The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-17
WESTWARD no TO
THE LAND Of
PLENTY
Western North Dakota Fast
Filling With a Thrifty
Glass of People.
Herbert Vanderhoof. in Minneapolis
JOurnal1


Herbert Vanderhoof. in Minneapolis
JOurnal1
There is a sort of superstitious be-
lief on the part of many of the new
men who are coming to the state of
North Dakota that there is only one
section ofthe state that is worthy of
consideration-that is, the Red river
valley. | must confess that, until
came here and travelled over the state
and saw the Astounding prosperity that
same conception of conditions. But
now l know differently.
The Red River valley, it may be said
for the information of those who may
not be posted on it's geographical de-
tails, is section of territory extend
ing 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 ques-
ton about the fact that richer soil
does not exist in the country, and this
section of the state has been quite
thickly settled up. The richness of
the soil and its close proximity to the
markets of st. Paul and Minneapolis
have, of course, been potent means in
its development They call it up here
a second Delta of the Nile" and the
term is fully justified. As conse-
1uence of this agricultural richness
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 a
city of the first class, but both are
what are called by every visitor cities
of unexpected beauty and enterprise.
But what takes the attention of
every visitor to these two cities is
the tremendous extent of the trade
they seem to enjoy. 1t is safe to state
that they do trade that in the ag-
Sregate 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 de-
scription they carry are out of all pro-
portion to the city's size. Especially
is this true of agricultural implements
of every description. in which the trade
is simply amazing.
If a state of amazement at first ex-
lists in the visitors mind. it is removed
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 with
out competition, but the people of
North Dakota are loyal people to
their own. and the merchant from out
side generally holds no show unless
he can offer inducements.
A Mopopoly Of Dexe1opm.rt.
rrh;s +;or of oo,,,t,o. 80 -,
hoon snaa,,ina Gov So, 80 ' a.,
,,onona,;aaa b. ,o,,aIa'. ~.
s.ota Man,ao' on u ,',o.,,l ea., VI Ile
- iooi. ~ 1"n1n y, ~, "o 1:. pnape .aNe
s t ;nd; .S ~ e,e jim valley, which
-, ,s'o,'ia a,.o.. VS., anu , ~ souie eases
It'll s,rtha, &c. vht "naot 49,, siope'
sraa+ an,.;a,,t,,nn, d;,,;a;a d. 'ne 'hIee
stota d. aI,,,nst ;,,,.a,,;nl,is, u, t nc
nast fon, vo a thn,, , tay' un.i. 'ne
~ s d. p;,,a,. ~ ',,, rn "1u,u ie.uin "
he nrod,at;,,o pa s anu ,, ;ahe w Janus
nroved onJ of ,.hioh ~ VIII i,e',,,I iau oeen
p po ae', anu ~ ~ " ny ~ uouo. eAisteu:
49, So"i go my ~ a"u ~ pas price lor
. .msse i ns ,n pu.; eohiyaieu W tne
~ p,lees s; VI ANUS %heie tney came ifom'
ZIG ptiee seeineu mere oaeateile.
,..a amays' noMe we. .leie were re"
a,i eii t,, Splits VINO were at,rac.-
Gu go. ny .ae nollinai prices ol the lahos
1,a...,,
pel!ei JUDGES Oh wnat tne iand was
central and even tho for u,astar,, .n5
northern counties began to have a fair
sprinkling of population. and this on
land that could hardly find a nurchas-
er at the most insignificant prices.
But they proved that their Judgment
was good, and presently the stories be-
gan 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
misconceptions about the character of
this country were wholly matters of
hearsay, and based on ignorance. Arid
and semi-arid regions were bound to
have as abundant rainfall. and an even
more temperate climate than the fam
ed 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 period of
ten years, that the supposedly arctic