Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1906-06-22
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The Farmers Road
A couple Of trips over the Far
a11ers' Road, as it is generally
termed, has convinced us Of its.
portance to Devils Lake.
h While the road has made occa:
sion for the rise Of energetic
towns along its line, such as.
StarkWeather, Rock Lake and
Hansbor and these towns have.
an assured future of develop
ment, yet they can not hope for.
/ that larger growth destined to
Devils Lake. This city is the,
natural center Of eleven coun-
ties which comprise the most
fertile portion Of the state Of
North Dakota. It is eighty nine
miles west Of Grand Forks; one
hundred and eighteen miles east
of Minot, and about one hundred
miles north Of Jamestown and
Valley City. 1t is the largest
4 city within this area, and advan-
tageously connected with every
town and with the outside world.
4 The completion Of the Aneta
branch certainly will make good
our claim.
But the chief opportunity, we
believe, IS the Farmers Road,
which runs sixty-eight miles
north from this city, piercing an
agricultural belt of the richest
/ land we ever saw a territory as
fertile as that Of the Nile, and
without an acre of waste land.
Our first trip was made when
the farmers were preparing the
soil for the grain. We examin-
ed the soil. 1t is the result Of
the alluvial deposits mellowed
and enriched by the action and
counter-action of sun and frost
for millions Of years. It is now
a black loam, which absorbs the
water quickly, bur withstands
drouth much longer than the
ordinary sandy loan. 1t goes to
great depths and is supported
4 by a sub-stratum of clay which
holds surplus water in reserve to
be called upon by capillary at
traction IN times Of prolonged
drouth.
Our second visit was made
last Sunday. The crops are no.
The wheat covers compile letely the
ground, and never in our expert
ence, have we seen such roots on
the wheat plant. Not only is
the root long, but large and Of a
texture to indicate prime health
ina good environment.
These conditions it will be
i readily understood, are favorable
ITO growth Of the most substan-
tial character-that growth that
will guarantee prosperity, COM
inercially, not only to the bright
towns on the Farmers Line, but
!: especially to Devils Lake, the
natural center Of all this terri
tory. This road is 4 child Of the
farmers brain. They not only
) conceived Of the enterprise, but
hazzarded their farms and their
chattels to purchase their right
of way, and grade the bed. 1t
was the farmers who negotiated
the sale Of bonds to equip the
road, and this road is managed
by farmers at the present time.
This line began operation
100 It's business has
steadily increased from the first
day. Not only has it's traffic in
Grain and live stock increased,
but traffic in general lnerchan-
disc has much more than doubled
I during the first year OF its oper-t
alton.
With the more complete till
/ age Of the soil in Ramsey and
the counties north. the road
traffic will correspond dinghy IN
crease and the road S prosperity
ttIs the opportunity Of Devils.
& Lake. Our city is beginning to
be a distributing center, and
this phase of our growth will be
greatly emphasized from the
II present time. There is no point
III North OAK kota so favorably
located for a distributing center
!, 81 our city. We should have
and We will have. Who'll lesale
houses located at this point.
ctive and harm onious coop pera-
lion of our city authorities and
4 .,,1,. s.nrn ,1,,erciaI Club with the.