The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-01
IN THE WHEAT COUNTRY.
Wn derful Spectacle Presented by the
Fields in the Northwest.

itIuS III inc .NOTlihtNts
FARGO. n. d., June For 100 miles
west from this city, for thirty miles east,
and for $50 miles north and south, car
pet of green slsstches almost without "a
break. It is a sea that the winds stir
into ripples or waves as they blow. Rail-
way lines and wagon roads pass through
it. almost lost i'm the seemingly limitless
eXpanse Of green. Little towns with
their church spires and empty wheat ele-
vators break its mon0tony here and
there. 1t reaches as far as the eye can
see. without hill or tree or river 10 in
trude on the sameness. The picture is
one that cannot be seen elsewhere, and
never has been seen in such glory even
here I'm all the years that the Red River
valley has supplied the nations bread
basket.
This is wheat, and In the country Of
No ] hard. once I'm a while there Will
be a field Of flax. noticeable for its dark
CT green. or n close-cropped pasture, or
a bayfield,, but the wheat Is In the as
tendency. The farmer rests himself I'LL
harvest time. lie sits I'm the shade OF
his barn and whites. and while he whit
ties he watches the crinkles OF the way
ing fields as they bend and wave, and
figures what he will get to the acre and
how he will ind men enough TO take
care of II in the few days that are per-
mitted him for the harvest. There Is no
late grain this year; II is all early, and
over the wheat country II has come up
and grown about alike. IL stands two
feet high and is so far along now that
there is the slightest possible danger
from the frosts that sometimes ruin the
crop. and the crop Of insects and bugs
has not materialized 10 any extent as
vet. There have been no hailstorms, no
hot winds. no GrOughts. no difficulties OF
any kind These may come later. indeed,
r. is not yet the season for some or
them but the Red River Valleys crop
never was so fine in promise as TINS
year The war prices and the Letter cor
ner induced every man 70 put into grain
every acre he could farm. and there are
said 10 be not less than 100000 acres
in wheat alone I'm the three States that
produce the spring wheat Of the United
States This Is an Increase OF % per
cent. over the acreage OF the biggest year
on record when the farmers threshed
almost 10000 600 bushels, flooded the
market. and made themselves comfort
able for the succeeding half decade OF
lean years. The crop outlook to-day IS
a. good on the increased area as II was
then on the smaller. That IS as far as
one can now 20 in predicting a crop.
west has passed. Eight and per cent.
we're common figures short time ago
on the best farm loans: now the same
farms are security for loans at 3 per
cent. Minnesota Is lending millions OF
dollars from its school fund this year
10 municipalities and school districts, for
the first time IN It's history, and ut uni
form rate OF 4 per cent. North Dakota
IS trying n new law that permits Us
state School Investment Board to invest
IN farm mortgages IA the State Il per
cent, and It Is lending large sums. out
side bond brokers and insurance COM
Danies cannot get much better figures.
South Dakota farmers are lending their
own money, and their farm mortgages TO
outsiders are almost all paid OF The
same is true OF southern Minnesota,
where farmers are the chief depositors
In the banks.
Three years ago state Treasurer Tay-
Ior. OF South Dakota lied with $4,000
~ state funds. on the money there was
In the treasury. The State debt was at
the limit and funds were needed at
once. with the extra expenses OF seS-
sion OF the Legislature trst az hand.
Nearly 500. coo OF warrants were fssuedsI
and other extraordinary means taken TO
keen afioat. That was three years ago.
To-day every one OF those warrants has
been pald of. and there IS 100000 In the
state treasury OF which a quarter will
he ussf 20 take up state per cent.
bono. on July Let, while part OF the t!-2
per cents. will also be taken up and put
out OF the way On June lst the sum
OF $4,000 was distributed 70 the schools
Of the State on the basis OF school popu-