The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1911-12-09
ideal Weather PREVAILS
President Worst Declares that Country Can Excel Western
North Dakota for Productiveness Soil Farming Can
be Made Profitable Every Year

must be studied. I'VE must carry our
brains with us to the fields have
heard great many farmers complain
of the blowing of the soil. some claim
to have reseeded as many as three
times before they were able to secure a
stand. We expect the able teachers
who will address these meetings to tell
us what to do with these light soils.
The past season has been about as
cratic as any have experienced in
twenty-eight years in this state. 1t has
been difficult at times to keep up cour-
age, many farmers have needed encour-
agement, and need it now.
One of the Apostles said Hold fast
to what you have. >" so I want to say
to you all. hold fast to your farm at this
time, do not let the flesh pots of Canada
lure you to strange countries. assure
you things are not what they seem.
Many reports from Canada bear out the
fact that frost and snow have covered
many fields of grain. making them
practically valueless
remember we'll the lean years in the
eighties when we first crossed the Mis-
souri, river. how discouraging it was
with no crop, prairie fires. wolves and
dry seasons. Mamma at this time was
provided in the shape of buffalo bones,
and many settlers, rich today, will not
hesitate to tell you that he. his wife
and children gathered the bones to keep
body. and soul together. The people
who stayed and stuck, the pioneers, the
trail blazers, the builders of this great
portion of North Dakota. reaped the re-
ward of their faith and are satisfied.
DON'T LOSE FAITH, HOLD FAST and
your reward will surely come. have
just helped to carry one of the Trail
blazers to his last resting place on the
banks of the mighty Missouri near Man
dan. Michael Lang was his name. He
came with Gen. Custer and his five year
enlistment expired short time before
the battle of the Little Big Horn, SO his
life was saved to serve different pur-
pose. He was the first merchant to es-
tablish himself west of the Missouri
river in North Dakota. His store was
opened in 1879. have often heard him
tell of the rides in the pay car with
Superintendent D. r. Taylor. who was
the first superintendent west of the
river, being guarded by a troop Of
United States soldiers. All the section
houses bought their supplies from Mr..
Lang and on pay days he collected his
accounts.
The Indians were the danger and men
ace of the early settlers al this time.
The settler of today has no conception
of the hardships the earlier people had
to endure. We did not know what to do
with this great raw country lying and
covering all out of doors. We learned
the lesson by hard experience and you
have today the benefit of it. No one
could tell us what to do. we had to find
it out. no Agricultural College, no Farm
ers Institute. just simply try and try
again. The Campbell culture was un-
known. it had not been discovered.
With all these discouragements great
many stayed and have been rewarded.
Again Isay HOLD FAST TO WHAT YOU
HAVE.
Now word to the old timers: You
know what it means to start in life in a
comparatively new country. / plead
with you friends. lend a helping hand
to the frail and discouraged brothers
around you. If you cannot assist them
financially. give them the word Of
cheer. scatter the sunshine so necessary
to freshell and brighten the spirit of the
lonely traveller. You have faith in our
country, you know what it has done
and can do. do not hesitate to impart
some Of that strong faith to those
around you who may need it. Let it
not be said of yon that you buried your
talents to keep them safe. Do not fail
10 give the hearty hand shake that may
mean 90 little to you and 50 much to the