The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-27

The above words are used by The
Forum editor in a letter offering the
writer an opportunity to say a few
words of appreciation for the splendid
heritage which Nature has placed
ready to the hand and brain of the
willing and intelligent worker in this
state.
can imagine no more pithy nor OPP
posite a conception Of the value, &C
tual and potential of our great prairie
expanse OF arabic land, and it's true
relation to the energetic and progress
sive people who have won 1t from it's
state Of slumbering uselessness and
constituted 1t a splendid asset. not
only of the state but of the whole
country, than is expressed in the lines
quoted.
Without the pioneer, his descend
ants and successors, our fair domain
might yet be the home of the Indian
and buffalo and that those, who in the
~ ACoAAGSN LuC
of the unknown country west of the
Red river Of the North and undertook
its settlement, were made of the right
material for the work which their
hands found to do, is evidenced by the
result Of thirty years, and more, of
successful effort, eliminating as it has
tn5nV IN hn tee ~
civilized and well ordered common
wealth possessing everything which
makes for stability, progress and hui.
man happiness.
1t was with the crossing of the Red
river by the Northern Pacific railroad
in 1873 and the rapid building of that
road westward into the almost UNI
known territory reaching to the Mis-
souri, river, that the real agricultural
development Of the territory now
known as North Dakota was COM
menced.
Spreading north and south along
the western banks OF the Red river
"AAN ASANllAAAS OuN Win tie duNdHCluB
railroad into the western country, the
pioneer army of courageous farmers,
like a huge triangle, with it's apex
ever advancing towards the setting
sun, commenced the settlement of that
region which In the course of but three
decades was to become world famous
as possibly
The Richest Agricultural Region
on the North American continent 1t
was not an undertaking FOR weaklings.
Rich as the soil appeared to be, its
actual possibilities were unknown, the
grains best adapted for culture in this
more northern latitude had yet to be
determined, proper methods of tillage
had to be learned by painful expert
ence and climatic stress had to be met
and ameliorated. Money was scarce
eastern capital was conservative and
doubling, and the main resources OF
the first Corners were their own stout
hearts and their physical capacity for
big days works. No better backing
for
The Winning Of An Empire
could have been found. The passage
of few years saw the primeval as
pect of the prairie changed into one
Of civilized activity. Each spring the
upturned sod denoted the persistent
tanning of the wild, and, in the fan
bursting granaries attested the sue
cessful outcome Of the pioneers ef-
forts.
Cities and towns sprang up along
the lines of the railways which latter
working hand in hand with the farm
er, were extending branch lines wher-
ever the trend Of settlement justified
the venture. Counties were organiz-
ed; adequate public buildings were
erected in each. to be replaced later
by permanent structures as each COM
munity grew and strengthened.
The territorial government estab
lished few public institutions in the
northern half of the territory and in
1888 this was followed by the estab
lishment Of the seat of government al
Bismarck, on the banks Of the Nilsson
RI. With this latter event came q
heavy influx of adventurous spirits
who seriously and successfully under
took he practice of agriculture alons
both sides of that river a settlement
which. under the name of the "Slopt
Country" marked another permanent
advance In the states development
Here also
The Thrifty and Prolific Herds
of the ranchman ana broad acres O.
the farmer gave glowing testimony t.
the richness OF the soil and its nativ,
grasses.
With the entry OF the state into TIL
union In 1889 however was inaugural
ed period which for healthy growtl