The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-14

to December 81, 1908 there were 9.724,
and from December 81, 1903 to May
l6, 1905, there were $3.50, which shows
the rapid increase in the business Of
tho office.
In 1889, the first year the assessment
was made, the total valuation OF Pierce
county was $172,SS4; in 1904 1t was
increased to $672,O15: and in 1904, or
but fifteen years after the first assess
ment, it had reached the sum Of
$2.105,952, an increase of nearly 1900
per cent. in fifteen years. From these
statements it can readily be seen that
the greatest percentage Of development
has been made within the last six
years, and is accounted for by the fact
that the farmers increased their wealth
by improving their property. erect
ing larger and better buildings on their
farms, and also increasing their num-
Der of horses and farm machinery,
while several new descriptions were
added to the assessment roll by resi-
dents making final proof Of their home
steads. Only few years ago six or
seven first class homesteads could have
been secured almost anywhere in
Pierce county, and within five miles OF
the coutny seat, but at present there
are very few tracts of government
land remaining in the county, and they
are of little or no value In 1889 there
were but 7,06S acres under cultiva-
tion in Pierce county. In 1894 it had
increased to 1927; in 1899 there were
60.S66, and the assessors returns for
1904 show that the crop acreage has
increased to practically 100000 acres,
and as there is but 691 200 acres in the
county, this shows that considerably
over one-half of the accessible tillable
land is under cultivation, for it must
be remembered there are numerous
lakes in the county, some of which are
quite large, which cover large area,
as do also the numerous sloughs
which furnish the larger percentage
of hay used by the farmers Of the
county, and that there is great deal
has been placed on the market. The
increase in he value of property
show that values have been inflated by
sudden boom. The pioneers settled
here because the country promised
them good returns, and they have
stayed here because the promise has
been fulfilled. Likewise has been the
experience of those who came later.
They found the old settlers satisfied
with the country and decided to cast
their lot with them and have been we'll
paid for their decision. There is MOTH
ing which speak better for a country
than the fact that the pioneers are
satisfied with it, and that is the condi-
ton in Pierce county. Nearly all those
who settled here the first year after
the land was placed on the market
are still here and their farms are not
for sale because they expect to make
this country their home for the re-
mainder of their days. They reason
that all of this worlds goods which
they possess have been made from
the products of Pierce county soil, then
why should they turn their backs on
it and go to other places they have
not proved?
In travelling through Pierce county
only few years ago one would find
the prairie dotted with sod houses or
claim shacks which remained as relics
of the earlier days, but their places are
being rapidly filled by handsome farm
residences which would be credit to
any county in the state. The old sod
barns or straw covered sheds have
given place to large, we'll arranged
barns which furnish shelter for many
head of stock and provide storage room
for hundreds of bushels of grain and
feed. When the pictures of the past
and present are placed side by side
this comparison is aptly illustrated.
There has also been great develop
ment in the method of farming. While
the pioneer turned the virgin soil with
walking breaking pillow drawn by
yoke of oxen, and did it we'll if he
turned two acres daily, working until