Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-12-16
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STATE IMMIGRATION BUREAUS.
It has been suggested many times
that the work of greatest Importance
to new states is the inducing of
streams of immigration, that bring
sound, stable, prosperous and intelli-
gent agricultural classes to these
northwestern states. This is true Of
North Dakota. Although much work
has been done through private bureaus
in aiding the work of immigration,
there is vast possibility of good work
by a state department. 1t is believed
that in the next two years more work
of this character will be done. The
situation is we'll set forth by the ST..
Paul Pioneer Press, which, in COM
mending measure proposing to estab-
lish state immigration bureau, says:
Ever since the Canadian land boom
there have been thousands of settlers
passing through this state to settle
beyond our northern border, where, be-
hind the tariff wall, they are lost to
our markets They have been for the
most part citizens of high grade, we'll
provided with means, experienced in
farming, thrifty and enterprising
Their presence here would have added
political stability as we'll as wealth.
Without in the least disparaging the
lands they have taken up Minnesota
still has vast tracts from which, with
the same expenditure of energy and
Intelligence, as great rewards could
be extracted as from the lands of
Manitoba and the other provinces of
the Canadian Northwest. Nor would
settlement in Minnesota have in
volved expatriation.
That the state immigration bureau is
a practicable project is attested by the
marked success that has attended the
immigration bureaus maintained by
the Canadian government and by Wis
consin and other states. Heretofore
we have depended on the railroads for
the advertisement of the opportunities
offered by Minnesota and for the per-
sonal campaign by which settlers are
secured. But the lands of the rail-
roads in Minnesota are dwindling and
their main efforts have for some years
been directed to the building up Of the
population Of states farther west.
With the Canadian government, they
are strong and enterprising competi.
tors against whom no Roadway can be
made without an organized effort
Aside from the land companies, few
if any, of which can maintain the
necessary corps to secure and direct
immigrants, there are few private
agencies working for the settlement
of the vacant areas of the state.
Nor are the land companies the mos
effective agents.. They are in bust
ness for the profit that can be made
pected to sell land for a dollar les,
than they can get for it. Consequent
ly they charge what the traffic will
bear" and withhold from settlement al
lands for which customers cannot b,
found who are willing to give thei
price. They have not even the motiv,
no 1es tn To nh 4,
In the expectation of making up fo1
the sacrifice by increased business il
some other branch of their activity.
Without having examined the pres
ent situation very thoroughly or tn,
details Of Mr.. Coles proposed change
in the method of disposing of statt
lands the matter appears to be muc,
sounder in theory and likely to give
tar more satisfactory results in prac
tice than the existing method. The
principle for which Mr. Cole is con
tending is the principle on which tn,
campaign for the reform of the fedora
land laws is based-the preservatio,
Of the public lands from Spectator,
and their sale in small allotments tt
bona fide settlers and homemakers on
, ". It is more than probable that tn,
system of auctioning state land
throws them into the hands of specula
! tors who sell at two or three times tn,
I Price paid to the state, but who re
turn to the state no commensurate.
benefits. There Is no reason why tn,
state should sell a tract Of land to ,
Speculation for IS an acre to give hin
& power to TAX the bona fde homemade
i two or three times that amount whe1
4 the state could secure more revenu,
Il at - an acre and would soon have n,
valuable land that was not productiy
and whose owners were not buyin,
and selling in Minnesota markets
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