The Dickinson press., 1899-05-13
THE DAWN OR A BRIGHTER DAY,
An Era of Prosperity Now Opening for North Dakota
Such as Heretofore Has Never Been Experienced
Awakening from a Long Sleep.
REVIEW OF BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
Look at the Past and a Glimpse Into the Future-The
',sPossibilities of Development just Beginning to Be
Realized-North Dakota independence.

heallZeQ-NOrth II
':Then Nokomis. the old woman, said to Min.
nehaha:
IT'S the moon wnen leaves are falling. All
the wild rice has Deen gathered.
AL the maize Is ripe and ready; Let us gather
in the harvest.
In the land of the Dacotahs; in the land Of
handsome women"
The land Of the Dacotahs is just
awakening from Il long sleep. The
business interests of the Great North
land are becoming aroused, and har:
vest time will 500 be at hand.
The maj who has made n study of
the general business situation in North
Dakota must be convinced that for us
an era of prosperity is now opening,
such as heretofore has never been eX-
perienced. A short review of the bust,
ness conditions which have heretofore
existed will be of value in endeavoring
to approximate and measure the extent
of this general awakening; and to as.
sist In judging somewhat Of the re-
suits that will naturally follow.
When We consider that this great
state, comprising such a vast extent of
territory, was only a few years ago
made up of level or slightly rolling ara
bic land, without growth of timber
other than along the borders of
stresms and rivers; that nine-tenths Of
this great area is ready for the plow,
requiring no greater expenditure of
time and money to open up than is
necessary to prepare 4 smooth, level
hay meadow in communities further
east; and that great quantities Of this
land has been and can now be pur.
chased for an amount not exceeding
the annual rental Of the same quantity
of land in the middle states, we must
realize that this state has been, and is
yet. essentially the poor mans refuge.
1t has been so recognized now for more
than a decade, and thousands of home
seekers, with no capital other than
the brains within their heads and the
muscles of their arms, have settled all
over our broad prairies and within the
borders of Our cities. Our country was
new and untried, and heretofore capt.
tai, always conservative, has been ex.
~ceptiOnally careful, so that money
when most needed was extremely diff
cult to obtain. To open up the new
farms required some money or its
equivalent, credit; and in order to pur-
chase the absolute neccSSaries to Oper-
crate their farms, the first cemers Dor.
rowed at rates of interest and usury
unheard Of elsewhere. Often the whole
years earnings went in the fall to pay
1nterest-that taskmaster, that gives
nothing in return, that never sleeps,
and never cease to grind. Many
farmers failed, and were unable to
pay; and merchants and business men
suffered some reverses in consequence.
But the uneXampled fertility Of the
soil triumphed in the end. Where one
farmer laid down, another took up the
burden. A few became prosperous,
and when once out Of the grasp of the
money-loaner, rapidly became rich and
In a position to lend to their more for
tunate neighbors. Foreign mortgage
holders We're PAID off, and are now be.
ing paid off. The millions Of dollars
that every year went East to pay in
terest were augmented by the principal
also returned; interest remained at
home, and the steady and u%nceasing
drain of gold going east diminished,
and is still diminishing at an increasing
ratio. AS a result, interest rates have
dropped to a solid and safe basis, and
he who is now obliged to borrow to
carry on his business, can do so at
rates which he can still pay and real
lie a good profit for his labor. The at
tainment of this condition Of affairs is
q wonderful tribute to the resources
and possibilities Of the country. Here
tofore, interest rates being so high,
persons, residents of the state, who
had a surplus, were seldom tempted to
invest it in legitimate business enter
prises. Speculation in lands or invest
ments in high-interest mortgages were
safer and more profitable. Now these
surplus funds are seeking investment
In mercantile and manufacturing pur-
suits. Wholesale and jobbing interests,
heretofore operated from st. Paul and
further east, are being localized in all
our cities, and with invariably salts
factory results. Each new line when
opened up seems to surpass all expect
atoms Of its promoters, until we 10Y
have many Observation-Disclosures
business interests which have been
Euilt up from home capital, and which
have attained invariable and satisfact.
ory successes. Practically all our bust
ness interests have grown up in the
past few years, when communities
further east We're struggling with the
panic and scarcity Of money. The pan
&c was to North Dakota a godsend. 1t
taught her citizens the value Of their
own resources and to depend upon
these alone. We suffered from it in
Some places severely, but have recov-
cred by our W exertions, and are be-
coming day by day more free and indie
pendent from the country east Of us.
We ship each fall a continuous
stream Of golden wheat, and receive in
return a stream Of golden coin, more