Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-06-23
BURKE
BOOSTS
STATE
Boston Paper Contains Inter-
view with North Dakota's
Governor
Executive emphasizes the
SDIeDdid Conditions Of the
Crops this, Year

One Of the Boston papers of recen
date contained the following inter
view with Gov. John Burke regarding
the crop conditions Of the state thi'
year and the states resources:
In common with most other of th<
prominent men who have been visit
ing Boston this week with the Chi
cago Association of Commerce party
Gov. John Burke of North Dakota Is
optimistic on the western outlook
Concerning crop and other funda'
mental conditions he says:
North Dakota's spring wheat crop
was hit hard last year by drought
but our farming community has not
let up bit. Our spring wheat crop,
which in 1899 came within 3,31S,0O0
bushels of the $4,000, ,OOo-bushel mark
Of Minnesota, our greatest rival, bids
fair thie season to show Zig in
crease. Throughout the entire state
l have never seen the crops so far
advanced at a corresponding date as
they are this year, and the outlook
for a bumper harvest was never bet
ter. Acreage planted has also shown
a heavy gain. This is true also of
flaxseed and corn, in the harvesting
of which North Dakota has been max
ing a notable advance.
"The state now has 45,O0O,O00 acres
of agricultural lands, one.third of
which is under cultivation. Discov-
cries of large natural gas supplies
within the past three years have re-
suited in considerable impetus to
one portion of the state. Approx
mately $4,000 square miles of Ignite
coal have also been proved up within
our limits.
"Sentiment lin the state concerning
desirability of reciprocity seems d.
vided. with many assuming an indif-
ferent attitude. If the Canadian pact
is approved, I believe it is sure to
result in the extension of the 13 Hill
branches now running only to the
border Of our state. Re-
gardless of the Taft agreement.
North Dakota already has 4,99S miles
Of railroad in operation, and at least
1000 more will be built within a year.
This new construction is being un-
dertaken by the Great Northern,
Northern Pacific St. Paul and 500
lines.
"Our slight loss of population to the
Dominion is very much more than off,
get by the influx of immigrants from
[owaMinnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Missouri. Indiana and Nebraska. Pop
llation of the state in the past dec
ade has jumped 80 per cent.
Almost every prosperous farmer
n North Dakota now owns an auto
Our per capita wealth has
reached $1.856 Our banks are in
good condition, and money is plen-
iful. I firmly believe that the busi-
less situation is likely to show a !
marked improvement late this year.
The financial position of North |
Dakota (Which has but recently come
If age having been admitted to the /
1nion but little more than 21 years /
go) has been made very strong
through the availability of the fed
raj governments admission grant
+ over 100000 acres of land. This
as largely helped to provide for the
tate's monetary requirements. The
resent annual income of our schools
rom the permanent fund created
rom the proceeds of sale of these
ands has reached $1,1S5.O0O. This
ill further increase as more of the
ands are sold."