Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-02-14

North Dakota Magazine: One of the
best indications of the future prosper
ity Of this state is the tremendous In
flux of farmers from the middle states
adjoining North Dakota. When the
best farmers from Illinois, Indiana,
thronging to this state it shows that
agricultural industry is taking deep
root and in short time this country's
agricultural productions will be doub-
led and probably trebled. The class
that is coming is composed of sturdy,
Industrious and experienced farmers
who bring with them improved and
more careful methods of farming.
These men appreciate the character OF
the soil and recognize its producing
and lasting qualities. Many of these
men are taking up hoflesteads and
buying few sections adjoining. 9th
ers are buying school lands of the state
or purchasing direct from the large
land interests.
1t does not require any argument to
demonstrate that the Eastern farmer
will not abandon the land on WHICH
he has lived for years unless he ca
poets to better his condition. When he
comes to North Dakota and finds that
he can buy better land here than he
is tilling in the farther eastern states
for anywhere from $40 an acre up he
Immediately sells his $500 to $3.50 an
acre land and buys from seven to-eight
times as much land in North Dakota.
1t is simply business proposition,
which he is not slow to grasp. 1t is
something more, however, to the farm.
to largely increase his income during
the years his children are growing to
manhood and womanhoOd, to crafty
himself and them with many luxurie:;
and necessities that have been hereto
fore out Of his reach, and above all to
give them the best education. These
are considerations that are every day
taking from the middle West some OF
It's best citizens and that are peopling
the great stretches of North Dakota
prairie and causing towns 10 spring up
all over the vast expanse OF the state.
And yet so tremendous in extent is the
state and so sparse is the population
in comparison to its acreage that it
will be many years before it will have
a density of population anywhere equal
to the Middle Western states.
Estimating the population ct the
ia No,
this vast sum would give an average
for every man, woman and child in the
state of about $l65. The value OF
live stock, dairy products and other
crops would increase the per capita
to considerably over $500.
Land that can he bought for $40 all
acre and that will grow thirty bushels
Of wheat per acre does not beg fol-
purchasers. The men who are flock
Ing to North Dakota now are men WHO
have fully investigated the possibili
ties of the country and who can sec
the surety of fortune that awaits Them
by getting III early. Every man that
Gas settled III the state during the past
few years has become an active agent
in one of the greatest propagandas
that has ever taken phase in this coun
try. The stories Of success that they
have written to their old homes, or by
the visible evidence of 1t that they
have exhibited Oh their occasional
visits, have stirred up the ambitions
of their old friends and caused a feel
ing of discomfort with their ctrcum
scribed lot.
There is nothing circumscribel in
the life OF the farmer in North Dakota
When the price of land can be cleared
with the sale of the first seasons crop
it follows that they are generally pros
porous. They are. The North Dakota
farmer lives one of the most comfort
able and easy lives of any farmer on
earth. Wheat culture takes the mini
mum of labor, and after the crop Is
harvested the farmer has abundant
leisure time to himself. Many of them
are great travellers, devoting the win
ter months to visits to the East and
South and taking their families with
| lucIll. lucy buh ttutoAioOAASs, NAA'S
the best horses ii they are inclined to
horseaesh, and are going in heavily for
blooded cattle and hogs. The state is
becoming one of the great dairy states
of the Union, and, with the increase of
wealth and the elevation of the stand
ards of herds, It's increase In this branch
of agriculture ia going 10 bring many
additional millions into the state each
year.
The great railway development that
has been going on in the state for the
past few years has brought many adj.
ditional millions of acres OF land with
in easy reach Of the railways. and
consequently into a position where
they can be cultivated and their crops
marketed at minimum Of expense.
The great system of roads that trav-
erse the state are pushing their
feeder lines in all directions, ana when
their comprehensive plans have been
completed there will be few sections OF
the state that are rot within few
MANY RAILS ARE BROKEN.