The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-08-23

NAA dCAAAC duu the QUO TOAQ6 anu mas
studied the agricultural and crop stu
atoms at first hand in the region trav-
ersed by these lines, in the State Of
North Dakota. The distance travelled
was nearly two thousand miles, and
covered some Of the oldest settled por-
tions of the state and some of the parts
recently occupied by incoming settlers.
A summary Is given Of the study of
the presest crop situation and the pros
poets for future development of the
state in agriculture and stock raising.
The wheat crop in the Red River val
ley, which represents the oldest settled
part Of North Dakota and the most fer
tile and productive wheat farming re-
gion III the world, will, in the opinion
Of the writer, prove to be good deal
of Disappointment when the threshing
Is done. The heavy rains of the months
Of June and July were such as to
drown the crop on the lower lands, and
many fields are now being harvested
only in parts, the ground being bare Of
anything to harvest in the low places.
The growth of straw is large on the
higher lands, but the heads are small
and not well developed. Flax bids fair
to yield crop up to the average, but
|
a large growth.
Along the line of the Fargo South
western branch of the Northern Pacific
the drouth Of the early season gave the
Starting crop a hard setback. The
growth of straw is not large, and the
leaves were brown and dead in many
that tn ere must naturally follow light
yield of grain. In Ransom and La
| }S hot
is high, dry and sandy. This region
seems to have suffered a great deal
from the early drouth. The summer
rains have brought out good crop of
hay on the grass lands in these re-
gions and those farmers who have
gone into stock raising will have a good
showing for stock. Haying was in full
progress along the line, and a good
quality of hay was being put up. There
is some good farming land in Ransom,
La Moure and Dickey counties, but a
large amount of it is yet unbroken sod.
At the time of passing through this
region during the last days of July the
crops were suffering under a scorching
hot wind, and serious results were an
ticipated to the then just maturing
crops.
sion of the 500 road, from western
Dickey and La Moure counties through
Logan Mcintosh and Emmons counties.
the country is high rolling prairie, on
what is known as the coteaus Of the
Missouri, or the great Missouri plateau.
The settlers in this part of the state
are mostly Germans or German-Rus-
slams. The country is we'll and natur-
| a q6 Ia Mt t0 nor cf0 fo,.
ing. At Kuhn and Wishek, two grow
ing and lively towns on this line, the
topic of conversation on the street cor
ners and is the shops, such as the
visitor to the towns would be able to
oyerhear, was as to the effect of the
recent hot winds upon the crops. The
ominous shakes of the head betokened
the fear that was generally felt that
the crop had sugered considerably.
There are seven elevators at Kuhn,
and a passesger on the train said he
had seen as many as three OF four hun
dred teams ranged in line along the
roads waiting to get to the elevator
to unload wheat, the road for two miles
out in the country being lined with
teams.
At Wishek railroad construction on
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Ashley and thence through South Da-
kota across to the Missouri river, was
in active operation, but the general
scarcity Of men made it impossible to
carry on the work with the rapidity
desired by the railroad people. The de-
rnand for laborers on the farms was so
great that it was impossible to get
men enough. Special cars for the
| two lott Of 1oI
run from the Twin Cities, but farmers
them to drop off and go to work in the
harvest fields.
| The country between wishek and
Braddock, the present terminus of the
branch, is largely a ranching country,
and fer this purpose offers great in
ducements. The rarchers appear to be
among the most prosperous in the
state. There seemed to be abundance
Of water in the lakes and streams, in
which the country abounds, and the
hay crop is very good.
Returning to the main line of the 500
road at dartmouth, in the extreme
southeastern part Of the state, the
crops which are mostly wheat, are good
upon the higher land, the heavy rains
having been favorable for the develop
ment of the crop on the sandy soil.
Hankinson is located on the great sand
plain, known as the delta Of the
Cheyenne rivera delta formed in the
ancient Lake Agassiz, which once COW
cred the now fertile Red river valley.
Here the soil is sandy, in places piled
ZIP into Dunes. This land requires and
can stand a great amount of mois-
ture. The same system of hills that
has been spoken of as lying about Lis
bon extends across this section of the
state. There is a good deal of land
which is adapted for grazing. North
along the line to Enderlin there is not
much in crop over much Of the way.
The soil is sandy, and has been piled
by the wind into low dunes. Where
there is a crop. though, it is bidding
fair to yield we'll this year, the heavy
rains having been advantageous for
such soil.
North Of the intersection Of the 500
and Northern Pacific roads at Valley
City the 500 line passes through a fine
section of prairie land. Darlington, Fes-
sender and Harvey, in Foster and
Wells Counties, are all thriving and
busy towns In the midst Of good agri- /