Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-03-21
R o AFRAID
IMMIGRATION AGENTS REPORT
THE LARGEST NUMBER OF
HoMEsERKERs PASSING THRO-
UGH ST. PAUL IN YEARS.

PASSING THRO~
UGH ST. PAUL In YEARS.
Pioneer Press: The total number
of c%olonists that have passed through
the st. Paul gateway this year for
western points is greater already than
the entire number handled during the
spring movement a year ago. This is
the assertion OF a, general immigra-
ton agent Of one OF the coast lines,
who vas in st. Paul yesterday super
intending the transfer of 400 colon
lists from the central and middle states
ito the western lines.
The agent asserted that the total
spring movement this year will not
only be the greatest in the history Of
the west, but will range from a third
to a half greater than the largest
movement of any former year.
During October, November and
December of last year" he said,
more than four thousand heads OF
families took up government lands in
the territory near Minot, Nd, alone.
This was during the early winter.
Such a thing was unheard of before.
"a dozen new North Dakota towns
have sprung up where a year ago
There was nothing but virgin prairie.
These people will provide traffic for
the railways, and st. Paul will be
their base of supplies.
Minnesota colonization is pro-
crossing rapidly. I venture the asser-s
ton that in three years every acre OF
desirable agricultural railway and
government land will be in the hands
of actual settlers. The rate at which
new farms are opened up is remark
able.
II have just returned from an east
ern trip. The reports of the recent
storm were greatly exaggerated, n
from the important northwestern.
points came long accounts of its Sc
verify and accompanying h%ardships.
1 have no doubt the papers stated the
facts, but they forgot the Other. side;
that the snow was of almost priceless
value. to northwestern farms, because
it furnished the needed moisture and
tthatasuch a storm was quite as rare
as it w0lld have been in New York
state
Six hundred Kansas and Missouri
farmers will leave this morning over
the Great Northern to take up gov
eminent lands and establish new
farms near Minot, N. D., and adjacent
points. Two special trains over the
Chicago, Great Western brought them
in from Kansas City last night
Twenty4four coaches were required
to move the settlers, and during the
early evening, while these were held
in the depot train sheds, their oc-
cupants embraced the chance to take
a little fresh air and forgot the.
cramped accommodations of the train.
Nearly all came from the area Of last
years severe drouth and a%nxiously
siezed what information they could
Of the new country out west. The.
reports of snow blockades did not
seem-to annoy them.
"Taint the snow as is so bad to.
face" a grizzled old farmer re-
marked. s.That moisture and
water next summer. Where we come
from they amt nc water, no crops,
no nothing.
-Four long freight trains carried the
household goods and agricultural
equipment Of the colonists. Many
brought stock with them and the
large majority were well supplied
with the means of opening and de-
veloping e FAIRS.
Dining car service on American
railroads was first inaugurated In