Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-05-02
COMMISSIONER GILBRE:TH
TALKS NORTH DAKOTA.
MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL MAN HAS
LENGTHY INTERVIEW WITH 4
= - Mr.. GlLsREATH.

| Vss'SsSeSNT S6sS SSSnNSA6 MAN TAO
LENGTHY INTERVIEW WITH
.. Mr.. GILRREATH. i.
Bismarck, N. D., May EVERY
farmer and homeseeker in the north.
| western and middle states has un.
doubtedly been reading from week to
week, the strong and able articles that
have been prepared by w. c. Gill
breath, commissioner of agriculture
for the state of North Dakota. We
had the pleasure Of meeting Mr.. Gil.
breath In Minneapolis last week and
| asked him to give us few facts in
regard to the state, that would appeal
to homeseekers and investors in diff.
ferent sections of the west, who are
anxious to secure a new home. 1 also
asked Mr.. Gilbreath in regard to indi-
ytdual cases of people who have come
into the state with very little capital,
but plenty of energy and push, and
what result they have achieved. Mr..
Gilbreath said: ..
The, following regarding the state
of North Dakota is well worthy of con-
sideration by the homeseeker and the
investor. That this state is receiving
marvellous growth can be best ap-
preciated by an investigation. Thous.
ands OF people have made their selec.
ton OF homes in North Dakota this
year and still there remain millions Of
acres waiting for the industrious hus.
bandman. It's broad field and open
to all. That it is state where the
tiller of the soil reaps a rich reward
can be verified by thousands of new
settlers who came to this state with
hopes and fears, but who have realized
far beyond their fondest expectations.
There are no Industrious poor men
IN this state. All are prosperous, and
why not, where land is SO cheap and
yet so fertile and productive that one
crop pays for the land with a sufficient
surplus to keep the producer until the
next years yield? That this is true
Is attested by the fact that there are
real estate dealers offering to sell land
and take in exchange for the payment
the first years crop. You may ask, If
che land is so productive, why is it
that these real estate dealers are will
Ing to dispose of it on such liberal
terms? My answer is that many of
these proprietors own thousands of
acres Of land and are willing to dem.
onstrate their confidence in the pro-
ductiveness of the soil by making this
generous offer. They want to show
the public that the soil Of this state
is valuable, productive and cannot be
excelled for the same price in any
part of the universe.
The following are few of the many
letters reproduced showing what men
have accomplished in North Dakota.
This could be supplemented by thous-
ands of others which come unsolicit.
ed:
w. L. Richards, president of the Da-
kota State bank of Dickinson, who or
ganized that institution few years
ago: Il consider this section good for
diversified farming, and am sure if
any man will come here and work as
hard as he would in the older states
he will make money. I don't know of
a single instance where man came
here and attended to business but
what he has made q success"
Mr.. Douglas of New Salem writes:
All my oats and about twothirds of
my wheat crop was on land broken in
the spring. This land I worked thor
oughly, threshed from it thirty-three
bushels of wheat an acre, and from
the six acres of oats received nearly
300 bushels"
Is 1t strange that men will offer to
sell land and take the first crop pro-
duced in payment for the same?
Henry Lesch came to Oliver county
from Minnesota in 1903, and states:
"My first crop was in 1903, and it paid
for the land. My wheat averaged sew
enteen bushels to the acre. This sea-
son was considered by old settlers one
of the poorest years. On my old high
priced farm in Minnesota-one of the
richest in the farming portion of south
ern Minnesota-the yield of wheat
that season was also seventeen bush
els an acre."
. One acre Of his Minnesota land was
selling at from eight to ten times the
amount he paid for his North Dakota
acres, yet the yield was no greater.
The value of land should be measured
by it's producing qualities. Is it good
financial sagacity to hold land which
can be sold for say $50 an acre when
you can buy equally as good in fertil-
tty and productiveness for S5 to s69