Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1912-11-28
GOV. NORRIS
OF MONTANA

OF MONTANA.
TALKS ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
OPPORTUNITIES, HISTORY
AND LAND LAWS. .ss ss
Points Made In Speech at Land Pro-:
ducts Show. n @
Montana day at the Land Pro-
ducts show at Minneapolis was sig
nalized by q large attendance and
an address by Gov. Edward Il. Nor
gris Of that state.
For more than half century
the west has poured steady and
ever Increasing stream Of gold into
the commercial centers Of the ma
ton said Governor Norris in his
address. sThis life-blood Of busi-
ness has built up great industries,
stimulated trade and done much to
place our country In the forefront
in commerce and wealth. This
stream first had its source in the
mines, later in the mines and rang
es, and now the mines, ranges and
farms combine to swell It's volume.
The miners were the pioneers of
western settlement. the stockmen
were the heralds Of western devel-s
opment and the farmers are now be-:
coming more permanent factor in
western commercial life. While.
the mines and the ranges will con-
tinue to contribute in undimfnished
volume, the harvests of our farmers
will in the future prove the greater
source of wealth.
East's Debt to West.
Those who dwell beyond our
borders may not appreciate the BEN
efits the west has in the past con-
ferred upon them, and may not real
ize their interest in its future
growth and development. If at any
time there should be a break in the
stream of western dollars flowing
eastward, business everywhere would
suffer. Far greater will be the suf-
fering in populous centers few,
years hence il q great quantity Of
grain is not produced in the west to
feed the millions who call for bread.
During the past ten years the
consumption Of food has increased
60 per cent, while production has
increased only 36 per cent. The
margin Of difference is each year be-
coming greater. Last year the pro-
duction of wheat in the United States
barely equalled home consumption,
and in this banner. year the home
production has not been largely in
excess of domestic demands. The
lands in the older settled states have
either become exhausted or too val
liable for the growing of grain. and
may not be relied upon for larger
production. The fertile plains Of
the northwest, so vast In extent, are
capable of becoming the granary OF
the nation.
with its many and superior adj,
vantages the northwest should
speedily become thickly populated
and fully developed; but the public
land policy Of the government must
be changed before that ambition can;
be realized. The title to more than
5two-thirds Of the lands Of the north
west is now vested in the federal
government, less than one-third hav-
ing passed into private ownership.
OF this two-thirds about so per cent
il subject to entry under the home
stead laws, while the remaining for-
ty per cent has been withdrawn
from entry by the government. This
condition gives to the problem two
important phases: one relating to
the lands subject to- entry under the
laws now in force, or which may
hereafter be passed; and the other
coneerning the enactment Of laws
necessary for the admission Of lands
Withdrawn. .; 9
The laws governing the appro.
priation Of public lands subject 70
entry by settlers are reasonably sat
isfactory. The chief objection. is
to the manner in which those laws
have been interpreted and admins
tered. For nearly half a century IT
was the nxed policy Of the federal
government to hold it's lands IN
trust for the benefit Of those who
should claim them according to law.
Under that policy title to the lands " lf
of the mid die west passed into pri- !,
vateS hands and that section devel-
oped from tenantls less wastes into II
populous communi ties and cultivat-.
ca fields A Ike policy would nov,
produce similar result "a I'M the north
ssstS 5es