The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-01-09
NORTH oAkorA's GROWTH.

OSTs00o VooS W enS otaIS N the
Past Twenty Years.
The following summary of the de-
telopment of the State of North Da.
xota II taken from a paper read at a
meeting of the Fortnightly club Of
Grand Forks by D. H. Beecher, presi-
dent of the Union National bank OF
Grand Forks, who has been a specta-
or Of and a"participanttin the develop
nent Of which he writes:
That North Dakota has made the
strides that it has, especially during
the past fifteen years, is a surprise to
the careful observer of the growth of
he country, but when we come to con.
,ider the natural advantages we have,
md the character of the people that
ave toiled to bring about the results
obtained, it perhaps may not be so
surprising.
Our state gained in population be-
tween 1890 and 1900, 136,427, or "a ITO
per cent, and it is generally believed
that we have gained in the past three
years more than 100, 900 in population.
From 1890 to 1900, South Dakota
gained 72.762, or 81 Ito per cent. 1t
will be seen that North Dakota gained
almost two in population where South
Dakota gained one. Fourteen counties
In South Dakota lost in population be.
tween 1890 and 1900, while every
county in North Dakota showed a gain
n population all the way from 9,012 in
Cass county to 526 in Oliver county.
The Counties that showed the largest
gains at the. last census were: Cass,
9,O12; Wells, zoos; Ward, $3.50; Rich
land, 6,136; Grand Forks, 6,102; Ben.
son, 1851; Stark, 5,317, and Towner,
5,O51.
The last census awards us the homo:
of being the wealthiest state in the
Union and the largest income per cap.
tia according to population.
The assessed valuation of real and.
personal property for the year 1903
was $146,537,4 44, which would bring
the actual wealth of our state at the
present time to be yer $3.50, 000, 900,
and yet there are no very rich men in
our state. These figures do not take
into consideration but a small portion
of the vast Ignite coal deposits in the
western half of the state, whose &C.
tual extent and value is as yet impos-
sible to estimate.
Estimated value of farm products for
1903, $133, 000, 900; value of our dairy
and creamery industry in 1903 is 50,
Doc, 900. North Dakota corn won sec
ond prize at the Pan-American exposi-
ton in competition with the great corn
states. One of the largest farmers In
Richland county was so encouraged
with his c~orn.growing experience that
he planted 1900 acres in 1902: have
taken particular pains to observe the
progress made in growing corn, and
am convinced that as soon rs our
farmers learn how to develop proper
seed (Which can be easily accom-
plished) we shall be recognized as be-
ing a reasonably sure corn-growing
state.
Agricultural Products
The value of agricultural products
e capita in North Dakota is the high
est of any state in the Union, being IS
e cent. South Dakota comes sec
ond. We come in at the 80 at the av'
erase value of farms per farm in 1900,
which amount was $1,125 per farm,
and we well know that since 1900 these
values have largely increased. We
are tenth in the size of farms, the av-
erage being $40 acres per farm. South
Dakota comes in at 8 and Minnesota
II, We are the twenty-ffth in the to-
tai of agricultural products, South Da'
kota twenty-fourth and Minnesota
tenth. Estimated that in 1903 we were
fourteenth or better. We are hftn IN
the average of farmers who own tnelr
own FARMS. Seven states have less
money invested in manufactures than
we. The value of our MANUFACTURED
PRODUCT QOuDlcu lIOAA LOU" W '
and it is estimated that they have lou
bled again since that period. Our last
census gives us the value OF agricui-
tural products per capita in North Ia.
kota. 500: South Dakota, $l75, ana
Minnesota, $145. This, perhaps, is as
strong an index as we have OF the real
earning power of North Dakota farms.
orr earning power is still stronger
emphasized when 1t may be remem-
1,artd that the size of the North Da-
l3ota family is much above the average.
ln.the total value of agricultural prod
ucts in 1900 North Dakota was $245.
Minnesota 324O. South Dakota $40 and
iowa S245, the same as North Dakota.
The average value Of farm products
pver farm for North Dakota Is $l,4oo.
North Dakota comes tenth in percent.
age of population engaged in agricul-
tnre. South Dakota twelfth n Mime
sofa twenty-ffth.
These facts may be sufficient to snow
where. we are at as to the earning pow
er Of our lands compared with our cen
tral western agricultural states. and
with these facts before US it ID not sur
nriaing that remarkable growth during
tine past few years has been made In
4o,,r state. "A pleasing feature Of our
recent growth is the character OF the
people that have come here to make
their homes. being q very large per