Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-12-07
MEMBER or ASSOCIATED, PRESS
IMMIGRATION Al i. WORK

4 iMNIGRATloN WORK
#s Col. G. w. Mott, immigration agent
of the Northern Pacific, has been at
jamestown getting some data for inn
migration literature. In an interyief
statement il the Alert he gives some
interesting phases Of his experience.
The Alert says: /.
New conditions, says Mr.. Mott, now
confront all those seeking to get new
settlers in this state. The old priVi-
7lega Of the roads to furnish transpor-
tation to advance agents of land seek
ers, and to land men themselves. has;
passed away. The Canadian govern
msnt and Canadian lands, cheaper in
price, are active competitors with the
roads and land owners on this side of
the line. An gr sE ss
Railroad emigrationrwork, since the
interstate commerce law has gone into
eject; is necessarily limited to efforts
80 create an interest in the various
localities where settlement is needed.
The interstate commerce law, while a
ine measure for the older settled
states in preventing discrimination in
freight and passenger rates operates
adversely to the settlement Of the new
sr states and territories in the west.
Railroad companies are not now
permitted to give free transported
60 land guides, to land lecturers, and
To various preliminary agencies chat
were employed In working up an in
terest in other states for settlement
i'm the northwest; or in any other part
nG he United States, where settlers
are needed. AS consequence there
has been a falling Off ii the number
OF land seekers going from the older
states to the newer settlements. Tb
offset this condition the local land men
themselves will have to perfect organ
izaIion and invest some money in get.
ting communities from the eastern
states interested RI
81 Another thing is necessary, the
price of land held by spectators, will
have to be reduced in many localities
or money raised to help bring farm
ers to inspect the land and to eneour
age buyers. Every farmer who has
waited for years in North Dakota fol-
his land to advance. observed Mr.
Mott. knows that it never raised a pc.
until people, land seekers from otheI
localities began to arrive and see TO
/ themselves what our lands will pro
5uee al s3.3
Immigration has been the one grea
agency that has raised land values
Tt is the only agency that will stil
further settle our unoccupied land
and get them under ploW. The Ian
man whose business is slack canno
4 expect 1T will ibe revived by simpl
waiting around the depot for stranger
TO get on the train.
We have all the advantages we eve
had for securing new settlers and th
prestnt currency stringency and desir
8 TO get secure investments, offers
fine lehanee for land men to show tn
eastern and middle state man wit
money that farming on our rich plair
Is a safer occupation than many bus
ness enterprises, and land inyestmen-
are about as substantial and sure
any in the world. III
The railroad companies have in "a
past done almost all the work OF ge
ting settlers to new localities. We
of the Missouri river along the ma
line sof the Northern Pacific six
seven years ago, there were not 4;
Told over 200 inhabi tants and nc
mere are 10000. This has been do
by the immi grafton work OF TIL Mort
ssgn Pacific Initiating the interest
the country through literature, "a
tsires, exhibits at fairs. and 9th
means. followed up by a number
i've real estate men west of the riy'
This is an indication OF what can
done ii any part of the state whe
saere Is uncultiYated land, or Ia
asefnl for stock raising
The farmer today Is the most I'M
pendent man In the country Il
lI1as mis- land paid for. he should ID
have his crops that are a Surplus 81
MIS- need OF d livelihood Mr.. NJ
points out that prices Of farm d
anets this year are nearly fifty j
seht higher than last year alfllol;
slss yield ii not as good. The prts
8wegey, more tSan make up Tor