Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1898-05-27

WITH this issue the Record begins the
fifteenth year of its existence, it having
been established in the early summer of
1884. There are few papers in North Dako-
ia that have been run for fourteen years
continuously by their founder. During
all those years the editor Of the Record
has never for single moment seen any
reason to lose faith in the desirability of
this country as place in which one
might settle with his mind made up to
reside there for the remainder of his days.
True. there have been hard times, COM
psrativelY speaking, here as elsewhere;
but we do not believe that the people of
this region. as whole, have at any time
felt the pinching grip Of poverty as have
large numbers Of worthy people in the
older states. During the first nine or ten
years of the fourteen our farmers devoted
their attention principally to the raising
of wheat, which, at the prices usually
prevailing, they found uphill work.
Wheat farming, without the raising of
live stock to accompany it, required not
only great deal Of labor for which cash
had to be paid, but it made necessary the
spending Of large sums of money in the
purchase of farm machinery, and, owing
to lack of proper facilities for sheltering
it. much Of the machinery was very short
lived. A great many good people who
came here in the eac,8 days became dis
heartened after many discouragements
experienced in trying to make living by
the exclusive Rising Of wheat at current
prices, and leAfto seek homes elsewhere.
In number Of cases these people have
returned. and are now satisfied that they
can do better here than at some other
place. But, during the past four years
there has been great improvement in
the situation in these parts. Several
years ago our farmers came to the con.
clusion that they could do great deal
better If they would accompany wheat
raising with the rearing Of live stock,
and they began to increase their herds.
That they did not make mistake has
been fully demonstrated by results. The
financial condition Of the settlers has beer
greatly improved. 1t was also found
that wheat could be raised great deaI
more cheaply than they had been raising
it. In the early days about every othel
farmer owned binder. which had been
purchased at high figure and generally
1on time,' and each year the owner OF
themachine bad to go to considerable ex.
pense in purchasing binding twine
Then, too, two or three years of-in mos,
cases-exposure to the weather put ar
end to the usefulness Of the binder. The
matter of using headers was an oper
question, and good many, basing theil
belief on experience in countries where
there is more rainfall at harvest. time
were sure that grain could not be saved II
harvested in that way. But that ides
has been proved to be erroneous, and
now = binder is seldom seen hereabouts
The result has been great saving, In th.
expense of harvesting grain. Then, too
it has been found that our soil does mo-
require plowing every year, and the ap
plication Of that discovery has cut dowr
another item Of labor and expense.
.s Experience has brought about the use
Of many other improved methods, and
today IL does not cost nearly % much t
raise wheat as it did in the early days.
The chief drawback that our peopl.
have had to contend with has been th,
great distance to railroad. rendering i
severe labor and Q matter Of much ex
pence to market produce. But that vii
soon be a thing Of the pest The 800,
railway will be in the county in. time {,
move the growing crop. Then Iittl,
towns will grow up along the line. ant
our years Of isolation will come to al
end. l5s3
In beginning our hfteenth year, th,
editor Of the Record has thought Il ap
propriate to indulge In ) few retrsspec
tive musinga, and has made d, few. com
parissns between the past and the pres
ent. These comparisons shsw that thi
country ID In much better condition nov
~ - II vna fnrmsRlvs a,nis3 - h.v.