The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-10-14

time had kept right on turning Will
the old boy slumbered. The editor o
the Independent hasn't been sleeping
uninterruptedly for that period, II
fact, we have been kept pretty mucl
awake, most of the time, but Whel
we took a couple of days off thu
latter part of last week, and went GU
to the Glenburn country, where W.
homesteaded a number Of years ago
we realized full we'll how poor ole
Rip felt when ne staggered to his feet
pulled The cob webs out his eyes, and
beheld the great changes that had
been made in the interval Of twenty
years. g.. .s.
| The old shack, the first domiclle we
ever owned, still stands on the cor
ner of the best homestead in Ward
county. ePardon us but everybody mas
the right to consider his homestead the
best.) The wind and elements had
not dealt kindly with the tar paper
that once kept the gentle breezes
from blowing thru our hirsute appen-
dages, and the letters, North Prairie
or Bust; Busted by Gosh which some
artist during our temporary absence,
while we were away eking out an
existence, had painted on one end or
the building, still stands out in bold
relief. The old laundry stove upon
which we used to sit, when the ther-
mometer registered so far below that
the thing would burst, in sheer dis
gust, is still there, and some of Aunt
Terminals pancake flour, which we us
ed to mix so diligently with snow
water, remains in the little corner
home made cupboard. We actually
believe that had we looked closely, we
could have found some Of the pan
cakes upon which we used to keep
soul and body together, upon the
prairie where they had been thrown
at the fiickertails. All, you little ten
by twelve bed-buggy deserted shack!
We wouldn't part with you for ten
times your actual worth. Time was
when you were our main solace and
comfort. Our hopes and aspirations
were tied up in you. Here we could
breath the free North Dakota air, and
from it gaze Ger the prairies wlde'
more independent than a European
EmDeror, as free as the tlckertall
that saucily stood upon his haunches
and Knocked us. But, enough OF this.
What about those changes.
The mail man now carries mall
daily to the door of the Glenourn
farmer. The telephones in his home
and the school houses are about TO De
sunplied with them. Anxious moher
soon can call up the teacher and as
certain whether or not johnny 10
playing truant, or whether MARY a.
rived before the storm overlook hel'
Only a few wears back, before Hills
iron horses pranced over the rollck-
ing rack, it was often weeks before
some heard any news from the out
side world. We remember in partlc-
ular Of carrying the news OF the
Mount Pelee disaster into the coun-
trv, three weeks after it happened.
A very large percentage OF tns
land has been broken up, and is pro-
ducing magnificent yields OF golden
grain. Twenty bushels of wheat TO
the acre is not uncommon. Flax Is a
disappointment everywhere this year.
and is only averaging from SIX 70
eight bushels an acre, yet with the
prospects of getting two dollars d
bushel for it before spring, the Glen
hurn farmer isn't faring very badly.
The sod shacks and small prairie
huts of the earlier days have been
mostly replaced. Now there are com
modious, comfortable well palnteo
houses and barns. INSTEAD OF drink
ng slough water, each farmer has his
we'll, and one has thirteen OF them.
School houses dot the pralrles' anu
the children have the same adVantas-
es as those of our eastern states'
with actually a more modern eouca-
tional system, in the bargain. Beaucl-
full groves of trees break the olo
monotony, and crop failure mas new
err been known.
The rustling little city OF Glenpurh
is a thriving place, hundreds oi
loads OF grain coming in dairy. we
were told that the six elevators a.
ready had shipped total OF 2oo cars
of grain east, the Farmers elevator
being credited with l04 Of them.
Bro. Gilbertsen, who mas been tne
efficient postmaster for number o.
years, has a fine home for his excel
lent weekly paper, The Glen burn Al
vance. He doesn't want those Glen
burn armers to neglect their duty
] side q