Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-02-28

ing each speaker in q happy manner.
and hoping that general good would
result from the gathering.
Curtis L. Mosher, who has charge
of the St. Paul publicity work, and is
also secretary Of the Minnesota
Federation of Commercial Clubs. was
the first speaker. Mr.. Mosher said
that Minnesota's great resources must
already been lost, and if it is expected
to attain its position az one of the
greatest states, or even to hold its own,
publicity work must be done. He
showed how important publicity had
become, how advertising lately had
been applied with marvellous results
to the developent Of communities
counties and states. He thought
Little Falls should advertise the
county with tho city, the growth of
the city being dependent on the
increase in the near by rural popula-
lion. The theory OF st. Paul and
Minneapolis advertising was that the
interests Of the state were identical
with their interests. Farmers should
be brought to the unculsivated lands.
One thousand more farmers in
territory near Little Fails would mean
81, 200, 900 year more of local trade.
With good farmer on every eighty
acres, great development in trade
would be inevitable. The farmer
consumes as we'll as produces. s.
Mr.. Mosher explained q method
about to be tried by eight Iron Range
cities, pooling together under the
direction of the Duluth Commercial
club, and advertising in common. He
thought Little Falls and neighboring
towns. from St. Cloud to Wadena and
Bemldji, could do such thing
successfully at small cost for each.
No one small city could alone bear the
burden of advertising district. He
gave many instances of results oh.
.tained through practical advertising,
and advC Gated the use of good farm
papers among other things to secure
inquiries. He said central Minnesota
didn't want the farmers from near
counties or even from the southern
part of the state It is the men from
Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, that are wanted
to get on the farms left vacant by
those going to Canada or elsewhere.
He told how intelligent, persistent
movement to Canada, and urged
practical consideration Of publicity as
the means of settling vacant lands. The
instructive and full of value. He
pledged the support of the bureau in
his charge in every way possible. ae
spoke of the good work done by the
state immigration bureau despite the
small sum granted for its support.
Minnesota, the great North Star state,
gives the bureau $12, 500 a year, while
the Ivory Soap concern spends $50, 600
a year.
P. v. Collins, editor of the
Agriculturist. minneapolis, was the
next speaker. He paid glowing
tribute to the resources and
possibilities of Minnesots, but deplored
and was ashamed of the fact that 60
little had been done to inform the
world of what Minnesota is and what
she can do. Although great In so
many things. its position was far
below that intended by oeneticent
Nature which had showered gifts Of
climate and soil, of mine and forest,
unequaled elsewhere. The mineral
wealth goes out unfinished, the forests
have been deuded. the standing in
live stock is low instead of high, even
in tho Bread and Butter state. We
are to blame. We have not advertised
our advantages as We should, and no
wonder homeseekers by the hundred
thousand pass us by tor less favorable
lands and tho West The East knows
little or nothing of the bouudless
possibilities OF the West. Several
amusing anecdotes were told to
illustrate this We should by proper
publicity enlighten them. You want
farmers from Pennsylvania and the
great central states. You can't get
them without telling them what you
have and how they can better them.
selves The speaker took up the
central position Of Little Falls and
Morrison county as the hub of q vast
circle covering the continent He
spoke of the early belief that corn and
apples were impossible products in
Minnesota, and how time had shown
differently. He thong hb the great task
before the Commercial Club as to
bring farmers and the manufacturers
would follow. Every farmer meant a
large sum yearly He showed how
practically every business eventually
got al much or more from the farmer
than the real estate msn got for con.