Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-04-09

INV the development it has made and
ID making in the western part of the
state, says w. l.. Dudley, in the Rec.
ord. published at Fargo. A few years
ago he continues, the North Dako.
tans of the Red river valley, proud as
they we're of their state as a whole,
we're yet inclined to consider the west
ern portion as not very desirable ex-
cent as a 'tcow country" and not gen.
erally adapted to successful farming.
This impression was general in the
eastern part of the state. and indeed
elsewhere, and people were honest
enough in this belief BUTT has trans.
nired that this idea was largely due
to its active promotion by the inter-
ests to which the settlement of the
western part of the state might be
detrimental.
The stockmen. the owners of the
cattle on thousand hills" preferred
that their section should remain a
Cow country" that the grazing lands
might not be disturbed: that their cat
tle might have access. unlimited by
settlement, to the grass of the plains,
the waters of the running streams and
the shelter of the hills and timber
They looked with dismay upon the APP
propraton of these lands, so impor-
tgnt to them, by the incoming settler
The stockmen were accordingly
prompt in using every opportunity and
all occasions to advance the idea that
their section of the state was not
adapted to farming. So long as they
we're the only residents. comparative
ly. of the section, it was easy enough
to believe this, and honestly enough,
too
AS Farming Country.
The time came, however, when
homeseekers in their quest for free
government land kept pushing far
Their and farther into the domain of
the cattlemen. The desirable free
lands in the eastern portion of the
state were rapidly disappearing, and
the more venturesome OF the claim
seekers concluded to try the lands far
Their west, and many of them expert
mented in small way with diversified
farming, and in so many cases with
such signal success as to attract atten-
ton to the western part of the state as
farming country. Many of the de-
sirable lands near railroads and
streams were soon taken, and those
who came later went farther out for
choice claims; then others who came
still later were content with claims
that were not so choice. Those who
came and found claims to their liking
sent word to their friends to come and
obtain land. The 500 and the Great
Northern also turned their forces to
the settlement of the country, and the
Northern Pacific, too. but in its case
mostly through syndicates. to whom it
sold large tracts of railroad lands.
These syndicates added to the attrac-
tons of the new country cheap lands
alongside of government land. The
result has been that this portion of'the
state has built up with amazing rapid
ity, while the cattlemen have moved
their herds to still more inaccessible
grazing lands.
The new settlers began raising
wheat. flax and other crops, and when
the returns from the thresher came In
it was found that the yields would
compare favorably with even the
famous Red river valley. and in many
instances were superior in quantity
and quality to the crops in the valley
Counties
1t "Makes Good"
Settlers who sowed flax on breaking
were rewarded with yields OF from 10
to % bushels per acre, and with net
income OF from $40 to $40 per acre, and
the fact was amply demonstrated that
the western part of the state was a
tarming country as we'll as the Red
liver valley.
A Sudden Drop.