The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-06-17

L
the article and sell more bottles than
at present.
With magnificent generosity the
late state legislature has set aside
about $4,000 year for the adver-
Using of a state as large as New
England and vastly greater in poten-
tial and undeveloped wealth. Com
ment on this comparison is quite
unnecessary.
Yet this situation has its bright
side. In January at the invitation
of a st. Paul commercial organiza-
ton. representative Minnesota men
met to consider what might be done
to build a greater Minnesota. A
federation of commercial organiza-
tons was formed. Red Wing fur
nished a president, Evelth a vice
president, Marshall another vice
president. and every congressional
district of the state member of an
excellent executive committee. With
very limited funds these men started
the ball rolling. They have worked
quietly, but effectively.
This is what has happened.
Within thirty days rousing rallies
have been held at Wheaton, Black
duck, Bemidji, Bagley and Lake
City. Other recent meeting were
held at Virginia, Eveleteh, Luverne,
Rochester. Hutchinson, and at other
points where either these men or
good local men have forced the con-
sideration of state advertising and
boosting for the state on local bust
ness men. from the standpoint of
practical business. A most remark
able fact is that at many Of these
meetings, and requests for dates are
coming in upon the federation Of
ficers in almost every mail, the
farmers were the bulk of the audi
ences. In every case they followed
the addresses with the keenest in
terest. At the northern meetings
farmers drove fifteen and twenty
miles over wretched roads, to hear
advertising experts tell how Mime
sofa may simply and effectively
draw more farm settlers and build
up its agricultural population
Minnesota needs no better promise
that some time it will be properly
and effectively advertised to the
world, than the interest and enthus-
iasm shown by the farmers who
/ have come in touch with the booster
/ movement
These arg not isolated instances Of
enthusiasm. From end to end of
the state business men are talking
and thinking and planning. They
realize that thousands have left for
Canada who would have been better
off to have remained at home in
Minnesota. They realize that the
settlement Of the great southwestern
wastes. accomplished in ten years
can be duplicated for the three
quarters of the agricultural land Of
Minnesota, which is unoccupied. if
money, brains and cold business
! judgement are put to work on the
| job. And they want it.
i Every 100 farmers located ada
cent to Minnesota market town
means $1O0, 900 year added to the
business of the town, absolutely ir-
respective of the commercial trans
actions resulting from the handling
of what is produced by the 100 new
| farms.
| 1t is a rather curious fact that
even in the oldest portions Of the
state. there is hardly good farm
community town where there are not
100 vacant farms within easy trad.
ling radius. In many instances
there are several hundred.
j Northwestern Canada was settled
| by advertising, by the spending Of
| $3.50, 900 in one year for instance,
Ialong lines calculated land wisely
tool to arouse the interest of Amer.
lean farmers and others.
| Canada got the farmers. Mime