The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-11-30
1FROM THE FARGO RECORD

The foundation of the wealth and
prosperity of North Dakota is in its az
r%icultural products the development
of which is still in it's infancy. and the
possibilities of our agricultural inter-
est are an unknown quantity. So rap
id has been the growth of North Dako-
ia and so marvellous the yield OF cere-
ais that the great trade centers have
not ceased to wonder at the new factor
in food products. 1t will be seen
that in 1897 there were over 4.607,337
acres under cultivation, out of a total
II 1890 600 acres of land in the state,
producing nearly 54,O0O,OO0 bushels OF
small grains, not including divers
other products of the soil.
North Dakota has attracted atten~
ton by producing a wheat that is a
grade unto itself-No. / hard-famous
all over the civilized world as making
the best flour ever known. North
Dakota not only produced for it's own
people, but sends millions of bushels
of the bread-making cereal every year
to feed the hungry people OF other
lands. North Dakota's claims to ag-
ricultural greatness is not confined
solely to the growth of wheat. 1t
produces corn, oats, flax, barley and
rye in gracious abundance and of
splendid quality.
The growing of wheat has been en-
gagged in by the farmers OF North Da-
kota largely to the exclusion Of all
other means of making money from
the soil. This was natural. because
1T took very little capital to raise
wheat, and the returns were speedy
and profitable. Of late years, how
v farmers find that mixed or diver
sified farming pays better in the long
run. The adaptability of North Da-
kota to successful stock raising in con-
nection with mixed farming is becom-
ing better understood. The success
in raising live stock has become so sat
~isfactory that every farmer is provid-
ing himself with as many cattle,
horses, sheep and hogs as he IAN OBJ
tain. While wheat is the principal
harvest crop, oats, flax, barley, rye,
corn, potatoes and all kinds Of roots
are largely and profitably raised, yet
cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, and the
the climate has proved most favorable
for the rapid and healthful growth Of
native grasses are so plentiful and nu-
tritious that the live stock industry.
both with farmers and with stock
raisers who make it a speciality, is
growing in Importance.
There is no more desirable part Of
the republic to engage in the stock
growing industry than is offered on
the broad and open grazing ranges Of
North Dakota. The coteaus, a chain
OF low, grassy hills running through
a portion of the state east Of the Mis-
6OuI1 I1Vc1, dAU dAoO eAS "AuO OAS0AS
Of rolling prairies west of the Missouri
affording unsurpassed advantages for
the profitable raising of sheep, cattle
and horses as a business. Sheep,
wherever tried, have done remarkab-
ly we'll, the dry atmosphere giving ex-
emption from diseases peculiar to
them, which has always formed so
formidable an enemy to s~heep-rais-
ing in sections OF the East.
Why should not this state, with
her unlimited domain her perfect
climate conditions, her fertile hills,
luxuriant valleys, boundless plains
and her intelligent people, stand sec
ond to none in the republic as a live
stock producing state. The question
is, in my opinion, u~nanswerable. AS
the table found elsewhere in this re-
port will show, the stock raisers OF
this state shipped, in 1897, cattle and
sheep to the eastern markets amount
ing to over $2,OOO.OOO. which. goes to
show that stock raising in North Da-
kota is a profitable business.