The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19

look over our common country and
take into account the variety and vast
ness of her resources? Never were the
railroads buster. 1t is difficult to get
skilled workmen in the factories and
shops and common laborers are equally
scarce. The stores are full Of goods
and there is no complaint from mer-
chants as to duliness in trade, at least
that Is the condition at sWahpeton, and
we believe 1t will apply. as rule to
the whole country. There may be
little shortage or failure of crops
here and there, but taking the country
over there is plenty, deposits are still
going into the banks, and when it is
known that there are upward of twen-
" banks, national and state, in Rich
land county, the financial standing of
the people here is not to be questioned.
There are many well-to-do farmers in
the county, and all their money was
m1de right here. Much of their earn
fngs has gone into improvements, good
dwellings and barns, but many have
surplus and it has gone into bank
stocks and is going around to help
others.
There are six Touring mills in the
county, and over fifty grain elevators
through which every year millions of
bushels of wheat, oats, flour, ETC., pass
to market. Creameries are being es-
tablished and experience has shown
that the county is as well adapted to
dairying as Minnesota or Iowa. Corn
is also staple crop. The cool nights
common to the country and earlier con-
sidered an impeachment to it's culture,
do not seem to materially hinder it's
growth, a fact no doubt due to the
careful selection and adaptation Of
seed. The county lies in an artesian
basin and flowing wells are common,
and the supply is inexhaustible. The
farm view shown elsewhere is that of
crew that plowed and seeded a $40
acre lot belonging to G. B. Barnes in
twenty-seven days.
The industries of Wahpeton include
a Touring mill of 400-barrel capacity
a flax tow mill, foundry and machine
shop, and factory for the manufac-
ture Of self feeders for threshing ma
chimes. The city is supplied with water
from arteSian wells, the plant belong
Ing to the city and costing 100000. The
electric light and telephone systems are
private franchises. North Dakota be-
Ing a prohibition state. there are no
public saloons, but Breckenridge is
only mile away. The settlement of
the county has not yet obliterated
prairie chickens and wild ducks. both
of which are still abundant In season
The day T e Clio b e representative
was in Wahpeton prairie chicken flew
down the street and, striking a tele-
phone wire, fell helpless to the side
walk, where 1t was picked up, and that
evening, no doubt, proved a savory
addition to the supper of the boy who
found 1t.
Wahpeton is an Indian town which
means jewellers among the leaves"
Wahpe meaning leaves and ton mean
ing to dwell, referring to one of the
Santee clans of the great Sioux ma
ton, this clan having villages among
the trees along the river. The term
Sissetons, with whom the Wahpetons
were associated, means fish scales"
These two clans along the Bots des
now Wabesse and Wilkin counties,
Mimi, and afterwards centered on the
well known reservation in South Da-
kota. The north line of the old Wah-
peton and Sisseton Indian reserva-
ton cuts across the southern part of
the county. About twelve miles north
of Wahpeton is the site Of Fort Aber-
crombie, one Of the first military posts
in the state, the occupants of which
were besieged for several weeks during
the Sioux Indian war of 1862. The
last session of the North Dakota legis-
lature appropriated $1,000 to aid in the
purchase and preservation of this old
post and other historical sites in the
state.
The street fair held at Wahpeton
the first week in October included an
agriculture and live stock display, and
products of field, garden and orchard
were there in plenty. in spite of the
cold weather. There were many fine
specimens of blooded animals on hand
One lot of apples grown in the county
attracted much attention, showing very
conclusively that the apple belt is
moving north with corn. Wahpeton is
compactly built, the residence portion
containing many fine homes and
churches, which encroach closely upon
the business section, altogether giving
it very city like appearance, not COM
mon to prairie towns.
Mention is made above of the State
Scientific school, which deserves a
more complete notice. 1t opened its
doors Sept. % with forty students.
President E. G. Burch, graduate Of