The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-26
I" JIMTOWN'' ON
| THE JAMES.

Stutsman county, the valley Of the
James river, commonly known as the
Jim, presents possibly as attractive a
point for homeSeekers' location as does
any other district in the state of North
Dakota. Since. while its lands are
extremely fertile and productive. they
are as yet very reasonable in price.
and yield a large income annually on
the amount invested.
There are a number of reasons why
the Jim river valley is becoming year.
ly more popular, but possibly the most
conspicuous one is the fact that the
Red. river valley is so thickly settled
that lands have increased in values
and are beyond the reach of the man
with little money. 1t is but natural,
therefore, that they should turn to the
more nearly settled regions of the
state, and in Stutsman county and the
James river valley there are cOnsid-
cradle acreages which have been held
off the market through railroad grants
and individual holdings until recently.
and the result is that extremely desir-
able lands may be secured there at
price ranging from $12 to $50 per acre,
according to location, character and
nature of improvements and the
amount taken, while there are wild
lands in the valley every whit as fertile
as the lands already taken and settled
which may be had for less. The val
ley affords excellent markets for the
diverse crops raised, and affords many
of the conveniences of life which might
not be expected in an agricultural
community The country is well set
tied, tried and known, substantial
structures and high grade improve
mentS are to be seen on the older
farms in every direction, and are sure
indications of the value of the land as
a producer of wealth.
Stutsman county contains sixty-four
congressional townships and is the
largest in area of any in the eastern
half of the state. 1t is twice as large
as the state of Delaware and if as
densely populated would contain and
could support a half million people.
The latest returns of the assessors
show that about 1000 are to be found
in a county with 2,304 sections of land,
each containing $40 acres. 1t will,
therefore. need no argument to sub
stantiate the statement that there is
ample room for more settlers. The
county was tenth in point of popula-
tion in 1900, with 9,143 people, while
the assessed value of property in
1903 was $4,136,43S taking eighth rank
among the thirty mine organized coun-
ties of the state. 1t had 225,798 acres
under cultivation in 1903, being six
teenth in rank in this respect among
the other counties in the state It's
wheat crop during that year amounted
in round figures to a million bushels
and led the procession. Flax took sec
ond place during the year, being led
by seven other counties. Oats follow
ed as to quantity. It's live stock as
sessments during 1903 was $51,623,
that being fifth among the other coun-
ties of the state. The James, or as it
is locally known, the Jim river, crosses
the county from north to south. This
long, winding stream has a length
from source to mouth of about 500
miles. 1t is not navigable, but during
high water twenty years ago a boat
came up as far as jamestown. 1t is
still there.
The valley of the river may be de-
ocilbtu Dis prairie, WIN rolling hills
hedging it on the east and west It's
fertility is unquestioned. The valley
of the James, too, is the greatest arte-
sian well district known. Artesian
wells are found in many parts of the
two Dakotas, but those of this valley
are notable for having the heaviest
pressure and the greatest volume of
any in the world. The water is used
in some places for mill power, for fire
protection, and large ponds have been
created from the overflow in many
places.
There are % postoffices in the coun-
ty, 20 grain elevators, newspapers, z
banks and 1856 miles of railway track;
of which 11S belongs to the Northern
Pacific and Is to the 500 line. The
500 cuts across the northwest corner,