The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-12
IVES WARD no.
IN NORTH |DAKO1 A
LAND RICH AND cIIEAP--oAPAoI.
TIES BoUNDLEss.
Flsod Of New Settlers Pouring Into the
Western Portion Of the State Old
Unfounded Prejudices Dying Out
The Dunkards as Guides to Good
Land. r.
a. HERaERT vANpERHot,.ot.,F.


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 consideration-that is,
the Red river valley. must confess that,
until came here and travelled over the
state and saw the Astounding prosperity
that is so visible on every hand, had
the same conception OF conditions But
| now / know differently. is
The Red River valley, it may be said for
the information Of those who may not be
| posted on it's geographical details, is
| section Of territory extending 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,
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 de.
Delta Of the Nile,'' and the term is fully
justified. .aAs a consequence of this agri-
cultural richness the two most Important
cities of the state Fargo and Grand Forks,
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. ID
| But what takes the attention Of every
visitor to these two cities is the tremen-
Edous extent Of the trade they seem to:
enjoy. 1t is safe to state that 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 description they carry are out Of
all proportion to- the citys size Espe-
cially is this true of agricultural impie-
nents1 Of every description. In which the
%,~1 e{SS nj q
If state Of amazement at first exists
in the visitors mind. It is removed when
he finds that these two cities are practi-
cally handling the trade-of one OF the
they do not enjoy this without competi-
ton, but the people Of North Dakota are
a loyal people to their own. and the mer-
chant from outside. generally holds no
show unless he can offer inducem ents.
-. A Monopoly Of DEVELOPMENT.
This tier of counties of which, I have
been speaking for many years has monop-
olzed the development OF the state New
corners would perhaps take look at lands
in the jim valley, which is Immediately
, west, and in some cases would even go
: to the Missouri slope, still farther west.
! which are the three great agricultural
divisions of the state But almost IN IN
, would return to- the Red River valley and
} take up lands the productiveness OF
which had been proved and Of which no 70
7
s.! pay a price for these lands, but, com
), pared to- the prices Of lands where they
+ came from, the, price seemed mere
Always; however; there were a few ad-
the nominal prices aof the lands farther
west, and who were perhaps better judges
# wsat tn a9s sns dae e9en Gf
p far western and-northern counties began
i. to have a faha sprinkHng Psefa population
and this on land that could hardly find q
purchaser at the most insignificant prices
good. and presently the stories began t
/ be circulated about first one county and
then: another Of the wonderful return.
the farmers were getting from land thai
had been accounted largely worthless:
i Also, 1t began to: become a matter o.
general knowledge that previous miscon.
teeptions about the character Of this ,coun:
try were wholly matters OF hearsay. @ant
based on ignorance. Arid and semi-arit
regions were found to have as abundant
rainfall. and an even more temperate eli
mate than the famed Red River valley
slope, IN the extreme western and north
fern part Of the state; it was demon
strated by the observations of the United
of ten years, that the supposedly arctic
winters were in reality 10 degrees warmel
for. that period than the winters In tn,
Red River valley. + =,
. "WestWard Ho" March Begins.
And then began the march WESTWARD
extreme northern tier OF counties, ant
which was principally peopled by tn
Dunkards, began a stream Of immigration
to the west. Towner, -Rolette, Bottineau
invaded by this sect and made to blossom
like the rose The railways began t,
build little branch lines to care for tn
tremendous tonnagehsthat these peopl
| oFfA rs<,cr tfoon md f06o
no more prosperous part Of the state
Fl considering the extent Of population.
And right here It IS IN order to say
: few words for, the good the Dunkard
have done to the state Of North Dakota
A people Of the most simple habits, alb
juring strife and ostentation in life, liv
Ing. as closely as $. 1. is given to nan,kin'
proved a most tremendous, factor In tn
states development, ~, -.
In the first place i is an axiom IN tn
state that q Dunkard + the best Judge .
many a farmer say: when some ma
would be running down the merits Of thi
or, that section: ta.. .i.
We'll, if it suits the Dunkards it wi
j. 9 But it is notsonly that. This same ma
X. knows, and every other Qakotan knows
that when he moves into a Dunkard com
munity on earth. Honest, Woodworking
II abstetnious peHcefh, charitable, and Go
!. serving they have become cherishe
!: factor in the life Of the state. The Ia,
courts are never bothered by them, an
jails are an unnecessary luxury as ia
as they are concerned. @a sz.Is @.
+ With the extensions OF the branch line
Of railways the great trend of immigra
| ton is now, and must continue to be fc
! some years, toward the sparsely settle
western counties of the state. This sec
ton has been made accessible, and II
richness has within the past few year
/ been proved. It Is one Of the richest agri
cultural districts outside OF the Red rive
valley in the country. It will grow croI
Of wheat, year after year, without fer
where For diversified agriculture, pota
Itoes and all root crops. It's like does nc
exist. The land is we'll wa tered, and alon
the water courses is heavily tirnberet
I And in addition this entire country Wee
Il of the Missouri river Is the Ideal cattl
and hog raising section OF the state, Will
it's fertile fields and pastures have onl
to be scraped for few feet TO reves
beds of Ignite that are inexhaustible.
Wheat and Live Stock.
Wheat growing and cattle and hog .rai
ing >are destined to be for q few. yea
the great industries OF this section. II
| grasses are of the most nutritious possib
chara cter but this is only natural whe
it is remembered that this country WI
3 formerly the great grazing ground Of Il
millions of buffalo that roarned our ives
ern prafries some years ago. Hog raisir
is also king pid strides since 1t hs
been demonstrated that North Dakota co
grow corn as we'll as other states. Il SO 4
Of the thousands OF immigrants wi