The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-02
BOOM TIMES ON
MISSOURI SLOPE.
MILLIONS OF ACRES OF
FINEST WHEAT LANDS
Section Is Adapted to Diversified
Agriculture and They Grow
Big Crops There It Is Also an
Excellent Cattle Country.
BY Herbert Vanderhoof,

An unusually large proportion OF the
stream, of new settlers that is now in
vading North Dakota in quest of lands
and homes is bound for that section of
the state which is known as the s. Mis-.
souri, slope. This is about the west
ern third of the state, and comprises
the land west of the Missouri river and
a small strip on the east side of the
something like l2,oOO,O00 acres of as
rich and productive soil as in any state
OF the union. While the eastern part
OF the state has been filing up, this
western part has been comparatively
neglected, but with the extension Of
railway facilities the merits Of this sec
ton have become apparent, and now the
rush . is on in earnest.
There are several reasons to account
Tor this One, and with many newcom-
ers the most important, is that the land
Is cheap on the Missouri slope. An
other IS its great fertility and the ap-
parent inexhaustibility Of the soil; It
growing or for diversified farming, and
the crops that are grown upon it are
tremendous. | visited one farm about
twelve miles from Bismarck, the state
capital, where for fifteen years in sue
cesslon the owner has had 800 acres in
wheat, and he told me that his crop dur
ing those years had never failed to give
an average of twenty-eight bushels to
the acre, while some years this rate had
been exceeded. And this was on land
that had never known fertilizer
This whole section of North Dakota
is booming. Its natural shipping point
the river from Bismarck, and with
which city it is running lively race
Tor supremacy. 1t is one of the busiest
towns of it's size in the country and
does business that is out of all pro-
portion to its size. The cattle, hogs and
sheep OF q vast region are brought to
Mandan for shipment east and the
wheat and other crops also seek the
same. outlet. Everybody is busy and on
the Jump, and in all parts of the city
can be seen new buildings going up.
which are generally rented OF sold be-
fore the roof is on
where are all the people coming
rom ON that are taking up lands here's"
asked one OF the farmers whom I met
Mostly from the middle western
states,' was the reply, ''altho we have
quite few from the east and SOUTH
and even from Canada. - -
Case Of One Family.
Take my neighbor, for, instance. He
came from lovington, Ill, where he had
hved Tor years, and where he was doing
wen: lie has large family, nine chit
to provide for them ali nicely. First.
ne sent his Oldest boy here, and the lad
bought 800 acres. He did so well that
Inc next year the old man came up and
bought the 800 acres adjoining. Now
the whole family is here, and they
Wouldn t 90 back to Illinois for any
ri had an opportunity to meet this
i In man little later, and talk with
MN. L put the same question to him.,
why did you come up here?''
~ ell Mr. Wolf replied, 'tI have
nothing against Illinois, but I cannot
alofa &c. TO buy land at $l25@and $3.50 an
doing anything for my family excent
py moving to new country where the
land is cheaper. The soil in this Sec
ZION OF North Dakota is every bit as
good as the best dirt in our Illinois
farmers, and they. all liked the country
and are doing we'll. One of them came
from Assumption, Ill.
whoo mere l am, and I IN glad of it.
why shouldn't I be? Any man that
a aams ~ anything hgth about farming can
ms land from his first seasons cron
l dld 1t, and something more It's
me greatest country in the world for
wheat, oats, flax and corn For pota
Toes Toes. Z, ana other root crops | never saw
t thhy1khl ne 90 70 equal it. What do you
acreg That s what averaged on
twenty acres and never saw finer 81
my lie. Some of these potatoes would
Welgh sixty pounds. and they were
hrm l clear and white right to the heart.
marketed at $l.75 bushel.' -, -.
certainty these were good reasons
ana they are generally the same ones
that are bringing, this great food of
new new; settlers INTO the state, And then,
TO nave a better knowledge of the state
and conditions here. AS rule. cattle
can: winter on the range without dan
ger, and can procure an abundance of
Great Country for Cattle, ~:
This country was formerly the graz
ing ground of the buffalo, and it's pas
lure Lands produce the finest and most
nutritious grasses that are known. In
the winter time if there is anv snow,
Inc cattle will paw it away and get
u that IL TO tnese cured > grass grasses. But now
only few years when the big ranges
T1ll all be. cut up. and as it is now
ne small farmer generally houses his
,toek. Then again, North Dakota is
going In for blooded stock, and the
larry interests of the state are steadily
growing. The farmers have found that
flew good milk producers are a. source
'f proflt, and creameries are becoming
numerous. "a
The fuel question never troubles the
people on the Missouri slope. The min
srs might shut down for year. as far
as North Dakota is concerned, and the
state would never feel it. This whole
Missouri slope country is underlaid with
The finest quality of Ignite, and whe1
he farmer needs fuel he Just scrapes
IF few feet of earth and digs Out
Nhat he needs. If he doesn't feel like
digging he can buy all he wants fo1
about 80 cents a ton. An extensive
industry has sprung up in the state il
the making -Gf briquettes Of Ignite
The latter is put thru process that
:akes away all the slack and the re
na1nder is pressed into bricks. This
s the fuel that the industries of thu
taIe get their steam and power from
There are plenty of lands vet re
naming In the state that can be take1
lp under the homestead law. and som,
nllllons OF. acres that have been sci
aside for the endowment fund of tht
public schools These latter are beine
sold at intervals, and eventually thu
state will have a magnificent endow
nent Tor purposes of education. IN
Ter the law these lands cannot be solt
lnder stated price per acre, but. as {
rule, they; have sold at price consid
erably over the minimum fixed. Thes,
sales haye.to be advertised in advance
and they always attract an eager crowf
AZ Il $3.50 Il Il. L I :