The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-03-28

try, a ticket from Steele TO Chicago, would
cost $2.3l. How would that suit you
pocketbook.
Under the heading accommodations
From the People, an article appeared in
the ScanGinaveE, a newspaper printed in
that language and largely circulated III
thu DakOtas. The communication ia
signed 'Ole Johnson and here it Isl:
Some time ago an immigration con-
sentlon was held i'll Fargo for the purpose
OF encouraging and increasing immigra-
ton to Nortu Dakota. From many cUun-
ties delegates wero sent to represent their
districts. Out III. the Missouri River Val
ley are some well known men appointed.
among others being King John OF Mclean
County. AS l have been farming it out
there Tor several years. and as l we'll know
the land i'll western Dakota, [ advise every
one not 10 sottle out there. Many had to
leayc their hOmes out there with blv los
ses alter having larlned for many years.
Most Vt The iu ms had To be taken back
by the looming com panlcs, and are now
getting more of the lands in Dakota on
their hands. They cant lease, and they
are therefore encouraging people to move
to Dakota So tney Can s@.l their farms to
immigrants that the taxes and Interest
may be paid. Some fathers out by the
Missouri river Wall ua1c TO haul their
wheat 800 miles to market, and then
sell 1T for 35-4O cents per bushel. Every
one can then see that 1t is u great fraud
to fuOl count. lyman to settle out there. A
large area Ut Dakota is often ex posed to
drought, SO the crops are very light. The
best timing for u mau 10 do, who mas pleu
ty Of money, is to lind u suitable place,
where there is timber aud good hay
meadows, and then start in with stock
raising. OLE JOHNSON.
The Fargo Forum reprints the above
letter with the following comments there
on: 81 :. =
"While :.Ole'' tells the truth In many in,
stances-he colors it in such Il way us to
do justice to the State. King John of
McLean,' refers to Hon. John oatteriuud,
who is 6 pretty good fellow and no moro
open-handsd and generous citizen to be
~found-Uvcr there.
Many had to leave their homes.' This
is true-but many stayed. Hose who
remained raised ~ bushels of wheat to
the acre and prospored. A survival of
the tittest. Mortgagcu farms were so.d
and the purchasers want new culners to
buy them. Naturally!
Some farmers haul wheat from thirty to
fifty miles. Why not! Cooper brothers
went out fifty five miles from Il railroad,
raised wheat for Lhre. years-an,t then
built a branch road to The main line of
the N. p. They had over l0O.O bushels
of wheat to ship out, some of which was
sold for $1.25 n bushel.
Ole is right in this. If a farmer has n
good holAe and is doing we'll in the plac.
he now resides, stay there. But If a farm
or has a mortgage and can sell his farm
for $40 or more an acre. in Illinois, Iowa
AMI other States, he should sell and come
to North Dakota where he can get more
productive land for from S3 to, $40 Der
acre-and especially it this so-if he has
a family of boys-who ueed moro room.
There is no State III the U%nlon--no land
III the world--ricler or more productive
than the broad acres of North Dakota.
There is no country where farmers work
Especially for womcn-is SO easy--so
few months of hard work--and such mag.
niticant results--as right here in North
Dakota and the Missouri Slopes good,
as we'll as the Red River Valley.
About the points touched upon concern
ing Mclean County, by "Mr. johnson"
the LEADER will add a few lines to the
Forums excellent rejoiner. "The survi-
of the fittest" as the Forum tersely puts
it, aptly applies to the before and after of
settled conditions of Mclean County.
Many of those who went off with cole"
have since returned; and most of the bal
ance would come back if the could. Those
who have remained here, while not rich
are fairly we'll to do. They have c%ultiva-
ted farms; nice punches of stock aud no
debts to hamper them. While the dwell
ings here are not %pretsntious, they are at
least comfortable. The outbuildings-
though not extensively constructed, are
servicable and spacious, and good care of
stock among the people, a specially as
signed task. The youngsters he-e are as
healthy looking lot of kids as was ever
raised up in any country not even except
ing the lads and lassies Of the Scottish
highlands or the Graded home of the
brawny Far-Downs. We have good teach
ers and good school houses. We have
thousands OF acres of good timber, with
in our county borders and millions of
tons of as fine hardpan Ignite coal as
ever glistened in the sun or roasted out q
lot of loafers from of the sugar barrels,
cracker boxes and backless chairs of
a country store. We have grasses that
are self cured, and fattening to stock all
the year round. The farmer turns out
his surplus teams in the fall and looks
them up sleek and fat in the spring to
commence farm work. All this sole
Johnssa" could have seen, and probably
shafedhad he staid with us.