The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-02
THE STATE EXPOSITION

1t is a conceded fact that North
Dakota needs more people. With a
soil better than is found any place
else on earth and capable of produc-
ing the greatest crops in the world,
the population is less than eight per
square mile. The urban population
is still less. BY the last census the
population of the state was 577.056.
OF this number 1SS,56S resided in
cities, towns and villages. The actual
farm population would thus be a lit
tie more than $4,000. The area of
the state after deducting the water
surface of 654 square miles. is 70.lSS.
a simple process of division will show
that this is between five and six people
per IL a mile actually living on
the farms. 1t is true that a percen-
taee of those living in the cities, towns
and villages are actively engaged in
farming. but the larger proportion are
business men whose principal avoca-
ton is something different from ag-
riculture.
The government has found that
five is the average number of peo-
pie in Il family. On this basis North
Dakota is supporting about n fami-
ly per square mile. when her soil fer
tility is capable Of supporting four on
every section. This estimate is prob
ably too high for the entire state as
some of the lands are not as produc-
tive as this analysis indicates. But
the present population can be dou-
bled without in the least crowding.
And with a wider application of inten-
sitied farm methods another half mil
lion population could be added and
every n could be properly support
ed.
Every sparsely populated section of
the country is seeking population now.
1t is realized that prosperity for any
section is dependent on
a dense population. For that reason
the coast states are appealing to the
land seeker everywhere to come to
that section. The same is true Of Cam
ada and in a smaller sense of Florida
and Texas. These land publicists talk
climate. as If fortunes could be rea-
from sunshine and blue sky,
They show how men with Moth
ing but energy to begin with be-
came wealthy in a few years. They
haven't the facts. Last summe at a
of Dakotans 1t Ontario. Calf,
the speaker of the day told of bliz-
yards and crop failures in the Dako-
and dwelt upon the hardships of
the farmers. Hon. George McCrea,
formerly of Drayton. but then a resi-
dent of Ontario. was asked by some
of the North Dakotans present to re-
ply to the Islander on the state. In
the course of his remarks which were
both picturesque and caustic, he de-
that every one there had made
the money in North Dakota which en-
abled them to live in California. That's
the logic of the thing in a nutshell.
But California is pushing her oppor-
That's what North Dakota
must do.
Good work has been done along this
line in the past. but the biggest UNDER
is the North Dakota exposition
at Bismarck which Is being conducted
by the department of agriculture and
labor. 1t is the. most stupendous dis
play of state products ever assembled
under n roof. 1t is truly represen-
tative of the state. The holding of
lax Shl'oSieloA "IlIlA1l Tic STATE IN.
stead of outside was a matter upon
there was some diversity OF
opinion. Evidently the people who
to see it will be prospective land
and not mere curiosity gratify-
ers. 1t is possible that fewer people
will see the exposition than if 1t had
been held in some other state; but at
the same time it is certain that more
North Dakota land buyers will see it
than would have beer the case else
So that the advantage favors
the holding of the convention at
home.
1t will be impossible TO measure the
of the exposition. Men will be
induced to invest in North Dakota
lands many years hence because of
the presentation of the states wealth
at the exposition. Boys will decide to
make their homes in the state when
they start out in life for themselves
because of the impressions left on
their minds. 1t will set the public of
other states talking; the talking will
lead to investigation and investigation
to investment. 1t is the biggest step
ever undertaken to bring the landless
to the manless land in this state.
1t :. not a matter of sentiment but
of business; not Of show, but of argu-
ment; not of vision but OF fact.