Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1902-12-19
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1902.
THE ARGUMENT OF NECESSITY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1902
THE ARGUMENT OF NECESSITY.
Recent interviews of James j. Hill
ON the development Of the United.
States, point out how fast the country
is settling, and indicate the outlook
for the future. Mr.. Hills remarks
are especially interesting to owners Of
lands in the central and western parts
of North Dakota, where a compare
lively small amount Of arabic land
still lies untaken and uncultlvated.
The demand for this land is certain to
be found in the near future, if Mr..
Hill s logic Of necessity is any as
ssurance.
The increase in the native popula-
tion in the United States, to- say
nothing OF the constant stream of
foreign immigration, has now reached
a point where it is something wonder
full. It is like the increase in a pro-
blem in arithmetical progression.
When the figures reach certain pro-
portions the increase becomes very
marked, where before it was scarcely
noticed. Mr. Hill says:
AT the time the civil war closed
we had a population of IS, OOO,Ooo, and
have been increasing at the rate of
1,000,0 900 every year since. At that
rate the gain in twenty-five years
will equal the entire population in
1886. The census reports since 1870,
show that we double u population
every thirty years. 7:
SAT the close of the civil war all
the land in northern Wisconsin,
western Iowa, western Minnesota and
west of the Mississippi river to the
Pacific ocean was practically vacant.
Today, speaking generally, there is
no arabic land to be had anywhere
upon the public domain. There is
not an acre of public land where a
man can raise a crop of potatoes or
grain without irrigation. If that
schange has taken place within the last
thirty-seven years, what shall we ex-
pect in the next thirty-seven years Z
"Where are the people to live who
com to us from foreign countries al
the rate of half a million a year, and
what are we going to do with the
natural increase of our own people ~
"The immigration to the northwest
has already gone over the line into
Canada and it is said that Is, 900 peo-
pie from the United States have taken
up lands in that far northern latitude. ;
Nh. Hill claims that in order to
supply farmers with land in this
country irrigation will be necessary in
the west. That 1, 900 acres of irri-
gated land will maintain five times
the population that the same amount
of land will depending on natural
rainfall. England is going into great
irrigating enterprises in Egypt and
India, and when England stops buy
ing our grain we will miss the trade,
a she is the best customer, we have,
and does not discriminate against us.
Mr.. Hill says there is a great de.
velopment going on in China; we are
shipping the Chinese flour and other
products. Every year there are 1,60O,t-
900 people added to our population and
the people must have something to do.
Our impetus in production acquired
in the last few years will soon amount
to an overproduction unless we car
open the foreign markets that are nov
mostly held by other nations. B,
the negotiating of treaties of recipro
city, by abandoning the sacred cow
worship Of protection, and by follow
ing out the line of the policy recon
mended by President Roosevelt mucl
good can be accomplished in extending
the trade of this great country ant
furnishing the constantly increasing
population the means Of profitable en-
ployment. These conditions arg u
much for this part Of North Dakota
and give all who invest in lands o
this region the reasonable assurance o
permanence in values increasing with
the steady growth of population
Jamestown Alert.
The weather in New York and New
England last week was the coolest ii
years. 1t was 80 below at Saratoga
where a scarcity of coal is causin,
much suffering among the poor. TIL
New York board Of aldermen vote,