Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-07
The Men Who Have Done So Much to Advertise the Re-
sources and Beauties Of North Dakota
are With Us Today
INTERESTING CONVENTION PROMISED
Auspciously Opened at Capitol Today Leading Realty
Dealers Of State and Minnesota Here, Also Repre-
sentatveS Of Railroad immigration Departments

When the real estate convention
met in the senate chamber at 3:15
this afternoon every seat was taken
and many were standing around the
hall The chamber had been beauti-
fully decorated by the capitol force,
whose talents in this line have long
been demonstrated, and nothing was
left undone for the convenience of the
delegates.
Quite a number of the delegates ar
rived last night and after noon today
the hotels were full to Overlooking,
reminding one of a legislative session.
The reception committee of the Com
mercial club was kept busy making
the citys guests feel at home and in
every way the first day of the meet
ing has been all that was expected.
by Commissioner GiIbreath of the
state agricultural department. Mr..
Gjlbreath then introduced
Assistant Attorney General Stevens .
who welcomed the members of the
convention as follows: y
Mr.. Chairman, and Gentlemen of
the Convention: Every mile of terri
tory from the Atlantic to the Pacific
has been sanctified to the Republic
by the blood aud bones Of that rest
less band who have ever pushed out
taking the advance step to a coming
civilization, and who are known
throughout the world as the pioneer.
In the march from the rising TO-
wards the setting sun, climate condi-
tions caused him to advance across
our country, first by the southern
route and thus the states of Kansas
and Nebraska received the earlier
Immigrants of European countries,
and the dissatisfied dwellers Of the
eastern states.
At the close OF the Civil War that
part of the territory of Dakota now
the state OF North Dakota, was one
unbroken stretch of prairie, over
which roamed at will the buffalo, the
antelope and the coyote save where
they were disturbed by roaving bands
of savages, the enemies of settlement
and civilization in any of it's forms. :
The Northern PACIFIC railroad
crossed the Red river in 1872 and was
completed as transcontinental line
in 1888. The railroad gave the first
impetus to the settlement of the
prairies of Dakota. Soon after cross
ing the Red river by the Northern
Pacific the great fertility of the Red
river valley reached the foreign ennli-
grafton that had been pouring into
Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin aud
turned its tide into Dakota and from
1872 to 1884 not sail whitened either
ocean coming from the old world, but
bore weary pilgrims seeking homes
in the wonderland of the Northwest"
The second stage of our settlement
and population had been reached.
From 1884 to 1899 new settlers were
largely composed Of three classes;
first, foreigners who were brought
here and colonized through the in
fiuence of railroads and immigration
societies second, young men who had
taken Greeley's advice ito go west
and grow up with the country. And
third, tenants OF the landlords OF
Illinois, Iowa and eastern states
where lands had become too valuable
to make the working Of them on
shares profitable. or too poor to repay
the labor necessary to make them
produce crops.
During this time. however, we had
been transformed from q, territory to
statehood; the sod shanty and dug
out OF the prairies had been succeeded
by the frame dwelling, and We had
learned to use greater diversity Ia our
farming. and thus the third stage Id
our advancement has been passed.
Since 1900 we have entered upon a
new era, and one the most important
OF all to our ultimate greatness.