The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-01
WARD A GREAT
COUNTY
That Western Empire Capable Of Sup.
porting Population Of l40,-
Souls-All the Towns Booming.

porting Population Of 14O,.
SOuls-All the Towns Booming.
It is probable that no part OF the
rapidly developing northwest has
made a record equal to or even ap-
proximating that of Ward county. And
Ward county means region almost
equal to modern empire and fully
as large as many of those of ancient
times which left their names indelli-
bly, chiseled In the historic 1nonu-
ments of the ages. With an approx
mate area of 1000 square miles, it
could support population of 100000
souls, allowing one family of five to
each quarter. The county is new as
yet, but on nearly every quarter of the
boundless prairies is located u claim
shack or the more commodiOus
dwelling of the homesteader who
means to stay with his wealth. This
has not always been SO, however.
Five years ago the immigrant COM
Ing to North Dakota was told that
Ward county, and for that matter, all
the western part of the state, was an
arid region that would never pro-
yduce crop. In defiance of these
pessimistic predictions, the land was
taken up, and the sfrst attempts to
raise crops proved that the prophets
OF failure We're not inspired. With
the marketing Of these crops came a
rush of homeseekers that has had few
parallels in the settlement of the great
west. They did not seek the towns
nor attempt to lure fortune by in,
vesting in town lots at boom prices,
They went out on the prairie and.
homesteaded government land. They
built claim shacks and began the Gull
ttvatiOn of the land. Many of them
were poor. Many had fought the BIT
ter fight against poverty, and even
want. elsewhere and had failed. They
therefore, thoroughly appreciated the
golden opportunities in their new
homes. They were Industrious and
frugal, and these qualities soon trans
formed the wilderness into land of
plenty and dotted 1t with hundreds Of
coy homes. The wolf has forever
passed from the door, and smiling
plenty is found everywhere. All this
1s the story of a few short years, but
1t does not tell all the story of pro-
gress and development of that por-
ton of the richest state in the union.
AS the country was settled and de-
yelOped, there arose an imperative de-
mand for its cOunterpart-the build
Ing of towns and the establishment
OF businesses to accommodate this
busy population. To supply material
for the transformation Of such an area
MOm the hunting ground of the In
dian to the cereal producing farm re-
CURED farm machinery and supplies
that would seem almost incOmpre-
hensible. But men of large business
foresight met the emergency. and the
result Is that the country is dotted
everywhere with prosperous towns
and villages. These are filled to over.
flowing with merchants who have
made fortunes from the enormous
trade the development of the country
has produced.
Minot Is conceded to be the metro
polls, not only of Ward county, but
OF the northwestern part of the state.
It certainly has all the advantages
necessary to make a city, and it is
Just as certainly using every one of
them to the best purpose The city
itself strikes the newcomer as being
In a class entirely by ITSELF Its
streets have yet the landmarks of
the new frontier town. Small houses,
shacks covered with tar. paper, hast
lily constructed wooden buildings, are
found everywhere. And side by side
with these is the newer Minot,- the
Minot of the present. Business blocks
that would be q credit to cities many
times its size line its principal streets
with here and there an occasional re-
minder of the old order of things ~
q wagon shanty with the wheels re-
moved, or remodeled claim shack
serving for thriving business place.
But the spirit Of progress and enter
prise Is In the air. The stranger feels
1t the moment he reaches the city
There Is prosperity on every hand
Men talk it, the bushes houses prove
70 and everybody acts it. The new Or
der of things is fast becoming the
only one. i,ls.s3 ..,s.
The railroad advantages possessed
by the city as well as its geographical
location makes 1t the coming metro-
polls of the northwestern part of the
state. and it will rapidly forge TO
the front as one of the important COM
mercial centers of the northwest.
II There are other good towns in the
county, among which are Kenmare,
Bowbells, Donnybrook, Carpio, Sher-
wood. Mohall and Glenburn: These
are f1ourishinga towns in the center
of rich farming sections, and have
splendid business facilities. \
& One of the great advantages pos
sessed by Ward county and some of
the counties south of it, is the almost
tnexhaustable beds of coal that under
lie large portion of the surface. 1t
must be admitted that the country
with long, severe winters as a wealth.
ser characteristic, which is in close
proximity to. cheap fuel possesses Inn
mense advantages over the one not
30 advantageously situated. This is
certainly true of, Ward county, and
while the fuel is not yet an article Of
general use, 1t possesses many ele-,
ments that make it one OF the fuels
Of the near future, and will be adapted
to steaming purposes in the course
OF time. This latter, will make the
western part of the state to a large
extent a manufacturing community,
and by this diversity OF Industries
push the entire state on to greater
prosperity. VI at .5l s &.
MOUSE RIVER LOOP. .S
"A SecfiOn AZ COuntrv ~ tha Wneforr