Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-03-12
GREAT NORTHERN METHODS
The James River Valley
"RoaSted."-The Reason
Therefor.
The Great Northern'S Plan to
Keep Settlers From the
N. P. Territory.
Counter Statements and Affi-
davits-Dunkards Coming
Just the Same.

The Alert yesterday referred to the
peculiar methods by which Max Bass
of the emigration department OF the
Great Northern road, was trying to keep
the Dunkards who propose settling in
this part of the state, from doing so.
The plan adopted is to get parties to
write Bass letter running down the
James river valley and particularly the
counties of Eddy and Foster where the
Dunkards propose to go and where they
have already selected lands. It will be
! remembered that two parties OF Dunk
ards have recently made visit to this
part Of the state. They personally ex-
amlned the lands, held conversations
with the settlers, saw for themselves the
big crops raised, noted the fine grass
ranges, saw the cheapness with which
stock was matured, and went back salts
fed with their observations and
wiling to recommend the country
to their friends. One of these
visitors was minister, Mr.. Niccum, an
influential man with the colony. The
means by which it was hoped to prevent
these settlers coming into the Northern
Pacific territory are of the most extraord
lnary character. Max Bass sent a let.
ter to another Dunkard minister, Rev,
Geo. Stong OF Pyrmont Ind dated Feb
ruary II, '96. Bass, says he is very
much surprised that Elder N1ccum,"
should decide to induce his friends to
locate IN the James river valley. Mr..
Bass, continuing, advises Rev. Storg,
should Elder Niccum hold any meetings,
to attend and mot hesitate to call him
down whenever you see fit." Bass sng-
gests that Stong asked the Elder if he
believes he is working "for the interest
OF the Brethren" when he is advising
them "to locate in Il country that he
knows absolutely nothing about, and
which is known all over the state of
North Dakota as an uncertain section
for raising crops" He advises Stong to
Keep Il CiCSr / NdlCll olI tlic 1LiIVl nilSi
should he succeed in influencing any one
ad dvises h n "A ct to hesitate to go to
them at once and tell them what he
''knows about the country in question.
It seems very queer that ha"-Niccum
-"should become so attached to this
part of the country so suddenly. Ask
him whether he thinks he is using the
Brethren right who have located along
our (G. ny line, and have endured the
hardships of frontier life IN order to lay
the foundation of d good substantial
colony, and are perfectly satisfied with
their location. or ;whether he considers
it his his duty to disregard the state
ments made by them and take up with
some land agents and advise the
people to locate where WE
know they cannot make
success" Bass closes his letter with
request for a full report of sotongs
interview with Elder Niccum
To Rev. Stong Mr. Bass sent also two
letters, one purporting to come from r.
S. Wilson of Alayvllle and the other
from Jas. H Matthews of Larimore.
The Wilson letter, which is acknowl
edged by notary public, states in sub
stance in reply to Mr.. Bass inquiry as to
the condition of land in Foster county:
In June, '95, Wilson drove through this
"country along townships 146 and l41''
and while he saw some good grain grow
ing, he considered the land very sandy
and looked poor" compared to that IN
the Red River valley. He saw very
little prosperity" and on inquiry learned
that the crop was the best looking at
that time for several years, plenty of
rain falling at seeding time. Anxious to
know how the grain matnred ION inquiry
learned that the hot winds IN summer
burnt the grain so that they did not get
the crop that the early season promised
He noticed d number of deserted places.
He would not advise farmers to pnr
chase land there at any price. A crop is
the exception and rains are infreqllent'
The Mathews letter Is in especial
reference to Wells and Foster counties.
Mathews says he is acquainted with
many of the people and also the lands.
He knows that many Of the residents
are not nearly go we'll off in a financial
way as when they located there, etc"
Matthews says he was member OF the
constitutional convention of North Da- |
kota and attended four sessions of the
state legislature" but be does not say
in what capacity. He advises persons
TO STAY aWav from lands where drOuths