The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-22

Chicago, ILL.,, Nov 22.--One of the
splendid addresses delivered before the
Farm Land congress which concluded
it's sessions in this city with a big
banquet on Saturday evening, was de-
livered by Halvor L. Halvorson OF Mi
not, who spoke as follows:
we have heard much of the sta
tistics Of the various states. real
ize that these are important and that
their publication by the press of the
country viii generally enlighten the
land seeking public, but not altogether
as to those facts to them most vital.
The element OF this congress which
interests me most is set forth in its
slogan "People for the homes-homes
for the people," l&
In Determining whether or not we
have people for the homes / take 1t not
to be essential whether or not greater
proportion or percentage reside in the
commercial centers. cities and villages,
today, than was the case 100 years
ago.
AS a great commercial nation we
must have large commercial centers,
and want them. We must have and
always will have centers of population,
and ii is not the aim of this congress
to set back the growth of our large
cities or thriving villages. The pro-
portion of the people in the cities today
as compared with century ago and
it's increase from per cent to 81 per-
cent does not solve the question OF
people for the homes" All who are
/ Rvuv1~inlx r owad
socially will doubtless remain within
the radius of the arc lights. But you
say, where do you propose to gel
people for the homes?" / answer
From those in the congested centers
who are not needed there, those who
find it impossible to obtain profitable
employment, and properly rear fam
lily; those who are unable to give
their children the advantages of edu-
cation and society found in our cities
and these are legion" Here then we
have one class to whom our slogan
appeals. Another class is the fairly
wealthy,-or so to speak, the well-to-
do central and eastern farmer who has
large family of boys, girls and sons
in-law. All of these must be placed
on farms because they understand that
business and know there is money In
1t. But land is limited-there Is only
one crop, and the crop in the central
and eastern sections was harvested be-
fore these saw the light Of day; and
1 want to say right here that from
this class will come the major portion
of the people for the homes, and they
are much to be desired as home build
ers. They spring from an ancestry
who were pioneers and have the traits
that make for success.
/ know whereof speak when I say
that such are our large homeseekine
classes for thousands and tens of thou
sands have and do every year pass
from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ne.
braska and ether eastern and centra
states over the states of Minnesota
North and South Dakota, into western
Canada, buying land there as a future
home for their boys and girls, and this
because of the publicity and advertis-
ing which has been done by enterpris-
ing railway and real estate companies
as well as the Canadian government
This conclusively proves that there are
people for the homes, and not only tha'
but the further fact that by reason Of
the lack of definite knowledge ant
publicity the United States is losing
many of these as residents.
We have homes for the people. Every
state, at least in the northwest, has OPP
portunities, not surpassable. live III
North Dakota was born in Mime.
sota--and I have lived In one state o.
the other all my life and know tina
there are homes waiting for tens oil
thousands In either OF these states
The same 10 true Of Montana But how
can these be acquired and what are
their productive values. No large
amount OF capital il required to es-
tablish farming operations in NORTH
Dakota. Homestead lands are still tt
be had, school lands are to be bought
from the state at the usual favorable
terms. Private land holdings. large
farms. too large for one man, are be-
ing cut up and sold in quarter ans
half section tracts, and on easy terms
Hundreds OF men In our state are pay,
/ ing for their lands on the crop pay.
ment plan---one half of the crop ever,
lyear until the purchase price III pais
goes to the owner, the balance covers