The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-13
MVEY
PREDICTS BIG
FUTURE :.
Indicates Fields in Which
Progress Will Come
Problems to Solve

NOso was SuC SuOJCCI VI IuS dUUTcSS
delivered at Bismarck today by Presi.
dent F. L. McVey of the University Of
North Dakota. There are few states,
he declared. that could point with
such pride to a record equal to that
Of North Dakota. And the future
holds out promises yer more bril-
liant thar the past has already full
were also presented. In part, Presi-
dent McVey said:
Tho Commonwealth of North Dakota.
In the fall of 1909 I came to
North Dakota to make my home in
this commonwealth. As the train
passed over the prairies of western
Minnesota the setting broke
through the clouds and flooded the
fields of grain with its golden rays.
have seldom seen anything more
behind the horizon the evening star
shone forth steadily. I felt it was a
scene prophetic of the future of the
commonwealth in which I was to
make my homo.
1.-TWO hundred years before a voy-
ager travelling with his little band OF
white men and his Indian retinue
pushed westward in the face Of the
fields Of golden grain awaiting the
thresher were revealed to his eyes.
no villages interrupted his vision. he
sought the river vending westward.
Less than 100 years ago Lord Selkirk
attempted to establish a home for his
colonists in the Red river valley. A
little more than half a century 6
the American Fur company main
tanned a station near h borders of
Canada at Pembina. and it is o
barely q quarter of q century since
the honor Of statehood was given to
North Dakota. These are mere mile
stones in the history of the state. In
forty years time a civilization has been
built upon the prairies of the COM
monwealth. In 1870 there IA a
population in what is now North Da-
kota Of 2,400; in 1910 it was nearly
100000. Looking back over the de-
cades. he progress has been marvel
GUS. The nsu of 1850 reported a
mixed population. largely employed by
In 1880 there were $4,000 persons in
the territory: in 1900 there were 3d.
416, and in 1910 the figures had
reached those already cited.
The agricultural products Of the
state are now valued at $175.000.0 900.
while the products of the manufactur-
amount to sso.ooo.ooo. The railway
mileage hasynow passed the 5000
mark. and the assessment Of proper
ty for taxation. purposes is 100000
just the Beginning.
But this is just the beginning Of
half Of the state are SOC. 600. 900 tons
Of Ignite coal. Men are Just begin
ming to realize its importance and to
take 1t out Of the ground for fuel pur-
poses. and when the work that is now
being done in the laboratories Of the
university Is eliminated and applied
commercially there is no reason why
rise in many villages and towns.
Many travellers passing through our
borders have remarked upon the fiat
ness of the surface; they have called
attention to the lack of forests and
continued area of smooth land. Yet
in other states men are cutting trees
and leveling ground for the very pur-
pose Of securing the end that nature
has accomplished here. But the fiat
ness Of the earth has its advantages.
It produces unusual air and atmos-
pheric effects, and unquestionably in
:huences vegetation markedly. Speak,
ing OF the animals of North Dakota,
greater locomotor activity. their mi
grafton and aggregation. as seen in
h bison and prairie dog. It Is noted
again and again that there is q GER
ain uniformity of social organization
seen among them, which has its proto-
type in the society Of civilized man.
In pioneer life the settlers were row.
the prairie schooner. while great
herds of cattle. cowboys Twin" in sod
houses II dugOuts, or carrying water
for their journeys, all constitute vari-
Gus features Of the life Of the state.
But as advancement Is made toward a
nrsAotA~ ntxpt1fsatl@~ Hh> 49,
country makes progress easier. Rail-
roads are built straight, without vary
ing fro mthe point they wish t. reach.
Good roads over the prairies are Great
ed. farm machinery .is developed to
perfection. while at the same time
dry farming. root crops. come to be
4 part of the agricultural system.
Show q Unit.
And socially. civilized mar in North
Dakota shows a wonderful geographic
unity. He possesses a solidarity that
is remarkable. as shown in the close
relationship existing among the peo-
pie Of h state. The organization
Is upon a more thorough-going basis
as compared with states Of the same
age because of the uniformity created
on account Of geographic unity.
There are few states in the galaxy
Of the union, looking back over a his
IVY. VI 11lIAc I1lOTS IMAM GWonIvenve
years. that can count the number Of
schools. educational institutions, and
means of caring for dependents that |
are to be found in the commonwealth
Of North Dakota. The census of 1910
showed $4,000 children between the
nges Of 6 and 20. Ninety per cent Of
these. or $4,000. were enrolled upon
the books Of the schools. The aver
g attendance was more than 80, 900, |
!scattered among 1894 schools. At the
different educational institutions there
was an attendance of nearly 5000 |
students: There have also been es-
sabiished various agencies for the gen.
eral uplifting of the population. as
ahown In the state library commission
and the extension work.
Many Difficult Problems.
While these accomplishments are
markedly in the direction Of better
froEted by many difficult problems. In
of sanitation. OF water supply and
Troper sewage disposal. Increase in
difficulty as the days 60 on. And
with the growth Of population North
must face these matters in
Celligently. must arrange scientifically
Tor q proper water supply and method
OF sewage disposal that will not carry
with 1t disease and death. We are
calling upon the people of other states
n nations to send us their popula-
ton. and We are asking them to come
With the expectation Of securing their
cooperation n citizenship within
the borders of the commonwealth.