Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-08-18
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

UlGUh1 VI OlG1 =.
In North Dakota Writes an Iowa Mar
Devils Lake a Meccafor Old Maids.
Mr. James Porter, who has been
looking over various portions of
North Dakota, writes his home
paper, the Grundy Qowa) Courier,
as follows:
DEVILS LAKE, N. D., July 19, '99.
Believing there r those of
your many readers who would be
glad to learn what the possibilities
of this new country are, [ thought
I would write you a few points of
interest that impressed themselves
upon my mind.
First, with the idea in view of
having a little vacation and at the
same time spend it proftably, I
betook myself to St. Paul and
thence westward. Have always
been quite favorably impressed
with Horace Greeley's advice to
young men, and not being very
old yet, I continued westward
until I reached Fergus Falls,
MINI. This is a nice, clean, busy
little city Of 1900, situated on the
Red River, this stream furnishing
water power for every kind Of bust
ness requiring power. It is fairly
narrow here, very deep and rapid,
falling 81 feet within the city
limits. From here I took a drive
of 100 miles through the valley,
calling upon our friend D. F.
Schmidt, and found him we'll and
very contented with his surround
ihgs. Says he would not take less
than $3.50 per acre for his land;
paid $3.50 for it last December.
having 800 acres and a splendid
crop. We r happy indeed to
note his prosperity.
Not being satisfied yet, l still
continued my way westward, hold
ing up at Fargo, N. D., which is
in the valley proper. Found a
neat, clean, busy city Of some l5,-
900. They say it is the biggest
little city in the U. S., ana after
1 had looked it over I could not
we'll dispute their word. It has
six wholesale grocery houses, four
large distributing houses for ma
chinery-a train load of machin-
cry coming in every day. It has
five miles Of asphalt street pave
ment, many fine hotels and among
others the finest it has ever been
my good fortune to look upon.
Not a saloon in the city so far as I
can learn. North Dakota is nearly
a success in prohibiting the sale Of
intoxicating liquors.
I again continued westward,
this time to Hillsboro, a place of
1000 in Trail county, N. D., still
in the valley, [ made myself known
to a brother banker, and he kindly
gave me a desirable ride in a very
fashionable rig, behind as fine a
horse as II very seldom sees.
This is a land Of bonanza farmers.
We called on one Of these farmers.
He was building a home that will
cost him not far from $4,000; a
barn 62xl4S, stabling for 80 horses
and horses as good as the best:
and a machine shed that was a
sight to behold. I asked him how
many harvesters he had and he
said he didn't know exactly, but
counted 25; everything else in
proportion [ asked him what he
considered his land worth and he
pointed me out 1926 acres he said
he had the good fortune to buy
two years ago for $1,000. I asked
him if that was not all awful price
so far north, and he answered me
10y saying that if nothing happened
to the crops on the ground the
land wouldn't owe him one dollar.
[ found the two little banks in
this little place had a deposit Of
nearly 100000. I asked my kind
entertainer, the banker, whose
money this was and he Informed
me the greater bulk of it belonged
to the farmers.
It being Saturday evening and
still wishing to continue my flight
westward, 1 determined to spend
the Sabbath at Devils Lake, n. D..
and returning the same evening.
[ found a nice little city of some
1000 people situated four miles
from the lake. At one time the
lake was up to the city limits, but
has receded some four miles.
This lake is a body of salt water
some 80 miles in length and 10 tc
II in width, with an average depth
Of 40 feet. Its waters are said tc
be very healthful. Bordering on
this lake. TO the sonth and cast IS