Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-06-14
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS.
TO PROMOTE IMMIGRATION

TO PhOMOI e IW"IonNl1ON
South Dakota is to have a conser'
yation congress and South Dakota s
governor has sent out an invitation
10 the governors of other northwest
ern states to send delegates to the
meeting to the end that they may
formulate and discuss plans for in
ducing immigration into the north
west. Which manifestation of a de-
sire to promote tine welfare of his
contemporaries while inQuiring into
the best methods for conserving the
inheritance of posterity, argues such
good sound sense on the part of the
governor Of South Dakota that the
example might we'll be emulated by
the governor of North Dakota.
The Tribune has recently had fire.
quent occasion to invite the atten-
ton OF the people of this state to
the fact that the surrounding states
and provinces are carrying on a
propaganda in behalf of immigration,
while North Dakota remains supine
but for the work of individuals. It
is of more Importance to the welfare
OF the state that immediate and ef-
fective steps be taken to secure the
attention Of homeseekers than any
other question of public or domestic
economy. The fact that there is a
profound and widespread movement
Of the people of this country now
under way is manifest enough. And
it is equally manifest that the claim
of this state on the attention of the
people concerned in this movement
is not being put forward with the
vigor that it's Importance warrants.
The public prints are full of reports
of the work of state and district or
CARNATIONS pushing the fortunes of
their respective localities. Northern
Minnesota is organized; eastern Mon
tana is being widely exploited; AL
berta is gathering in thousands of
settlers. Now comes South Dakota
with a bid for the limeight.
What is the matter with North
Dakota? A generation ago the terri
tory now included in the state of
North Dakota made such an effective
appeal through it's newly demonstrate
ed fertility that it arrested the at
tention of the world, and it became
the mecca of thousands of home
seekers. Those thousands have
thriven amazingly; millions of acres
of rich soil have been opened up and
the state is inhabited by the richest
agricultural population in the world.
If North Dakota made an irresistible
appeal, stimulating the great .nigra-
ton of the eighties, when it was but
a wilderness, almost improved in it's
fertility, what might not be- accom-
plished now when its capacity to pro-
duce almost fabulous wealth in re-
turn for the slightest labor has been
proved to demonstration?
But moiety of the land of the
state has been brought to the uses
OF the husbandman. That which is
left is as fertile, practically, as that
which has been put under the plow.
And it remains with the people of
the state to add enormously to the
potential and actual value of their
farms and holdings by putting set.
tiers on the unoccupied land.
In the face of the world movement
that is going on, and from which the
surrounding country is gathering ire
mendous assets in men and money
North Dakota sits supine. Why not
do something to participate substan'
TALLY in the results of the present
immigration movement? Why let
South Dakota, eastern Montana
northern Minnesota and Alberta take
all the profit from the reputation
gained for the northwest by the fair
fields of North Dakota? 49,,
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