The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-22
by n. vanderhon,

By H. V0nderhO6.
One of the creates displays of the agri-
cultural resources Of a state that was
made at the st. Louis worlds fair
was that OF the state of North Dakota.
Its exhibit In the palace of argricul-
ture was revelation to the millions
Of people who viewed II. and the litera-
ture that was handed out there and at
the state building aroused a general
interest in the state, and desire for
more information concerning it. I'm
doubtedly this exhibit and the public
ity thus gained have had much to do
with the surprising influx Of immi-
grants that the state is now enjoying.
AS the newcomers have settled they
have in turn written to their friends
of their success, and this in turn has
brought in many additional thousands.
But there is room for many millions
more in North Dakota. The state is
one Of those western giants whose
dimensions appear almost incredible
TO- dWellers in states east of the Miss
issippi. 1t is only by comparison that
some adequate idea of its immensely
can be formed. To- say that North
Dakota contains 70,195 square miles,
or a., go, $50 acres, does not mean
much to the average reader But tell
the reader that 1t 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 sreater part of this vast
area has never been scratched by the
plow. There are millions, upon mill
liens 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 thou
sands in the next few years. This
is not theory but demonstrated
fact. Of the thousands Of new settlers
that are every year pouring into the
state very large proportion are pay
ing for their land Out of the profits of
their first seasons crop, while many
OF them have handsome surplus In
addition. All that Is required Of man
is the ability and the. willingness to
labor. Nature, In its bounteousness,
does all the rest.
How Wealth IL Piling Up.
One must consider the immensely
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
a37,O7O, but 1t must be remembered
that large PERCENTAGE of this number
live In towns and cities, and therefore
cannot be classed with thu agricultur.
lists. And yet the value of the crops
produced on the farms of North Da-
kota. with the value of the live stock
sold and that still remaining on the
arms amounted in 1904 to the tremen-
dous total Of $128,S96, oil, or an aver
age 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 ben 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
production has never yet been equal
to the demand. Because of the bounti-
full yields of this cereal, the moderate
IInount OF labor required for its pro-
duction, and the immediate cash mar
ket that awaits it, 1t is the logical
crop for the majority OF North Dakota
farmers. In 1904, which Ia the last
year for which L have the official
figures. SO, S92, 1913 bushels of wheat
we're raised in the SKATE, and this
sold for $43,. 652,G16. This means that
many new settler in the state paid
Tor 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
farmer. During the same year the
state produced over 81 100000 bushels
of oats, nearly 100000 bushels of
barley, over RIGHTEOUSNESS Of flax
seed, the value. of the lattercrop being
s12. 947,413; nearly 100000 bushels
of potatoes, and a fraction under 2,O0O.-
900 bushels of corn. Its crop of hay
was valued at over 81 ,O0O, 900, ana its
shipments of livestock amounted to
s5'S54,732. In addition 1t sold dairy
products salued at $4,10O,O00.
This tremendous amount of wealth
was the product of 9.364,495 acres, or
approximately one-f1fth OF the states
domain. Is it any wonder that the
North Dakota farmer is satisfied with
his lot? There was a. time when the
state was a gold mine for the Eastern
money lenders, and when they had
millions invested in farm mortgages
that were paying them 10 and IL per
cent interest. That day has passed
nFanu naanP gInaapn sne