Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-04-09
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND ITS DEVELOPMENT
famous Cow Country Coming to the Front Region Gen.
eral Farming fiomeseskers Are Encroachina Upon
and Gradually Driving Out Caltlemen.

SoeIleiS CAME from iowa, Kan
sas, Michigan and other states, not a
rev from far-away Virginia, bringing
STOCK and money with them in MANY
cases, and engaged in diversified farm
ing. They liked the country and their
friends followed them, especially the
young men. who worked out for other
farmers while developing their OWL
claims, having few of the hardships
endured by their parents in opening
the country where they settled forty
to fifty years ago.
1t is estimated that 100000 people
nave been added to the population o.
North Dakota during the past three
years. This influx has very largely
gone to the western part of the state.
The branch lines of railroads have
been extended into the country being
settled and numerous new and thriv-
ing towns have sprung up. Lands
which had been proved up years ago
by claim hunters without farming OK
perience and subsequently passed into
the hands OF the mortgage and land
companies, were placed on the market
and sold at a large advance over the
cost. Improved farms have found
purchasers at good prices. consider
ably above the prices OF former years,
and in some cases accomplishments
have sold as high as 81 700 for a
quarter section in regions where two
years before there was not single
settler. This means that all of the
government land had been filed on,
and that some father. brother OF
friend gave a settler that amount of
; money to relinquish his right to the
claim he was occupying and allow the
purchaser to make an entry thereon.
AS much as the advance has been
! the prices are still below the actual
value Of the land. and any farm in the
| state which can be purchased at pres
ent prices prevailing in the locality
where it is situated will prove good
| Observation-Disclosures, in the hands of
| the practical farmer than money at IL
per cent interest. Loan companies,
which a few years ago refused to
/ place loans west of the Red river val.
ley are now eager to find borrowers
in the western part of the state. The
! increasing population has created new
! openings in many lines of business,
and new demands for capital.
| While in some respects not equal tc
! some harvests in other years, the har-
vest of 1902 made splendid showing
!. for the western part of the state. and
this will result in a still larger influx
of new settlers during the coming inn
migration season.
| Must Look to Its LaureIs.
! The Red river valley will have t.
look to its !aurels ii it would continue
to hold its supremacy over the west
| ern part of the state, for as great and
numerous as may have been the eX-
amples of success in the Red river
! valley in it's early days. there have
been even better examples in inc
western part of the state. A few days
ago a party owning hotel in Western
North Dakota decided to retire from
the hotel business and spoke to real
estate agent about disposing of his
property He was asked if he wanted
| to make an exchange for farm lands.
"Well, that depends he replied. IF
you've got something out this way, ]
might, but I don't want no farm dom
! in the valley"
But to return to the ranchnlca:
| There are still several million acres of
land in Western North Dakota which
may be used for grazing purposes. but
| the days of the large herds are Num-
bered. Instead of these there will be
| diversified farming. but in less than
/ five years there will be more horses.
cattle, sheep and other live stock in
the state than would have been pos
si5e under the old system of large
herds.