The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-10-02
{. B. La COUNT WRITES
TO iowa ABOUT BEMlDJ|
Gives Interesting Narrative About Local
Conditions and the Prospective
Growth Of the City.


Writing in answer to request by
The Gazette, f. B. La Count, who is
recreating in the far north, writes
from Bemidji, Mimi, as follows:
The license you so thoughtlessly
gave my pen is about to become re-
sponsible for another chapter of
trouble for your compositors. You
told Newell never mind about
particulars! Ignorance of one
more coy secret will not give even
an obstreperously linguistic world
unmitigated misery. 1t is our privi-
ledge to imagine that we know a
thing or two concerning which all
creations besides is innocent.
Have you heard about Bemidji?
No. Well, you may brace yourself
to endure some impending know
ledge. Other than Missourians
want to know. Bemidji is situated
on the southwestern curve of ditto
lake and near the southern line of
Beltrami county, which in area,
ranks third in Minnesota, measuring
one hundred and forty miles north
and south by ifty-four miles east
and west, this county makes several
states wonder why their youth was
not more devoted to growth in size
as we'll as in population. Some east
ern localities are 50 congested that
people have to stand on one leg side
wise in order to realize that they
are, American sovereigns. When
western states were carved accom-
mediation was provided which would
afford millions ample room to avoid
bumping-although even in the west
people sometimes get bumped.
When you come to think of it,
Minnesota is quite some in size
about one-third as large again as
New England. Eighty-four thousand
square miles make a big patch of
land.
Beltrami possesses the distinction
of extending farther toward the
north pole than any other county in
the United States of America and
Bemidji, hoopla! is the county seat.
Nine years ago this was typical
post for trappers, Indians and
umber-jacks; now it is a hustling,
hourishing town of 5000 souls.
Born of the numbering industry it
has three sawmills, (the largest
having weekly output of 100000
feet), two lath mills with a capacity
of a million lath per week, and
single mill which turns out shingles
in a Gathering stream that browns
conception figures.
AS lumbermen are inhabited by
thirsty souls, there is brewery and
twenty-seven saloons, these suds
dispensaries being mildly offset by
eight churches-the saloons having
much the better of it in attendance
and enthusiasm. Good buildings,
wide streets, cement walks, electric
light and water plant and a get
there spirit prophesy we'll for the
future. Every person in town is
pulling and pushing with sleepless
vim and vigor that probably will
spell victory. This bashful seer
will predict that Bemidji will be the
big town of this section ere many
years have wasted their wains adown
the lane of time. Three railroads
converge here and there is talk of
another north and south line that
will tap a wide area of timber land
and incidentally boost Bemidji. Too
many cooks spoil the broth but no
town ever was hurt by too many
railroads.
Streets are somewhat disheveled
just now, and buildings uncertain as
to attitude, owing to the installation
of sewer and water pipes and the
establishment of a fixed grade. Every
one here has sand-in the shoes,
but paving is a certainty in the
immediate future, for the town is
determined to be up to date in every
way. A street railway is franchised
and located, work to be commenced
when people and things thaw out in
the spring.
One peculiar feature of this burg
is the prevalence of pine trees in
streets, parks and yards, grand old
Norway pines predominating. This
N~r,uox, &c >oo &c +bo Co.., A-oo. 49,