Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-03-03
WITHOUT A PAUPER."

WITHOUT A PAUPER."
Governor John Burke tells of the ag-
Ricultural resources of North Dakota
evhen he says:
I'VE are just beginning to realize
Ehat the soil is our greatest resource.
Until recently it was Of little value.
Buyers were few for the reason that it
was not necessary to purchase. Any
one could acquire title to 16O acres of
land by filing on it and living on it for
1ve years, or living On it for fourteen
months and paying s1.25 an acre.
The time is near at hand when the
government will have no more agri-
Asalltural lands. 1t is now opening In
aian reservations to supply the de-
Snand, and in little while all the gov
eminent lands of the United States
will be occupied. We cannot add to
the supply, but on the contrary we are
dosing thousands of acres every wear
from unbridled foods in our neglected
rivers. With the government land gone
and our population steadily and rapid
'ay increasing, 1t is apparent that, while
oar exports have helped to feed the
Haungry in every land, we can look in
TO the future and see our every acre
taxed to sustain our own people. The
soil is our greatest resource for upon
Its productions all animal life depends.
~fdth the increase in population there
must necessarily be an increase in
production, consumption and land val
ues. Who can estimate the future val
ne OF our rich agricultural North Da-
kOta lands, Of which we have 20. O00,-
900 acres, only a little over half of
which is now under cultivation? Who
can estimate the untold riches their
full development and culture will bring
to the state?
We have just begun to develop. A
little while ago our state was called
the bread basket of the world, be-
eeause of our fine quality of No. 1
wheat. We were known as a wheat
state, but we have found from expert
ence that We can grow about any az
Eicultural product that can be grown
anywhere. 1t may be said that our
seasons are shorter than the seasons
farther south, but If our seasons are
: shorter, our days are longer.
1--WE are now raising all of the tame
grasses, corn and all kinds of vegeta.
bies, as well as all Of the small grains
We are rotating our crops and we are
: diversifying with stock and dairy. In
1908 there were ninety-two creamer
les in operation in the state that paid
gut to patrons $510,672.7.; besides a
great deal Of cream was shipped out oil
che state to the Twin City and other
sEaties that is not accounted for. Tc
7Gz1is list of creameries were added a
r nrmber during the year 1909; the
@Imber Of which is not at hand; but
great interest is manifested at the
'present time in this state in dairying
and we have dairy department con
.aected with the agricultural depart
ssnent Of the state.
& 1.-THE assessed valuation of the state
ksass equalized by the state board Of
equalization in August, 1909 was $278,
" sDo0- The stenographic report o.
saae board of equalization will show
sssasa 1t was the opinion of the boart
sa1at the assessment as returned By
Eae assessors and equalized by thu
board represented one-fourth of the
value Of the property of the state, thus
total value four times a.
treat, or 113,600, 900. Estimating thu
y population Of the state at SOC, 900, THU
Ewes to each man, woman and child fl
q ae entire state 1855, and, o. there Il
n 40 o single millionaire among til
saaaas eoo.eoo people, this shows I