The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-28
Railroad News
BOOST NORTHWEST
RAILROADS AIM
NORTHERN PACIFIC POUNDS Blu.
REAU or INFORMATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
TO THAT END.

ST.. Paul Feb. 2s.-An aggressive
campaign to develop territory tribu-
tary to fits lines mas been started anew
by the Northern Pacific. A bureau of
information and development has been
established as a part Of the land de-
partment. d. r. willard. formerly
professor Of geology of the state ar-
ricultural college of North Dakota and
director Of the geological and agricul-
tural survey Of that state, has been
placed IN charge with the title OF de-
velopment agent.
President Howard Elliott believes
that the Northwest within the next few
years will have growth much greater
than Is generally realized. II is with
the, idea of fostering this development
as much as possible that the new bu-
reau has been established.
The scope OF the work is outlined IN
the. following circular issued by Mr..
Elliott:
Headquarters in st. Paul.
I'D e. willard will be in charge with
the title OF development agent. His
headquarters will be in st. Paul. and
he will report to Thomas Cooper, land
commissioner.
His duties, in a general way, will
be to assemble, and arrange in con-
venient form all information about the
natural resources of the country trib-
utary to the Northern Pacific.
ITO obtain additional information as
to those resources and the various
movements now going on to preserve
and develop them: -. ...-
ITO furnish information to the land
department, freight department. pas-
senger department and immigration
department. so that the company NAV
act with the best information in ad-
vertising and developing the country:
ITO, investigate matters that will
stimulate agricultural development,
such as dry farming, drainage ,irriga-
ton and improved farming methods:
ITO cooperate with agricultural COL
leges, experiment stations, and the va
rious departments OF the government
engaged in development work.
"All officers and employees Of the
company are requested to cooperate
with the development agent by giving
him all information. obtainable."
>-s Step New Departure.
1.-THE appointment of a development
agent bv the Northern Pacific Is. To
some extent, a new departure I'm rail
road work" said Mr.. Cooper, assistant
to the president, yesterday. "Practi-
FcaHy all Of the larger railroad systems
Of the west nave immigration depart
merts, and some of them have indus
trial departments to secure location of
new industries and business enter
prises but the Northern Pacific has
gone a step further and created a. bu
reau, of which Prof willard is the
head, whose special function II will be
to secure Information as to the natural
resources OF the Northern Pacific ter
ritory in order tha4&the company may
intelligently ;proniote ali the develop
ment of such resources. which. in turn.
promotes the development Of traffic.
THE selection of Prof. Willard for
the position Is a fortunate one as his
work in North Dakota as director Of
the geological and agricultural survey
OF that state has given him thorough
knowledge Of its resources and because
Of the similarity in conditions in east
ern Montana, this knowledge may be
said to extend from the Red River val
ley to the Rocky mountains.
"As an indication of the practical
work which the development bureau
has IN hand ii has already taken m
the subject of drainage jim Northern
Minnesota, and Prof. willard is get
ting together all OF the Information
connected therewith In order that his
company may lend its efforts In pro-
noting the same"