Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-03-01

Commercial Bodies of Fifteen
Counties Are to be Included.
Objects Are to Promote
Cooperation of Town and
Country, to Improve Condi-
tons and Secure immigration.

The West Central Minnesota De-
velopment Association was launched
at an enthusiastic meeting of dele
agtes held at the agricultural school
last Thrusdsy evening, following the
meeting in the afternoon at which the
Stevens County Farm Club was formed.
The evening program began with
chorus by the students of the school
and solo by Miss Mott.
Chairman Hibgie then introduced
immigration Commissioner H. ].
Maxfeld, whose work was mainly
responsible for the formation of the
Northern Minnesota Development
League.
Mr.. Max6eld spoke of how develop
ment associations are being formed
in many parts of the country, but that
in this movement Minnesota was in
the lead. One of the most effective
means of advertising a section is to
send out an advertising car. and the
immigration commission last year and
this year have sent out cars. Frank
Eddy is with the car this year and
reports that he visited sleepy town
in Missouri recently on the very day
they were forming a booster club.
New York state has equipped and
sent out car to counteract the in
fuence of the governors special"
sent out by the Northwestern states
this winter.
He spoke of how farming is today
a scientific business which is attracting
men back from the cities, and of how
much room there is for more people
in Minnesota, where the population is
only one-fourth as dense as in the
eastern states and only one-tWenty-
fourth as dense as in Belgium. Yet
he believes that every foot of land in
Minnesota will be cultivated because
the demand is so great for land offer
ing such advantages of climate. soil,
rainfall and timber. Farm owners,
he urged to hold onto their land. Of
the 5O,O00,OO acres of land area in
Minnesota, only 100000 is in
cultivation.
Mr.. Maxfeld said that his depart
ment receives from so to 100 letters
a day. and that he is planning on
sending lists of the inquiries to every
town where there is live commercial
club. Speaking of commercial cIsbs,
he spoke Of the work at Duluth. where
the club has entered on program of
agricultural development as founda-
tion for industrial promotion. The
agricultural school here, he believed,
was fine agency of development.
Speaking of the Northern Minnesota
Development League, he said they pay
their secretary 81, 200 a year, and
raised $12, 900 for advertising. 1t
had put Northern Minnesota on the
map. 1t uses large amount uf show
products, as does also the state fair,
the land show and the advertising cars.
and in this connection, he made plea
to farmers to assist in supplying
these show products.
F. w. Murphy, of Wheaton was
then introduced. He began his address
with the statement that he believed
the reason for the gathering to be
that all felt the obligation to work
for the building up of the country
round about here. The first meeting
of farmers and business men for this
purpose was held ia Traverse county
four years ago. The primary obIiga
tion of such a movement as this, saiC
Mr.. Murphy, is to do the best we car
for the people who are now here. The
great businesses of the cities have
recruited the best boys and girls from
the farm because the latter have not
known of the opportunities which the
old farm presents. But the Moses
who is going to lead out of the thrall.
dom of present day farming is your
next door neighbor and yourself, said
the speaker. Break down the false
barrier between town and country.
Break it down with the boys and the
girls and they will stay On the farm.
and make the land worth $1OO an acre.
A boy who learns to be better farm
er is also a better man and a better
citizen. Traverse county is the
healthiest county in the state, and st.