The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1906-09-08
About Hettinger County.

Following are extracts of Hettinger
county write-up which appeared in the
Forum on Sept. 3:
Revived activity began in eastern
Stark county two years ago and the
country south of Richardton up to sec
ton 20, township 1877, was settled up.
From the latter point to the South Da-
kota line there was only an occasional
rancher. At the present time seventeen
townships in the northeastern half of
Hettinger county are all settled up.
According to the records of the U. S.
land office at Dickinson there have been
1000 homestead entries made in Hct-
finger county since June 1, 1901. Out Of
that number the VIM. H. Brown Co. has
located 535, in addition to large numbers
OF settlers who have bought choice tracts
which that firm had for sale. In the
majority of instances the new settlers
have minimum holdings of $50 acres and
this year these holdings have been added
to.
The south central part of the county
reaching out to the south fork OF the
Cannon Ball river is attracting the atten-
ton of prospective buyers and home
steaders. One inducement besides the
proven richness and productivencss of
the soil is the proposed c., NJ. & St. Paul
Co.'S extension from Evarts to the coast
and there the Brown company has re-
Gently secured the sale of three town
slips and in addition there will be con-
siderable business done in locating set
tiers on homesteads. Another railroad
attraction which prospective settlers see
as means for the convenient shipment
of their products is the proposed eXten-
sion OF the Northern Pacific from Man
dan and which is presumed will go
through Mott. The stakes are set within
eighteen miles of the town. A week or
SO ago there was crew of twenty-five
engineers camped near Mott. lnfurma
ton is given out that the line is to be
surveyed along the north fork of the
Cannon Ball from the east side of the
county and the survey party is now more
than two miles west of Mott. SO far,
little has been done in the settlement OF
the western half of Hettinger county, but
few holdings have been secured in
southwestern and southeastern corners
of the county where it is said there are
exceptionally fertile tracts.
What thorough and good farming will
accomplish may be cited in the instance
of a thrifty farmer from Wisconsin, Ma! =
tin Van Veghel, who secured his hold
ings in the summer of 1904, and with Lis
family began work in the spring of 1oo-,
farming that year just 100 acres, anu
from which he raised $500 worth of
grain. practically paying for his land.
Last fall he built substantial and COM
Portable eight-room house. This year e
is farming 200 acres and in addition has
broken 100 acres After the harvest e
of his crops this year he will proceed
with the erection of large barn which is
estimated to cost 81 800. So far he has
devoted himself to the raising of small
grains and little corn. He is Hol.
Under and thoroughly irnbued with the
idea that thorough cultivation will bring
good returns. Large numbers of settlers
farmed at least seventy-fve acres after
the arrival of spring and reap'd salts
factory returns. The roads which are
generally good run on section lines ;,n'
it has become common rule for scttlc.:
to pillow liberal fire guards. The plant
ing of trees has also become quite gen
eral. Grazing for cattle and horses is
particularly good and nutritious. A
number Of the new comers have hac
splendid success with fruit trees.