The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1906-04-05
NORTH DAKOTA'S
GREAT RESOURCES
Herbert Vanderhoof Complies
Interesting Figures
Our Wealth from the Crop Of 1904 Showed q
Per Capita Of Standardization
Advantages the Very Best


Per Capita Of Standardization
Advantages the Very Best
In an article written by Herbert Van
derhoof on the resources of North Da-
kota he says: "There is room for many
million more in North Dakota. The
state is one of those western giants
whose dimensions appear almost in
credible to dwellers in states east of
the Mississippi. 1t is only by comparison
that some adequate idea of it's i'm
mensity can be formed. To say that
North Dakota contains 7O,195 square
miles or 44,91O,O8O acres, does not
mean much to the average reader.
But tell the reader it is larger than all
New England, or that it would make
nine states the size of Massachusetts,
that it would make two states the size
Of Indiana, or that the state of Illinois
could be set down in it, and then there
would be $4,000 square miles left, and
he or she begins to realize what this
vast inland empire amounts to.
And the greater part of this vast
area has never been scratched by the
plow. There are millions upon mil
lions of acres of fine land in this great
state that can be had for the asking,
while there are other millions that can
be bought for an insignificant price
and which are destined to be the source
of fortune to many thousands in the
next few years. This is not theory,
but a demonstrated fact. Of the
thousands of new settlers that are
every year pouring into the state a
very large proportion are paying for
their land out of the profits Of their
first seasons crop, while many of them
have a handsome surplus in addition.
All that is required of a. man is the
ability and the willingness to labor.
Nature, in it's bounteousness, does all
the rest.
One must consider the immensity of
the crops of North Dakota to realize
the manner in which the people of the
state are piling up wealth. The total
population of the state in 1905 was
448,070, but it must be remembered
that large percentage of this number
live in towns and cities, and therefore
cannot be classed with the agricultur-
lists. And yet the value of the crops
produced on the farms of North Dako-
ia with the value of the live stock sold
and still remaining on the farms,
amounted in 1904 to the tremendous
total of s128, 1896, oil, or an average
for each man, woman and child in the
state of $314.32.
The greatest crop of North Dakota,
both in quantity and monetary value, is
wheat. This has been the case ever
since the settlement of the state, and
probably will be so for many years to
come. North Dakota wheat is sought
in every market of the world because
of its superior quality, and the produc-
tion has never yet been equal to the
demand. Because of the bountiful
yields of this cereal, the moderate
amount of labor required for its pro-
duction, and the immediate cash mar
ket that awaits it, it is the logical crop
for the majority of North Dakota farm
ers. In 1904, which is the last year
for which I have the official figures
53,892, 1913 bushels of wheat were raised
in the state, and this sold for $43, ,652,-
GIG. This means that many new set
tier in the state paid for the land he
occupied with his first years crop.
But wheat is only one of the crops
that are pouring stream of gold into
the pockets of the North Dakota farm
er. During the same year the state
produced over 81, 900, 600 bushels of
oats, nearly 18, ,OOO, 900 bushels of bar
ley, over 13, ,OOO, 900 bushels of flax seed
the value Of the latter crop being $12,-
947,413; nearly 100000 bushels of
potatoes, and fraction under 2,OOO,-
600 bushels corn. Its crop of hay
valued at over 81, ,ooo, 900, and its ship.
ment Of livestock amounted to S., 1854,
7a2. In addition it sold dairy products
valued at $4, 1O0, 900.
This tremendous amount of wealth
was the product Of 1854, ATS acres, o,
approximately one fifth of the states
domain. Is it any wonder that the
North Dakota farmer is satisfied with
his lot? There was time when the
state was a gold mine for the eastern
money lenders, and when they hac
millions invested in farm mortgages
that were paying them 10 and IL pc,
cent interest. That day has passed
forever in North Dakota. The farmers
~n x1>s MI.