Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-06
SHALL n. D. RAISE WHEAT OR CREAM

Fargo Forum: In this great state
of North Dakota possibly the greatest
of all states for offering opportunities
to poor people, where respectable
fortunes have been and are being ac-
cumulated, what is in store for us in
the future?
Will this wild scramble for the al
mighty dollar be pursued through one
principal industry as at present, viz:
that of raising wheat, or will it be
necessary for us to turn our attention
| to other sources of income? Is our
soil SO constituted and will our
climatic conditions remain such that
we shall be able to produce bumper
crops" of wheat similar to those of
recent years, or will we be confronted
some of these days by a proposition
of what is to be done next to save our
selves from being stranded on the
rocks?
Some of us who are familiar,
through experience or history, with
conditions as they existed in our
neighboring states, South Dakota and
Minnesota, years ago know that wheat
was their main support, Or FATHER non.
support, as they continued to grow
poorer the longer they stuck to it,
and numerous families had to leave
their farms and homesteads through
mere inability to exist under prevail
ing conditions.
How much longer are We going to
be entirely dependent on wheat rails
ing? Shall we continue until we are
forced into something more certain,
or profit by the experience of our
neighbors and make preparations that
will make us Independent of large
crops? What is to be done? What
did they do in Minnesota, South Da-
hota and other states? Did they all
move to town and start general
stores, newspapers, cigar stands, etc. :?
No! They discovered a friend in
need in the old COW that they had
MIXED and cursed and sighted for
years. What was the result? By
this time the old folks are living in
town in modern up-to-date house,
and their children are spending their
time alternately in college and on the
old homestead. Daily mail, telephone,
and, in many instances, electric rail-
ways are at their service.
The young people are accomplished
in all branches of learning and music.
A piano and up-to-date furniture is to
ibe found in almost every farmhouse
parlor.
It may be too early to start cream
cries in some parts of our state, but
it certainly is not too early to prepare
for what is sure to come. Take it for
granted that wheat can be raised sue
cessfully for the next five years or
more. At the end of that time say
that we go into the creamery or dairy
business. What are we going to do
with it? Will We have the proper
quality of stock to make it success?
II not it will take five years more to
Establish the creamery business on a
paying basis. Too many farmers pay
no attention whatever to the testing
Tor breed Of their cows, and lots of
cows are: being kept and fed the year
round at an actual expense to their
Iowner instead of being q source of
revenue. Without quoting from sta
iHstics, I would venture to state that
not over is per cent of the cows in
THE state would be acceptable TO a
professional dairy farmer. This
would not apply to ell sections Of the
lstate as we have some good cream
cries and dairy farmers but, as d gen
eral rule. dairying is secondary
reconsideration or q side line.
Under these conditions we are not
4 In position to make mixed farming
lpay and something must be done to
bring about . change, II we do not
make 4 radical chance make II graau.