The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-05-11
WESTWARD no. IN NORTH DAKOTA
Land Rich and Capacities loundless- Of New
Settlers povrns Into the Western Portion Of the State

There is sort of superstitious belief
on the part of many of the new men
who are coming to the state of North
Dakota that there is only one section
of the state that is worthy of consid-
eration-that is, the Red River valley.
l must confess that, until came here
and Travelled over the state and saw
tn eabounding prosperity that is so
visible on every hand, had the same
conception of conditions. But now l
know differently.
The Red River valley, it may be
seid for the information of those who
may not be posted on it's geographical
details, is section of territory ex-
tending north and south along the
eastern border of North Dakota, and
which Is from two to three counties
in width from east to west There is
no question about the fact that richer
soil does not exist in the country, and
this section of the state has been
quite thic]lly settled up. The richness
of the soil and it's close proximity to
the markets of st. Paul and Mime
apolis have, of course, been potent
means in it's development. They call
it up here second Delta of the Nile"
and the term is fully justified. AS a
consequence of this agricultural rich
ness the two most important cities of
the state, Fargo and Grand Forks,
both on the extreme eastern border,
have sprung into being. Neither one
is what would be called in the east
city of the first class, but both are
what are called by every visitor citias
Of unexpected beauty and enterprise.
But what takes the attention Of ev-
cry visitor to these two cities is the
tremendous extent of the trade they
they do trade that in the aggregate
will exceed in volume from five to ten
times that of any other city of the
north, per capita of population. Their
stores are of the most modern, and
the stocks of goods of every descrip-
ton th0y carry are out of all proper
ton to the city's size. Especially is
this true of agricultural implements of
every description, in which the trade
is simply amazing.
II state of amazement at first ex-
lists in the visitors mind, it is re-
moved when he finds that these two
cities are practically handling the
trade of one of the richest states of
the Union. OF course. they do not
enjoy this without competition, but
the people Of North Dakota are
loyal people to their own, and the
merchant from outside generally holds
no show unless he can offer induce
ments.
A Monopoly Of Development.
This tier Of counties of which
have been speaking for many years
has monopolized the development of
the state. Newcomers would perhaps
take look at lands in the Jim valley,
which is Immediately west, and in
some cases would even go to the Mis-
souri, slope, still farther west, which
are the three great agricultural divi-
sions Of the state. But almost inva-
riably, until the past few years, they
would return to the Red River valley
and take up lands, the productiveness
of which had been proved and of
which no doubt existed. OF course,
they had to pay a price for these
lands, but compared to the prices of
lands where they came from, the price
seemed mere bagatelle.
Always, however, there were few
spirits who were attract
ed by the nominal prices of the lands
farther west and who were perhaps
better judges of what the land was
really capable of. Hence, in time the
central and even the far western and
northern counties began to have fair
sprinl1ling of population, and this on
land that could hardly find pur-
chaser at the most Insignificant prices.
But they proved that their judgment
was good, and presently the stories
began to be circulated about first one
county and then another of the won
derful returns the farmers were get
ting from land that had been account
ed largely worthless.
Also, it began to become a matter
of general knowledge that previous
about the character Of
this country were wholly matters of
hearsay, and based on ignorance. Arid
and semi-arid regins were found to
have as abundant rainfall, and an
even more temperate climate than the
famed Red River valley could boast
of. Why, out on the Missouri slope,
in the extreme western and northern
part of the state, it was demonstrated
by the observations of the United
States weather bureau, covering a Pc
Rod of ten years, that the supposedly
arctic winters were in reality 10 de-
grees warmer for that period than the
winters in the Red River valley.
"Westward Ho" March Begins.
And from then began the march
westward no." From the county of
Cavalier, in the extreme northern
tier of counties, and which was prin-
cipally peopled by the Dunkards, be-
gan stream of immigration to the