The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-06-13

"
the movement into Western South Da-
kota. The Washburn road has aided
In the development Of new sections Of
the Missouri slope.
The valleys of the Mouse and Des
Laos rivers, in Northwestern North Da-
lSota have received more of the home
seekers movement than any other Sec
ton Of the Northwest. So many people
have gone to that region that the lines
of settlement have been pushed beyond
the valley proper into the higher lands,
west Of the main line Of the 500 and
along the main line of the Great North
ern. The territory into which all Of
these people have gone extends from
Rugby to short distance beyond Mi
not, on the main line of the Great
Northern, and north to the internation-
al boundary. The 500 and the Great
Northern have given this district spe-.
cial attention. The Great Northern has
been gradually covering that portion of
the state with settlers since 1894, when
1t brought the first train loads Of Dun
kards from Pennsylvania and Indiana
and settled them along the St. John and
Bottineau branches of the Great North
ern to the East. Last year this settle
rnent could have been traced on it's
Journey west by the immense number
Of filings in the Devils Lake land office.
This year the big business was trans
ferred to the land Office at Minot. Since
Oct. last the Minot land office has reg
istered over 5000 homestead filings, the
most of these having been on land
north of the Great Northern's main
line. The "cattle country has been in
vaded by the small farmer, and the
Mouse River valley has been turned
over to the producers of grain.
This brings within the area of cultiva-
ton and production the entire territory
north of the main line of the Great
Northern in North Dakota, from the
Red river west to twenty five miles be-
yond the 500 road. Each year has seen
the invasion of the virgin prairie COM
pleted to new outpost. When the
Great Northern planted the Dunkard
colonies at Devils Lake and other points
on the main line and on the St. John
branch, they spread out in all directions
in search of farms. Gradually the wide
stretch of country between the Langdon
and st. John branches was settled, and
the invasion continued west to the Bot
tineau line. This year the Intervening
space was overrun, and the 500 and
Great Northern met on common ground
in their efforts to people Northwestern
North Dakota.
In Central North Dakota another new
area has been opened to cultivation by
the 500 and Northern Pacific. This dis
trct saw the earliest successes of the
Northern Pacific in immigration. A por-
ton of the Dunkard movement settled
near Darlington and New Rockford
seven years ago. Near Harvey some
Russians have settled. The building of
a branch line west from Darlington by
the Northern Pacific opened up a new
country towards the Missouri river.
Both railroads have succeeded in plac-
ing several thousand homeseekers in
this locality, which embraces portions
of several large counties.
On the Missouri slope some Of the best
land in that part of North Dakota has
been purchased by land companies, all
of whom have aided in advertising that
section. The Missouri has been crossed
and homes eskers have taken land in
region which year ago was but sparse
ly settled. All of these settlers north of
the main line of the Northern Pacific
:.re close to the river. On the east slope
of the Missouri the Washburn road has
done it's principal work.