The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-16
snecial corresnondence Of the Globe.

Special Correspondence OF the Globe.
DARLINGTON, N. D., Sept. 10
"Yes'm, this is Darlington" replied the
porter to the question of one of the
ladies of the party. Then there was a
dignified and decorous movement OF
the occupants of the car to the VIM
dows on the side nearest the North
Dakota village which the jamestown
& Northern train was rapidly ap-
preaching.
Bearded men, wearing long hair and
long dark coats, ana women, clad In
somber colors and wearing queer, old
fashioned sunbonnets, gaZed from the
car windows and saw other men and
women in the waiting crowd clad like
themselves.
There's Dunkards in that crowd I'M
til you can't see anybody else,' said
Clarence, the porter, and the railroad
people and the newspaper men like
wise saw in the throng on the depot
platform numerous representatives of
the Dunkard's faith.
The occasion of this outpouring of
Dunkards was the dedication of
church in Darlington, erected by the
Dunkard colony, that has been orga-
The task of attracting the strangers
from their homes in Eastern and mid
die Western states had been accom-
plished by the immigration department
of the Northern Pacific road, and with
in the incredibly short space Of six
months more than 100 families Of Dun
kards had been brought to Caring
ton and had located in the immediate
vicinity. AS the first thing a Dunkard
does is to establish place of worship,
the second family had not joined the
first before the question of organizing
a church and building house of wor-
ship was discussed. The result was the
beautiful little structure dedicated to
public service on Sunday and the at
tendance in the village of more peo-
pie than could possibly gain admit
tance to the structure. Following the
dedication came the Lords supper on
Tuesday and the ceremony of the
washing of feet-events that attracted
hundreds of communicates as we'll as
strangers to the little town.
There are in the neighborhood of
Darlington more than 100 families of
by the splendid lands that for farming
purposes are second to none in North
Dakota. These Dunkard families were
mostly residents Of Indiana, Ohio, Illi-
nois and Pennsylvania-men who were
farming in a small way, and who were
content with the limitations of few
acres of wornout soil. 1t was the fore
sight of c. w. Mott, general immigra-
ton agent of the Northern Pacific
land department. that selected this
peculiar and thrifty people to colonize
and develop the lands which the COM
pany had but recently acquired as
indemnity for lands taken from their
original grant, for settlement and
otherwise, prior to the attachment of
the grant. Much of this land was adj
joining tracts that had belonged to the
government, and which has been de-
veloped to a rare degree of fructibility
by settlers. These lands could have
been readily sold to spectators and
investors for good prices, but it is
, the present policy of the railway com
pany to discourage speculation and en-
courage the development of the coun-
try along its line. Therefore, these
lands were set apart for sale at low
prices and on easy terms for actual
settlement and improvement to ex-
perienced farmers of character and
ability. 1t is the misfortune of North
Dakota that so much of it's most avail
able and valuable agricultural land is
held by non-reSidents, some acquired
by purchase from the railway COM
pany In large blocks in earlier years.
when preferred stock was receivable
for land, and much by loan companies.
who acquired 1t under foreclosure of
mortgage. For two years past, the
land department of the Northern Pa
cine has been pursuing very liberal
policy, for the purpose of placing its
lands In the hands of actual settlers.
with view to development of the
country along its line
With this aim in view, immigration
Agent Mott spent much time at Mt
Morris, Ill, and at Huntington. Ind.
and made the acquaintance of the
DHnkards, who are numerous in those
vicinities. After a time, for Dunkards
like others are slow to listen to the ST.
rem voice that promises much for little,
and that all in a short time, they were
SOiAN 1lASCQ VI Tile R0nuln0Q0SS or
the offer made by the Northern Pa
citic company. Mr.. Mott arranged an
excursion and brought a party of
Dunkards to this country. After in
spection, like the spies of old who
were sent out to view the promised
land, they returned home and related
the wonderful things they had seen.
Still there was some hesitancy on the
part of the Dunkards, who were at
tracted by what they had heard. vet
only half believed, and they were 10th
to part with what they had to fly
to region which, as they had been
led to believe, was unpleasant in eli
mate and not fertile save in the imag-
nations of railroad guides. Another
party was sent to view the promised
land, and this party. too. reported in
such glowing terms that there was al
most a rush on the part of the Dun