The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1906-04-07

from his first seasons crop. did it, and
something more. It's the greatest coun-
try in the world for wheat, oats, fax and
corn. For potatoes and other root crops
l never saw anything to equal it. What
do you think of 27o bushels of potatoes to
the acre? That's what averaged on 20
acres, and l never saw finer in my life.
Some of these potatoes would weigh 60
pounds, and they were firm, clear and
white right to the heart. A good many
OF my early potatoes l marketed at s1.75
bushel."
Certainly these were good reasons, and
they are generally the same ones that are
bringing this great food of new settlers
into the state. And then, again, the peo-
pie generally are getting to have better
knowledge of the state and conditions
here. There used to be a general i'm
preston that North Dakota was princi-
pally noted for its billiards. AS a mat
ter of fact, the climate in winter on the
Missouri slope will average 10 degrees
warmer than it does in the eastern part
of the state and in the Red river valley.
AS rule, cattle can winter on the range
without danger, and can procure an
abundance of food
GREAT COUNTRY FOR CATTLE.
This country was formerly the grazing
ground of the buffalo, and its pasture
lands produce the finest and most nutri-
tious grasses that are known. In the
winter time if there is any snow the cat
tie will paw it away and get down to
these cured grasses. But now that the
country is filling up it will be only few
years when the big ranges will all be cut
up, and as it is now the small farmer
generally houses his stock. Then again,
North Dakota is going in for blooded
stock, and the dairy interests of the state
are steadily growing. The farmers have
found that few good milk producers are
source of profit, and creameries exist
by the thousands.
The fuel question never troubles the
people on the Missouri slope. The
mines might shut down for year, as far
as North Dakota is concerned, and the
state would never feel it. This whole
Missouri slope country is underlaid With
the finest quality of Ignite, and when the
farmer needs fuel he just scrapes off a
flew feet tof earth and digs OFT &,shat. he
needs. If he doesn't feel like digging he
can buy all he wants for about 90 cents a
ton. An extensive industry has sprung
up in the state in the making of bri-
quettes of Ignite. The latter is put
through process that takes away all the
slack and the remainder is pressed into
forms. This is the fuel that the indus
tries of the state get their steam and
power from.
There are plenty of lands yet remain
ing in the state that can be taken up
under the homestead law, and some mil
lions of acres that have been set aside for
the endowment fund of the public
schools. These latter are being sold at
intervals, and eventually the state will
have magnificent endowment for pur-
poses of education. Under the law these
lands cannot be sold under stated price
per acre, but, as rule, they have sold at
a price considerably over the minimum
fixed. These sales have to be advertised
in advance, and they always attract an
eager crowd of buyers and the bidding
is brisk and exciting.
RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN STATE.
The state of North Dakota started on
career of development that is amazing
to the newcomers. The railways of the
state appreciated the fact a few years ago
and at once began to plan extensions of
their lines. Last year the state had more
miles of new track laid than any other
state in the Union had. But, no matter
how fast the lines were laid down, the
settlers were there, and the prairie of to-
day was the new town tomorrow. A
good illustration of how the state has
forged ahead is found in the Northern
Pacific railway. This road earned in the
six months ending Dec. 81, 1872, s547,-
o26. For the six months ending Dec. 81,
1905, it earned S32,2o4,ooo. At the rate
the state is advancing the road ten years
from now should be earning $4,000 ooc
in six months, if not more