The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-09-27
IMMIGRATION, DRAINAGE,
DEVELOPMENT, MEETING
Large Gathering OF North Country People at Court House
Hall Last Evening. Meeting Addressed by Prominent
State Officials and Others

George A. Ralph, state drainage
engineer; George Welch, commits
sioner of the new state immigration
bureau; G. G. Hartley of Duluth,
one of the most vigorous boosters"
of the north country that lives in
this section; Congressman Halvor
Steenerson, Frank Ives of Cass Lake
and others. 4 ,.e~-
The entire party were taken to
the fair grounds, Immediately after
rendezvouing at the Markham.
The grounds were nicely lighted
with torches and lanterns, and the
main building was in elegant condi.
ton for the reception of visitors.
In the building were many ex-
hibits of very fine vegetables, grains,
grasses, corn, etc., and when the
visiting delegation beheld the pro.
ducts of the north country, placed
before them in undeniable evidence,
their expressions of wonder were as
music in the ears of those present
who have been endeavoring to i'm
press the state officials and others
of the wonderful producing qualities
of the northern Minnesota soil; and
Frank Day, the governors private
secretary, and who is a product of
the south half of the state, exclaimed
reverentiaIly, The half has ne'er
been told."
After an inspection of the wonder
full results from tickling the soil, the
spaztstwass "a .se 49, Is court i1ou sc,
where large crowd had assembled
to hear the speeches..
Representative Opsahl acted as
chairman of the meeting, and A. C.
Rutledge, secretaryof the fair associ-
alton, acted as secretary.
Mr.. Opsahl stated briefly the object
of the meeting BOOSTING" of north
ern Minnesota interests, and urging
drainage of lands. ~
Frank A: Day, as the official
representative of Governor Johnson,
was the first speaker.
~ Mr.. Day explained that it was
impossible for the governor to be
present; and that he would attempt
to fill in the gap.
Mr.. Day stated that he lived in
the south half of the state, and that
what he had seen on this trip had
been revelation to him; he had,
like many others in his section, been
imbued for many years with the idea
that this country was a wilderness,
incapable of raising anything except
an occasion statesman like Con-
gresham Steenerson.
Mr.. Day alluded to the change in
heart in the governor and himself. in
their attitude toward drainage of
the north country and attributed the
change to the fact that they had
become acquainted with the actual
conditions and now appreciated the
need of drainage.
Mr.. Day told of his surprise at the
display he had seen at the fair
grounds and told his hearers that it
was the best example he had seen
of tilling the soil along proper lines.
Continue this, and your salvation
is assured after the timber is re-
moved" Mr.. Day stated he had
been to Island, &C. Hartley's farm,
and he believed that, next to God
Almighty, Mr.. Hartley was doing
more than any other individual to
develop northern Minnesota.
Congressman Steenerson was in
troduced and gave splendid talk as
to what efforts were being made
by himself and others on congress
towards securing the. drainage of.
the governments lands on the Indian
reservations. His talk was very
interesting and instructive. He
referred to Frank Ives of Cass Lake
as the real originator Of the drainage
State Auditor Iverson was the
next speaker.
Mr.. Iverson stated that he be-
lieved the state should not ask the
federal government to drain the
swamp lands that it (the state) )now