Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-07-11
WEALTH is IN THE SOIL.


The wealth of North Dakota is in
the soil The wealth of all states Is
in the soil, but in North Dakota more
so than in almost any other state
Did it ever occur to the reader-the
traveller as he goes about the country
from ocean to ocean and from Mani
toba to the Gulf, that nowhere else
will he see such a vast empire OF
undeveloped land as while riding
through the Dakotas? Here, all day
long, from early morn until the late
night, one can look out OF the open
car window on a picture of luxuriant
vegetation unexcelled, unequalley IN
all the world. To the very hill tops
the emerald tint tells OF the wonder
full opportunities for the grain grow
er, the dairyman and the stock raiser
The percentage of waste land is IN
finitesimal. And right here on the
Missouri Slope-the Missouri river
valley-with Burleigh county and Bis
marck as the true center-observe
the transformation. A few years ago
there were 100000 acres of un'
appropriated government land, and
nearly as much unused railroad land
in the Bismarck land district. Now
there are less than 100000 acres OF
government land left subject to home
stead entry. The country is develop
ing rapidly and land values are In
creasing in like proportion.
And yet the opportunities right
here within an hour, two hours, four
hours ride from the capitol of the
state. there has been no boom, few
changes in ownership, and here are
golden opportunities for the. thrifty
husbandman. Ne
In their write-up Of Bismarck and
vicinity the special stiff correspond
ent of the Minneapolis Journal very
properly lay great stress upon the
agricultural features of the state
and the following is an excerpt:
t'The farm lands of North Dakota
are the states best asset. If it were
not true, it would not support a pop
ulation of over half a million souls
and vet the richest and most fertile
agricultural sections have not beer
touched. No state has better rail
road facilities, and no purely agricul
tural state has made more progress
than has North Dakota. Her popula
ton in the past two years has nearly
doubled. while her wealth has tribl
ed. This is wonderful statement
when one stops to consider that the
early pioneers-the homesteaders
came here as rule almost PENN
less; yet today they are the Andint
citizens. the men of money, the mel
of affairs. Eyry dollar of this wealth
was taken out Of the ground, from thu
fertility Of the soil. First it Ii
wheat. then fax, and today it is mix
ed farming; oats, rye, barley, corn
potatoes, apples an d small fruits
:speltz, alfalfa, tame grass and Szllet
-dairying and stock-raising is one O
the states growing assets. Sections
of vast plains that were dubbed the
Ncow country" have been transformed
into rich farms, the garden spots O.
this great fertile zone. This Is VIII,
such cities as Bismarck, Fargo, Crane
Forks, Devils Lake and M1not nave
grown into metropolitan life, VIII
greater possibilities before, them. u
say nothing Of the smaller towns tina
are really the back bone OF the cent
ers of population. North DAKOTA V
an agricultural zone that should hav'
a population OF 2, 100000 by 1880. Th'
richest state; in fertility of soil from
fa1efsOhfo river to the Pacific coast
Nowhere under the canopy OF HEAVIER
are there such grand and glorious op
portunities as right here in Norti
Dakota, stretching out on all side
from the Capital City. The climate
conditions are the best, based on''s
twelve months observations; where al
the best Of fife can be enjoyed, EN-
bracing narby trading cities ant
towns. WITH, railroads = intersectin'
nearly every county in, the, state.
the best OF schools and churches
H 1B-tO-nAlcS COuSSSS oAu oSe-N ~
! higher education, making 1t an idea
4 horne center, free from the contain
1 mating influences OF the older set
L tied communities. Il Mere land values
alone will 90. increase as44to max.
each settler on 100 acres q wel-to-do
Independent American citizen. You
that i've iii the older agrtcultura
{ states, with land values at $1OO Y
1900 an acre, who are unable 5for fhi'
reason to give your boys and girl
u the same chance you enjoy. VIII INIT
these opportunities awaiting you Y
many sections OF North DaKota. Lant
that will also be worth 500 TO $2o'
AN acre In the coming years, fust a.
the homestead lands In Iowa have IN
creased ID fifty years. It - these op