falls. Judge
j. P. Williams. of this city, was elected
chairman, and R. J. Angus, of Horse
shoe Lake, secretary. A cordial adj
dress Of welcome was made by C. C.
Houpt in behalf of the city of Fer
gus Falls. Immigration Commissioner
+. b. Groat made a brie address, in
which he sketched the object of this
meeting, and outlined some of the
plans that might be adopted to increase
immigration into this part of the coun-
try. He was followed by George Aus
TIN, assistant general passenger agent
of the Northern Pacific, who delivered
an eminently sensible speech on the
need Of personal effort in the direc-
ton Of immigration. He pointed out
that the railroads were always ready
and willing to make all efforts posi-
bic to induce people into this country
when they had a clue as to who were
likely to come, and urged friends of
Fasteners who were looking toward
the West to furnish their names to the
railroads. He emphasized the fact
that it is not the railroad rate, but
the inducements that the country can
olIef that tempt immigrants, and point
ed to the record Of 10000 persons sent
to the far West over the Northern
Pacific during the past three years as
evidence that money for passage can
De found if persons are determined to
make move. Mr.. Austin made the
most practical address of the after
noon. He was followed by Nathan But
Ter, OF GAINESVILLE, who is an old sur
veyor and land appraiser He devoted
ms time to describing the merits and
dement's of the different sections of
the Red river valley and farther West.
he declined to name the best PARTS
OF the country for people to move into.
saying one mans medicine was another
mans poison, but offered to answer
any questions which might be put to
him now or hereafter regarding any
part of this country. He spoke, too.
Of the immense fertility of the soil of
the Red river valley, and said as long
as frost goes seven and eight feet
into the ground and fails to get out
altogether until July no country can
ever be able to supplant this in rails
Ing hard spring wheat. The last adj
dress of the afternoon was made by
Mr.. O'Neill, of Big Stone county, who
gave practical description of the adj
Vantages and good points of his county
where he said there was still plenty of
land to be had at low prices This
evening was devoted to an informal
smoke at the Grand hotel, with Bauer's
orchestra giving music to enliven the
takers. Among those present were
ID. h. McGinnis, E. V. Smalley, f. I.
Whitney, Moses Folsom, ST. Paul; e.
w. Randall, Prof. Shaw, of the ag-
ricultural college; Mayor McKinnon
and Halver Senerson, of Crookston; e.
G. Valentine, of Breckenridge, and
scores of others, we'll known through
out the state. The big day of the
convention is expected to be tomor-
row, when j. ]. Hill, Sam Hill and
other notables are expected to be pres
ent. Capt. Van SAINT is here already
shaking hands and making friends as
fast as possible.