The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-19
THE BONANZA WHEAT FIELDS
INSPECTED AND THEIR MAGNITUDE
PROVES A REVELATION TO
THE TOURISTS.
Party Royalty Ente rtnined -
CrOOi<stOn, Grand Forks and
Fargo.

railway, the entertainment committee
Of the Ar4erican Association of Agri-
cultural Colleges and Experiment Sta
ticns were rendered a special train Fri
day and Saturday. The trip embraced
ali inspection of the greater part of
either side of the Red river of the
North, and visits to the educational
institutions of Crookston, Mimi; Grand
Forks, N. D., and Fargo, N. d.
Col. W. NJ. Liggett, dean of the Min
| nesota Agricultural college, was in
charge of the excursion, and assisted
by the instructors of the university,
who were with the party, made every
thing pleasant and convenient for the
visitors.
What was seen of this wonderful gar
den spot of the world only one who
has visited it can appreciate. OF the
$50 people on board there were some of
the most distinguished botanists, geolo-
gists, entomologists and the other
"ologists'' Of the scientific world. Any
question, whatever its nature, could
be answered and tie technical miIutiae
explained.
How are the crops?" is an inquiry
to be answered after such journey.
From Minneapolis to the valley, and
all over it's vast eXpanSe, is almost,
without exception, one mass of wheat
fields covered now with a dark green
growth, and in a few weeks after the
Transformation of color, a yellow, bill
lowing surface, topped with golden
grain, will be seen, which will feed half
the world.
The residents of the valley all unite
in saying that the crop prospects were
never brighter. They seem happy and
contented, with only tinge of appre-
hension that hail or rust might inter
fere with the bumper" crop they so
confidently expect.
An afternoon run over the coast
division of the Great Northern to
GAINESVILLE, a change to the Winnipeg
lire, and 10 o'clock found the excursion
lists at Crookston. 1t is the outlet to
the Red Lake Indian reservation, which
was thrown open for settlers last year.
The beautiful situation of the town
on the edge of the valley and on the
banks of Red Lake river has attracted
progressive class of citizens, which
has made Crookston one of the thriving
places of the valley region.
In the morning a carriage drive was
provided for the delegates and the sub
station of the Minnesota Agricultural
college visited. A section of land north
of the town was donated for this pur-
pose by James J. Hill in 1895, and over
200 acres is now devoted to the expert
ments which will greatly aid the farm
ers in reaching a successful diversified
farmers industry. F. A. HoverStad is
in charge of the farm and has success
nj "a in
drainage, horticulture and animal huS-
bandry, besides much work along the
line of grain and grass Improvements.
Grand Forks, the metropolis of the
upper valley, was reached at noon. The
open-handed hospitality of the West
was exhibited here. Over fifty carriages
were at the station, and reception
committee, composed of Mayor John
Dimmie George D. Lay, George 3.
Clifford, Steven Collins, NJ. f. Murphy
and Col. w. H. Brown gave all cor
dial welcome. A drive of seven miles
about the city was taken. The Uni
versity of North Dakota and the Lu-
theran college were visited. The beau
tiful residences of Grand Forks were
duly admired after which the party
was entertained at dinner at the Da-
kotah hotel and the Great Northern
hotel. The run of ninety miles to Far
go was made in less than two hours,
Only ore SlOp DelIS Hldue. Engineer
J. T. Mayer and Fireman G. H. Juresn
did some remarkable work in carrying
out the schedule planned the difficulty
of running a special train on very fast
time during such long trip being en-
HANGED by their unfamiliarity with the
road over two of the divisions.
Mayor Johnson had provided car
riageS for the eXcursionists at Fargo
The first point of interest visited was
the North Dakota Agricultural school,
It's fine location, substantial buildings
and the range of the work in expert
mentation, which has been accomplis h-
ed under the superintendent of Presi-
dent J. H. Worst, elected much favor
able comment from the experts in the
party. Prof. H. L. Bolley, Prof. J.
H. Sheppard and Prof. E. E. HOFFMAN
assisted in entertaining and made the
stop at Fargo a pleasant one
Supper being partaken of, the return
was commenced at o'clock. The train
made three stops in Minneapolis, near
the homes of the party, at the union
station, the university and st. Anthony
terday morning.
The visit of this party, composed as
it was of agricultural experts, will
mean much to Western Minnesota and
the valley in general The impression
made upon the Eastern delegates in
particular was one of the immense
, range open for settlement and the re-
! markable fertility of the soil The re-
! suits will be received in new settlers
| to the country, which they are in a
| position to send in large numbers,
through their relations with the agri-
| cultural classes of the country. The
| one suggestion which was made by
these men was the need of a more di-
versified farming and more Of stock
raising and dairying.