The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-11-16
AS OTHERS SEE US.
Disinterestcd Opinion of North Dakota
by an Illinois Editor,

DtSlHtSTeStCQ OptnlCn OF iNoTIn DdkOId
by an Illinois Editor.
In furnishing the public with facts,
figures and advantages which North
Dakota possesses, these articles are
often taken in the wrong light. Too
often the reader concludes that they
are either written to boom the state
" for personal gain. Such has not
been the purpose of the letters pub.
lished by this department. The object
has been to present a conservative
statement Of the conditions as they
actually exist in this state. No attempt
has been made to magnify the oppor-
%tunities or to enlarge upon the advan-
tages which this state offers to the
homeseeker or investor.
Recently Harry F. Bowling, editor OF
the Virginia GILL; Enquirer, visited
this state. His visit was purely a So
cial one, without any intention of pur-
chasing property or making an inves-
tigation of the states advantages with
a vie VITO locating there. On his return
home he published in his newspaper
for the benefit of it's readers his i'm
pressions of North Dakota. He has no
personal interests in this state and,
therefore, no motive to either exag-
gerate or enlarge upon it's soil, climate,
business or farming industries. For
this reason parts of his letter are re-
proceeded to show that this state is re-
garded from a. disinterested stand.
point.
Amonp other thing ho cavs:
"Our impressions Of the country, as
derived from the clean, beautiful and
hustling capital city, were in no wise
altered by our trip through the coun-
try to our relatives home. The broad
fields of ripened wheat, oats and speltz
and other farm products was a veri-
table revelation to us as to the splen-
did of that state, and was a
sight too extensive to properly de-
scribe. During our visit we were for
tunate in being able to take long drives
about the country for many miles in
all directions, and everywhere the
bountiful harvest was in progress, and
the golden grain was being garnered.
The crops in North Dakota this year
will be harvested in their fullest capac-
ity, and as a large acreage has been
cultivated, the returns will be nor
nous. The opportunities for the in
dustrious farmer within the borders
Of this great Northwest commonwealth
are beyond proper conception with.
out personal investigation.
"The worthiness of North Dakota as
an agricultural state is just beginning
to show forth, as that state has suf-
fered the fate of other ne wstates, the
cussedness OF the Kicker and COM
plants of the fellow who wanted to
make a fortune in ten days without
personal exertion. Added to these had
been the exaggerated newspaper re-
ports of the worthlessness of the coun-
try, all of which, tended to check i'm
migration to that state and settlement
upon it's broad and fertile fields. The
fact of its Importance as a state for
agricultural pursuits is now becoming
known and practical demonstrations
in these lines are at present plain to
any n who will go and see for them
selves. The great wheat, oat and
speltz fields of this state are every
year paying in many instances twice
what the land may be purchased for
at the price which 1t has now attained.
All kinds of garden truck is being
grown there with wonderful success,
and especially does this refer to pota-
toes, which. for size, quality and per-
fectness, are probably u%nequaled. Corn
is a product that is now being grown
there with encouraging success, but
the season is too short to warrant ar
extensive acreage of that staple, but
science is coming to the rescue and
promises soon to develop a breed of
corn that will mature in from seventy
to seventy-five days. When this is ac-
complished. n it will be soon, the
future of North Dakota will advance
at the rate of twenty years to one.
This assertion is made from the fact
that large herds of cattle are yearly
fed upon the grasses of the vast prai-
ries of the state and are actually win.
tered upon the wild hay harvested
from these broad acres. These cattle
are invariably sold upon the stock
markets Of st. Paul or Chicago as
feeders, or are topped Off in Western
Minnesota with corr and sold as corn
fed cattle, which will not be the case
when corn is extensively raised in
North Dakota, and, as above intimat,
ed, that will be soon.
I'VE would be doing North Dakota
an injustice should we fail to mention
the splendid climate which prevails
there. Nc matter how warm it may
be during the day, the nights are in
yariably cool and sleep results in rest
and recreation.
"The opportunities offered to the in.
dustrious afrmer there are certainly
beyond reasonable understanding to
those who have no or who will not in.
v%estigate. Lands may be purchased in
the localities of which l have above
written, and I am told on terms that
will permit any man to pay for them
from the products Of the land pur-
chased. Renters in this COUNTRY who
are paying the present fabulous rents
demanded are standing in their W
light and are cheating themselves of
opportunities to own homes and make
fortunes, by continuing as they are
-yI~- 1911