davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-29

There are few richer land areas in the
world than the Red River valley. 1t Is
not easy to say just where the valley
ends and where it begins, but as general
rule it is considered to be about sixty
miles WIDE thirty on each side Of the
river, and to include the counties Of Penn
bina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Trail, Cass
and RicEIand. in North Dakota, and Kilt
son, Marshall, Polk, Norman, Clay, Red
Lake. and sometimes Wilkin in Mime
sofa. At any rate q glance at the soil Will
tell whether you are in the valley or not,
and that cannot be told by the topo-
raphy, so gradual is the rise in most
places from the river to the bench lands.
The heavy, black soil of the valley can
be told a a glance. 1t is a beautiful coun-
try to look upon this Red River valley.
Yields in Past Years. -,'5
The valley is about $50 miles long. If
we call it 60 miles wide it has an area Of
1880 square miles. That is abot one
seventh Of the total area of Minnesota and
about thirteenth that Of Minnesota
and North Dakota together. These two
states together produce in an average year
about 150,0O0,000 bushels of wheat. The
Red River valley in good years produces
4o,COO.O00 bushels or more. According to
the United States census it produced in
1S9? 40. 600, 900 bushels. Thus 9 per cent
Of the total area Of these two states pro-
duced Fl per cent of their wheat.
In 1889 the North Dakota valley coun-
ties, which had about 100000 acres in
wheat, produced as follows: Pembina,
3,434,O $50; Walsh, 3,753,322; Grand Forks,
1855, 146; Trail, 1881 .212; Cass, 6957 PA;
Richland, 300, 1858; a total of 25 O3616O
In the same year the Minnesota coun-
ties produced wheat as follows: Kittson,
1,772,120; Marshall 2.225,4 40; Polk, Alps
$40; Norman, LASS, 900; Clay, 2,593, $780,;
Red Lake, 747.450. The Minnesota acre
age was $4,000.
And this, remember, is only wheat. It
takes no account of the other cereals and
flax and there is besides the great vege-
table and stock and dairy wealth Of this
favored region.
The valley first began to be a factor in
the wheat raising world about 1880 and
experienced a boom in 1882. The first
wheat raised here was practically all No.
I hard, Scotch fife being the seed. But
the farmers, finding that blue stem wheat
grows better turned to it. so that No.
! Northern Is more common grade in the
Red River valley now than No. hard.
Room For Many More.
Yet for all its wealth the Red rivel
valley is not yet thickly settled the price
of its lands is low, compared with theil
productive capacity and value and there
is room in them for thousands. 1t is
true that recently there have been some
sharp advances In prices, but there are
certain to be still further advances, unit
the value of a farm corresponds to the
capitalization. of the income that can be
derived from it al prevailing interestrates
J. J. Hill the great railway, man, n was
asked a while ago what he thought about
the tendency Of these lands to advance II
price. He declared that the tendency was
permanent and bound to continue.
1.-THE population Of the United States,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-29

the Coteaux. regions west of the first
bench land above the valley, the higher
prairies that descend to the Missouri river
on the west and south, the rolling coun-
try west of the Missouri, with the rough
Bad Lands still further west, and the bold
hilly country Of the northwest. The state
abounds in lakes and rivers, many of
which are bordered by timber, and in the
Turtle mountains in the north boasts some
considerable attitudes.
Many counties of the state, including
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-29

Ward, Mclean, Burleigh, Oliver, Morton,
Billings Dunn, are fortunate in the pos
session Of inexhaust1ble strata of Ignite
coal underlying the surface at such shall
low depth that it is easily mined. This
coal affords a very cheap fuel and many
farmers are their own coal, miners. At
Washburn and other places 1t Is being
mined on q very extensive scale.
North Dakota has a total land area Of
about 10000 square miles, and a rapidly
increasing population, which, however, by
the census Of 1900. was only $4,000. It
has $500 miles of railway, 200 newspa-
pers, spends S1,500,00O year on it's public
schools, of which it has over 5000, with
more than 1000 teachers. It's school prop
erty is worth SO, 900, 900; the state is as
sessed at about $12o. 100000 and the school
lands endowment is worth $50,000,O00.
Taken from the Soil.
On 100000 acres of land the state
raised 60,000,0 900 bushels of wheat in 1899;
on 100000 acres Of land it raised over
%, 600, 900 bushels Of oats. and on less than
100000 acres Of land it raised nearly
1000, 900 bushels of barley. Those were
the principal cereal crops. The total value
of the crops Of the state for 1899. the year
in which agricultural statistics We're
gathered for the 1900 census was s54 ,040,-
ST. The principal crops were valued as
follows: - - n -
Wheat, $31, 733 763 II :. -,
FlaNseed, $I,t35, 64O..
Oats, 1852, 615. , : :. E
Hay and forage. $5,1S2917. -. F. -
Barley, $1,996, 0S2. x 3 . - - 3.
+, a., Prosperity for Everybody. J.. se
The state is enjoying an immense crop
again this year and the average income
of $1,190 from each farm in the state in
1899 will doubtless be greatly exceeded
this year. That $1,190, by the way, is
about 5000 more than the average income
per farm for the great and rich state of
Minnesota. . I - J 4 = - l.. .-&as d. -
Live stock raising is a very important
feature of farming in North Dakota. The
number of head Of live stock in the state
increased AZ per cent during the last dec
ade 1t includes 125,O0O dairy COWS, $780,
900 other neat cattle, $50, 900 horses, 451, 900
sheep, 10000 swine. The total value of
this live stock is over $42,0O0O00: The
farmers of North Dakota derived in 1899
an income. of s1o,211.67 from animal prod
ducts. OF this amount, So 6 per! cent
represents the value of animals sold and
slaughtered on the farms; 27.9 per. cent
that of dairy products; 1876 per. cent that
Of poultry and eggs. ~ >.
North Dakota is declared to be the rich
est state in the union in. proportion to
population. It has about 100000 people
now and about $400, 900, 900 of wealth.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24

ing 1901. the mains varying from two
inches ~ to 20 inches. This brought
the total up to 81 .e4s miles of natural
gas mains of from two inches to IS
inches diameter in use at the close Of
1901.
AS a source of power natural gas
stands at the head of the list for econ
omy among the fuels. both as to ex-
pense OF installation and expense of OPP
Grafton.
1t has been supplying the power for
very large number of factories and
operations in the gas belt. and lately it
has been extensively applied in creating
the power by which the natural gas it
self is compressed from a low to high
pressure when the original pressure has
failed and the pipes are Insufficient to
deliver the necessary quantity of gas at
the well pressure number of these
compressors work up very close to 1000
horse power, with an economy that en-
ables 8 to 10 cubic feet of natural gas
to develop horse power for an hour, a
saving of from 40 to go per cent over
high-duty steam engines.
1t is estimated that fully 100000 do
nestle fires are supplied by natural gas
and that 100000 people are furnished
with this ideal fuel and light.
Companies or individuals to the num-
Der of 1 545 report the use of natural
gas in manufacturing establishments OF
various kinds. numbering in all 5,742
including 102 iron and steel works and
21s glass works.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
THEY WILL WAIT !.
Hope President Nay visit To.
peka Later.
Telegram Is Received From See
rotary Cortelyou.

The committee on arrangements for
the entertainment of President RoOse-
welt upon the occasion of his proposed
visit here met at the Commercial club
rooms this morning and decided not to
dissolve until such time as it was learn
ed whether or not the presidents trip
would be resumed and whether or not
he would visit Topeka at later date.
The decision is expressed in the fol-
lowing resolution passed unanimously:
Resolved, That until it, is known
whether or not the president will carry
out his plan of visiting Topeka, the COM
mitteeS of arrangement and reception
be continued; that the preparations for
his party shall now cease. If it be deter
mined later on that the president will
visit Topeka, the committees will carry
out the present arrangements for his
reception, or such other arrangements
as may be deemed necessary. If it be
determined that the president and his
party are not to visit Topeka in the near
future, the funds collected shall be re-
turned to the donors after all expenses
Incurred have been paid"
A message was received last night by
d. w, MuIvane from George B. Cortel-
you, secretary to the president, calling
attention to the fact of the president
unfortunate condition as explained in
the press dispatches and explaining that
1t was best for him to return to Wash
ington Immediately. The message did
not promise that the trip would be re-
stunned nor did it say that the remainder
of the trip would be permanently can
ce1led The message from Secretary
Cortelyou said:
Please see bulletins regarding the
president issued today to the press The
president regrets exceedingly that hi
will be unable to carry out his intention
to visit your city at present. He is
deeply appreciative of the interes.
shown in the plans made for his recep-
ton and desires that you communicate
the purport of his dispatch to your as
sociates on the committee and all Others
who should be advised. He will certain
ly try to make the visit at some future
time
The following telegram was formu-
lated in the committee meeting this
morning and sent to Secretary Cortel-
you:
Geo. B. Cortelyou. Secretary to the
President, Washington, d. c.
'.All of our people regret exceedingly
the inability of the president to visit us
at this time We hope for his speedy
recovery and trust that he will surely
visit US in the near future.
"JNO E. FROST.
W A
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
SPENT DAY IN BED
Presidents Condition Is All
That Was Hoped For.


Harrisburg. Pa, Sept. 24.-President
Roosevelt passed the last day of his
western trip lying in bed with his leg
propped up on pillow and an interest,"
ing book in his hand. His physical con-
dftion is all that the doctors could ask
barring the wound on his leg. He is
suffering but little pain from this, to-
day and DIR. Lung has not found it neces-
sary to apply a new dressing
1t has been decided to issue no bull
letins as to the presidents condition.
for fear too much importance would be
attached to his disability, which the
doctors say is in no sense dangerous.
though temporarily disabling. The
president enjoyed the most refreshing
sleep last night that he has had since
starting on the trip, and felt so well this
morning that he wanted to get out OF
bed and sit in the parlor of his car. He,
Eowever, followed the advice of his doc
tors ard did not arise.
Arrangements have been completed
for removing the president from his car
when Washington is reached. to p
Jackson Place. the temporary executive
Offices A carriage will be in waiting
at $50 o'clock at which time the train
is due to arrive there and will be placed
in chair and carried in it,
telegram was received today from
Mrs. Roosevelt announcing that she and
two children were on their way to Wash
| ington from Oyster Bay.
| The president will have to remain quiet
that he shall stay in Washington during
| that period.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24

Augustus exports showed a loss Of
$13,0o0,000 compared with last year, due
to shrinkage in shipments of agricul-
tural products, while imports increased
over $500, 600, the result of urgent trade
requirements at home. Such returns
would be regarded with concern, says
Henry Clews' Financial Review, only
1T is we'll understood that the loss IN
grain exports was merely temporary
and that in the coming season our agrf-
cultural shipments are likely to run be-
tween $4,000 900 to 500, 0O0 900 in excess
of the last fiscal year. Our leading
bankers are keeping a close watch upon
International trade and financial moves
nients, and much of their present con-
fidence in the future is unquestionably
based upon the proba bility of our pay
Ing a very large proportion of our for
eign Indebtedness in products In the
last twelve months there has been a
shrinkage in corn exports alone of $61.-
100000, which will not be repeated this
year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
JAYHAwKER JoTs.

Just now the Lawrence camera club
is doing Freaks"
Instead of being in pickle Ottawa is
out. The local cucumber crop was
short.
Baling broomcorn is the principal
Cheyenne county industry this week.
But finding market, there's the rub.
feature of the corn carnival parade
at Atchison will be eight fuil-blood In
dian girls pulling drag containing
Dapooses.
Here's an example from the far short
grass country. The Ulysses band gives
a concert every night without charge
or collection.
lington have been taken down. The
district court decided that the city or
dinances are Illegal.
Washburn plays Haskell football on
Saturday in Topeka. If the home team
wins it's owing to good playing, but If
cicent.
II have fled with the man 1 love, y
wrote an Ottawa wife from the train.
Rather than let 1T go at that the in
jured husband will take steps to have
her returned.
Editor Henthorne. of the Grant Coun-
ty Republican, says: Mrs. Smith and
daughter were the most pleasant call
ers of the week. They left a dollar on
subscription.
$2S. so at Reloit. The young lady recip-
lent could have bought as good one
for so cents and had the $28 left for an
autumn gown.
the business for other professions. Two
knights of the road held up a Hutch
inson banker, rif1ed his pockets and
found not a cent.
The Latter Day Saints have under
taken to reform GAYLORD 1t viii prob
a a fPty fn fsnff
and won't inture the town, so let the
good work go on.
A half dozen men engaging in dis
cussion over women on Wyandotte
street car ended with oaths and blows.
Like most arguments, noise counted for
more than brains.
A Wichita man who sassed his wife
was chased from the house A kindly
word is never spoken in vain. 1t has
| frequently saved married man the
cost of a new set of dishes.
A Fredonia jointist tried to break into
jail and was refused before his trial
while another got so days" after his
! trial. Some men seek Justice and 9TH
Eers have it forced upon them.
I Pleasant Hill item SAYS: WORD
has been received here of the birth of a
son TO Mr. and Mrs. Clint Tyler at
4 Abilene Many of Clint's old acauain-
ttances will be glad to know that he is
doing we'll
A bonded company at considerable
expense is digging gold shale out of the
1 Chippewa Hills. The trouble with
! money, as the promoters will discover
is that it goes SO much faster than ii
tcomes.
The most forgiving woman in the
state dwells at lola A rejected lover
tagged her from Iowa, bothered her in all
manner of ways. and the other night
jerked her watch, struck her and run
yet she refuses to file a police COM
r,1aint.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
GLOBE SIGHTS.
from the Atchison Globe.


A picnic is never a great success
unless people run around with their
tongues cut looking for water.
A hot meal furnishes more occasion
for saying grace than cold meal, but
at the cold meal nothing suffers II
grace is prolonged.
When boy commences to take an
other boy with him when he goes to
see his girl. it is sure sign that he is
growing tired of her.
When Noah said, just before the flood
It's only shower he should have
knocked on wood. That would have
stopped the rain.
The Globe lately referred to c. w
Pullen, superintendent at the coal shaft
as the champion borrower. It is only
justice to say that he has paid every
thing back except one loaf of bread.
An Atchison man believes he is first
in this field of reform. He wants the
schools closed against boys. He says
that If boys did not know how to read
they could not read dime novels. and
would commit no crimes
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
DEATH cAmE.T0DAY.
Col. A. j. Alexander Dies After
Great Suffering.

Col A. J. Alexander, died this morn
ing at 1870 o'clock at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. ]. M. Brier, All Wood
lawn avenue, Potwin. after a lingering
Illness of two months. Up to July 2, OF
this year, Col. Alexander was in good
health. On that date he was seized
with kidney trouble which grew worse
until it terminated in his death this
morning.
Col. Alexander was born in Erie coun-
ty, Penn, May 20, 1925. At the age OF
81 years he removed to Covington,
Kentucky, where he engaged in the
lumber business. Later he extended his
business to Louisville. KY. and Cincin-
natl. o. He removed to Louisville in
1856
In 1851 he was married to Miss Dru-
ella Hite, of Bardstown. Ky. Four
children were born to them. Mrs. j. NJ.
Brier of Topeka. being the only daugh-
ter. The sons were A. V. Alexander, OF
the Detroit Lumber company, St. Louis,
G. d. Alexander. deceased, formerly en-
gagged in the lumber business at Louis
Vile, KY, and Lowry Alexander. who
died in infancy.
Cox Alexander continued to do an ex-
tensive lumber business until the break
ing out of the civil war. when he was
commissioned lieutenant colonel of the
Kentucky mounted Infantry O.. the fed
eral army. He was commissioned at the
order of President Lincoln. who was q
personal friend He served during the
entire war. and after hostilities had
ceased. returned to the lumber business
In 1884 he put in a system of retail ium-
Der yards, making his headquarters and
home in Larned. Kan. The last ten
years of his lsfe he has made his home
with bis daughter. Mrs James M. Brier
of this city. He has continued up to the
time of his last illness to control large
lumber business in the state, having an
Office in the Columbian building.
Colonel Alexander became a member
of the Presbyterian church when q
young man, and has always been a con-
scientious Christian, which was made
manifest both in his business and socia
transactions. He was Chesterfield ir
manners and bearing, and his gentle
courteous nature was well known to fis
many acquaintanceS, He spent much
of his time in charitable works, and
always considered the wants and
troubles of his fellow man.
he was remarkable for his physical
strength and mental ability. The i'll
ness which eventually resulted in his
death came on suddenly on the day he
was expecting to go to a mineral spring
which he visited frequently. His physi-
clan, DIR. MCGUIRE, pronounced his
trouble to be serious from the first dag.
nosis.
His Christian spirit was manifest il
his last hours, and almost his last words
were Gods will, not mine, be done
During the last week of his sickness
he suffered great agony, but refused tt
complain
The funeral will be held at the resi-
dence of his son-in-law, Mr.. J. M. Brier
o'clock Thursday. All his friends ar,
invited to attend.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
LOCAL MENTION.

A. ]. Perry of Anadarko, formerly of
Nortonville. Kansas, is visiting here to-
day.
On September 80 the Foster Cemetery
society will meet with Mrs. Charles
Spreng at her home
The cficken-pie social which was an
nounced by the Foster Cemetery society
for September rs has been indefinitely
postponed
Mr. and Mrs j. F. Mitchell of 804
West Twelfth street are the parents of
a girl baby, which was born Tuesday
evening.
Dirt from the pavement excavation
on East Eighth street is being hauled
to the city yards on the river bank,
where it will be used to bring the yard
up to the level of the street.
Mrs. J. D. Corlet and Miss Opal Corlet
of 1850 Euclid avenue are in Valley
Falls attending the street fair today.
The federal officers here are making a
determined investigation of the destruc-
ton of rural free delivery mail boxes.
1t is against the law for any one to
mutilate or damage one of these boxes,
and several cases will be presented to
the grand jury this fall. The latest ar
rest was that of Speed Bert who was
arrested by U. S. Deputy Marshal Frank
McGrath south of Ottawa
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24

The rate at which rural free delivery
is growing is shown by the fact that
Postmaster General Payne will ash
congreas at its next session to appro-
pirate the sum of ST., 200, 900 for it's main
tenance and extension. For the fiscal
year 1901 the appropriation amounted to
but s1,750,0G0 In the next year those
figures were more than doubled. For the
present year the postal officials have
available for this purpose the sum OF
$7.500,000 It is estimated that there
will be deficit of about 100000. BY
July 1. 1903. there will be 14,0o0 rural
routes in operation. 1t is estimated
that it will require s9000,oo0 to maintain
the service next year and that the other
S3,000,000 will be necessary in making
the extensions demanded. ~
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-24
PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS

The sconsumption of natural gas has
continued to increase, according to a
bulletin issued from the office of the
United States geological survey, al
tnough the pressure, except in the new
FIELDS of West Virginia, has continued
TO decline, necessitating the expense of
compression in order to market an in
creased production from the declining
fields, which expense must continue to
increase as the pressure declines and
the distance to the source of supply in
creases.
The value of natural gas consumed in
the United States in 1901 was s27. 067. 500
which. at Is cents per 1000 cubic feet.
Is equivalent to 1870, $50, 600, 600 cubic feet.
If 1t were possible to store this gas in
a cube. the density throughout being
equal, It's sides would be $500 feet in
length, or $50 feet greater than the sides
of a cubic mile. If 10000 cubic feet of
natural gas be taken as equal to one
ton of coal. SASS. 600 tons of coal val
used at $500 per ton, would be required
to yield the sum of money for which
the natural gas sold.
The value of the production for 1901
was greater than that of 1900 NV n
,S26. or over IA per cent. 1t also ex-
ceeded that of 1899 by s6.9a2, 627. Tt NAV
also be interesting to note that the
value of the 9,3S9.194 barrels of petrol
cum produced in the United States dur
ing 1901 was s66, All. 1895. and that the
value of natural gas amounted to 40.T
per cent of the value of the petroleum OF
the same year. and that. further. wher
the fuel value of the coal and wood dis
placed by natural gas in 1sd0-whicf
amounts to $32.445. 156-is considered
this estimated displacing value of nat.
ura1 gas is nearly 40 per cent of the en-.
tire value of the crude petroleum pro-
duced in the same year.
There were 1O,297 wells producing nat
ural gas at the close of 1901, of which
number IA were not turned into the ga.
mains, and 2.0SS producing wells were
drilled in the same year; there were As,
dry holes, or producers. and LOS.
were abandoned. In 1900 there were TO-.
s93 producing wells, of which number
IA were shut in; 1.75s wells were drilled
In the same year: $50 were dry hole.
and 921 were abandoned There wer.
very nearly 800 miles of pipe laid dur