Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-02-28
TRUE CONDITIONS
IN NORTH DAKOTA

IN NORTH DAKOTA
Farmers and Business Men Join in
Denying Exaggerated Tales.
| The Northwestern North Dakota led
Grafton. representing the agricultural and
business interests of that portion of North
Dakota, was formed at Minot, N. D.. Feb.
22, 1907, for the purpose of making a
thorough investigation. including the coun-
ties of Ward. Bottineau. Mclean. Williams
McHenry and Mckenzie. and reporting
to the press and general public.
The organization was formed for the
purpose of making searching investiga-
ton and conhning its report to the facts
alone. reporting deaths if any. endured by
the townspeople and country residents the
fuel shortage question, the traffic bio ckades.
depth of snow, extent Oh cold and matters
appertaining to the past winter in North
Dakota aud particularly to the counties
mentioned above.
Delegates from Mckenzie and Williams
counties reported that rs these two count-
ies are probably the last in the state to be
taken up by hometseaders, the trials Of
the winter weather probably fell more
heavily upon their settlers than upon those
of any other county of the state. Many of
them came to this section last fall from
the eastern and southern states with less
than 500 in their pockets. Through lack
of funds they were unable to buy sufficient
lumber with which to build more than
single board shacks with tar paper cover
ings. They were unable to buy sufficient
clothing to protect their own bodies and
even went hungry to bed for lack of food
many times. They suffered of course, as
they would have suffered in any other
state in the union.
Among the older class of settlers, or
those who had raised one crop or more,
no suffering of any kind occurred. Two
deaths from freezing were reported.'
Early in the winter, before the snow came,
a young man living near the Canadian
boundary line was found five feet away
from the door of neighbor, who lived
some eight miles from the young mans
claim. His cap, coat, overshoes and nit
tells were n.iss;rS from tic yourg mans
body and the conclusion arrived at was
that he had become demented, and while
in that condition and wandered off in the
night. The other case was that of yourgiady
While driving across the country in COM
pany with two other girls and "A young
man, an accident happened which fright
ened the horses and caused them to run
away tipping the entire party out. I.eav-
ing the girls, the young man went for the
team. When he returned two girls only
were to be found. The other had become
frightened and started off alone III an en-
deavor to reach home. Her body was
not found until the following morning.
Owing to the great deposites OF coal and
heavy growth of timber along the Mis-
soure river, the fuel shortage reported in
some sections did not effect them.
1t is reported that from Williston Is
rural routes radiate in all directions 60
miles crossing the Missouri river into
Mckenzie county. The reports sent to
Washington show that but one delivery on
+ one rout only had been missed during the
winter.
From the stock growing districts of Nc
kcnzie county it was reported that thou
sands of head of horses and cattle were
wintering in the brakes and on the prair-
les along the river streams and that the
| loss from cold or exposure would be no
greater if as great, as in. past years.
Lengthy reports we're made; putting
forth the fact that the immense yield of
grain had handicapped the railroads to
. such an extent that cars could not be had
for the purpose of shipping in supplies;
that the elevators had become filled with
: grain which could not be moved to market
, There were no deaths form freezing re-
ported in this'localty.
The delegates from the western part of
Ward county and from McHenry county
were unanimous in their statement that
there had been practically no suffering
whatsoever from the severity of the win
) ter, and that there has been but one case
of person freezing to death in this sec
ton of the state. The case is that of a.
woman. past 70 years of age, who resided
on claim near Ryder, in Mclean county,
about IS miles south of Minot The
woman was sick with pneumonia and was
left alone in her shack while her nephew
came to Minot for medical aid. When he
returned to the claim he found that his
aunt had frozen to death by reason that
she was helpless In this case there was
plenty of fuel ana provisions in the shack
While in some ot the outlayins towns
; there was a scafclt. OF fuel, in the early
part of December there was no suffering
as consequence and when the author
tiles took notice ot tie fact that there
would be a fuel famine in their locality
unless aid came 10 them within short
! time. they appeaIsd to legislative and
congressional representatives and also to
the railroads, Which appeal resulted in
getting the district; most in need before
. there was any actual .ultering.
ol In Minot there had been a plenty of
everything at all times. This section of
, North Dakota did not have what is gener-
ally termed a blizzard during the entire
} wiEter. From Dec. q to Feb 7, the
weather was cold-unusuaIly so--but on
, any day during that time the farmers
were able to get to town by reason of the
fact that there was very little wind and