The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-02-21
The Great Dakotas

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The greatness of the Dakotas can
not be appreciated until one comes in
actual contact with what they are do
ing, producing and contributing to
the wealth of the world. The three
great states of Minnesota and the Da-
kotas, together, comprise an empire
whose magnitude and possibilities are
not comprehended by many Of its own
people-much less by outsiders-until
brought in close touch with the ire
sistable current of its enormous traffic
and enterprise.
Judge Harlan, of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, certainly a man
of great perception and knowledge of
business affairs, seems, if anything,
more impressed with the magnitude of
our business, than with the Importance
of the cases, he, with others of the
commission, are now investigating.
At the close of me of the car shortage
sessions at Minneapolis the other
night, Mr.. Harlan is reported to have
said:
$50 vast, diverse and multitudinous
have been the issues raised in this in
vestigation and so wide-spreading
and compromising the information
gathered, that it is difficult to say in
a word just what impression I have
received. To my mind, however, the
one thing that has appealed most, and
still stands as predominant thought is
the wonderful power and Importance
of this country north and west of
Minneapolis, considered commercial
ly with reference to the United States
as a whole. :
This is the country, it seems to me,
that is going to do things from now
on. The investigation has presented
a panoramic view of it's resources, it's
people, it's wealth and possibilities,
that has made deep impression upon
my mind. 1 shall carry away convic-
ton that this part Of the country must
be looked to for great things in the
future.
"The investigation on the whole has
been beyond all expectations in devel-
oping facts of Importance. 1t would
have been unfortunate indeed, had we
not come here when we did, in view not
only of the pressing need for inquiry,
but also in view of the material gath
cred that must be of great valve to
the commission and the country as
we'll, relative to conditions in trans
portation, and causes and effects OF
anything that interferes with normal
traffic conditions"
"Going to do things from now on"
That is just it. We have been doing
things for some time, only much OF
the world, like Mr.. Harlan, does not
know it; and we have been doing some
OF these things wrong; but, from now
on, we are not only going to keep on
, doing things but many of them we are
T going to do better.
One thing, a very great many of us
are going to stop taking more out OF
our soil than We are putting back.
We are also going to stop growing SO
much Of one crop; and above all,
. growing SO many weeds with it. We,
! too, are going largely to stop putting
foul and weak seed into the ground
. when with good mills and intelligent
. work, we can just as we'll plant only
strong, vigorous, we'll selected and
? clean seed.
: Instead Of great ranches of cattle
; and sheep with no grain, and great
grain farms with no cattle or sheep,
:, we are going to have neither, but mix
: the grain and the stock till both stock
> and grain and the land they grow on
are better for it.
! If this country has astonished the
world with its haphazzard and early
day methods, when we turn our atten-
ton in earnest to building up soil and
, seed, and blending our great produc-
tive interests so that each may bring
out the very best that is in the other
what" u admiring friends may
we'll ask, ''what will the harvest be?'-
Dakota Farmer.