The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-12-30
Wants Droves of Animals Brought in
at Once to Feed on Rich Pas
lures of North.
WOULD PUBLISH SOIL FACTS
Believes Minnesota Should Gather
Information and Spread It;
Points to Canada.

In personal appeal to the Mime
sofa Board of immigration, J. J. OPP
sahl of this city, former member OF
the lower branch of the legislature
and chairman of the immigration
committee of that body at it's 1907
session, asks that immediate steps
be taken toward securing settlers for
Minnesota along broader lines than
heretofore attempted.
Mr.. Opsahl submits certain plans
to the immigration board by which
he believes these things could be
brought about. His communication
to the board follows:
Now is the Time to Act.
TO to the Honorable Minnesota
State Board of immigration, St.
Paul, MINI.
Gentlemen: You will in few
days commence new year and start
also the year with a new immigra-
ton commissioner. And as | con-
tributed my mite in 1907 as chair
man of the house committee on i'm
migration to get your board created,
| have been keenly interested-in it's
success, and will therefore offer a
few 1912 New Years suggestions.
minnesota wants good immi-
grants, agricultural, industrial and
financial immigration to improve
our vacant lands and building indus
tries.
Millions of Acres Idle.
millions of acres of idle lands
bring no revenue. But those some
millions converted into productive
farms will bring prosperity to all
lines of business in the state.
THE bulk of these immigrants we
want from the outside of Minneso-
ia. That is conceded by all. But
how to get them the best and quick
est way, is the open question?
Il do not believe your commission
err should devote, during 1912 his
main efforts to reach the individual
immigrant only.
Favors Broadened Effort.
s.President Lincoln and his secre-
tary of war put down the rebellion
and saved the Union by the aid of
we'll organized army Of good gen.
erals and soldiers, and not with their
individual contest with the rebels.
"Carnegie became iron master of
the world through cooperating and
gathering around him able generals
IN his line, and not by his individual
shoveling ore.
1.-THE same holds good in church
and other work.
Wants Army of Boosters.
your commissioner must gather
around him and organize an army
of loyal Minnesota Boosters from the
state press, the real estate dealers
bankers, farmers clubs and CONNER
cial clubs.
"And organize regiments of this
Boosters army in each of the st
counties of the state.
minnesota stands at the head az
q bread and butter state, and in the
front ranks in other grain crops anc
grasses. While in 1911 we took frs
prize in the east and west on apples
and potatoes. Then consider all oul
other natural advantages and re-
sources awaiting development. Min
eral, agricultural, industrial, trans
portation, markets, recreation, pure
water, and climate, and no state or
the north American continent was 81
beautifully endowed by nature.
Spreads Facts to World.
"These facts and statistics should
be gathered by the immigration de-
partment, compiled and sent out tt
the world. A complete inventory o.
each, localities, resources, what they
have to offer the outside world, ant
what they want to buy. The de-
partment should be want or pub
licity clearing house for the whole
state. ..
"To gather these statistics every
year from each county, your depart
ment must have the cooperation OF