The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-26
IMMIGRANTS BLOCKING
INTO RED RIVER VALLEY

Crookston, Mimi, March 26.-To
date more cars of immigrants have ar
rived on the Great Northern than
immigrants have not all been for Polk
county, but scattered through kittson,
Roseau, Marshall, Red Lake and Pen
nlngton counties. Ada, Norman
county, reports the heaviest immigra-
llon experience in ten years. and NAH
nomen, Clay and Becker counties
nave had similar experiences.
1t is the class of newcomers, more
IMAM the number, that is significant.
Mar Morford; a substantial farmer
from Alexis, ILL.,, arrived recently with
twenty-five head of Shorthorns, eigh-
teen brood sows and a fine bunch Of
brood mares for the Rolsch farm,
which he purchased last year. In adj
dlt1on he opened a fat bank account
mere. This Is not an exception, but
the rule. The Red river valley never
received the class Of newcomers such
as are arriving this year. .
Among the first inquiries Of the
newcomers is for good seed corn that
is acclimated. Fortunately the corn
raisers here last year anticipated the
demand, and there is a vast amount
or good seed corn available.
raging Spot Cash.
AS an indication of the conditions
financially this spring, at the annual
stock sale Of *. o. Bolstad at McIn-
tosh this week, out of a total Of $4,000
worth of stock sold. all was for spot
cash excepting $171. At the Gerret
Smith stock sale here Tuesday, grade
COWS sold for from $85 to. 500, and
spring calves brought from $25 to $45.
Everything was sold for spot cash. In
addition q. great deal Of grade and
thoroughbred stock has been shipped
in from Iowa and Illinois this spring,
showing a long step forward in in
creasing and conserving the stock in
the valley.
G. j.. Johnson, the Donaldson, Kilt
son county, banker, reports that the
acreage Of alfalfa on the Walter Hill
farm is to be increased this spring by
1000 acres. The farm already has
several hundred acres which has pro-
duced big crops several years. The
larger acreage Is significant not only
because 1t results from successful
trial crops, but because Of the avail
able acclimated seed another year.
In addition over 100 farmers about
donaldson are seeding from two to
100 acres Of alfalfa this spring, and
the corn acreage will be greatly in
creased, more than doubled, says Mr..
Johnson. A. Z. Pfiffner, the Argyle
banker. says the same Is true of Mar
shall county
From Clay and Becker counties
north to. Roseau and Kittson counties,
In response to letters to bankers, seed
men and farmers clubs, it is believed
the corn acreage this year will be
doubled through this entire territory,
while the alfalfa acreage will be in
creased more han ten-fold.
Getting Best Of Seed.
Another very encouraging feature
in the outlook for the coming crop
year, is the diligence the farmers gem
orally are showing in securing the
best possible seed grain and corn.
This is illustrated by the wholesale
Inquiries received by A. d. Van Sickle,
the Marshall county worlds cham
pion oat raiser, who has received
scores of prizes at the Farm Crops
show here, at the Minnesota state
sociation, and at every other show at
which he made entries. Hundreds of
farmers have had their seed corr and
grain tested at the Northwest expert
ment station here, and practically all
the farmers are having their grain
tested, or testing it themselves. This
shows a big advanced step, the re-
suit of crop shows. fairs, school aSri-.
cultural work, and the generally pro-
gressiVe tendency, the value to the
crop to be raised this year. being al
most beyond estimate. With a large
acreage ready for crop, plenty Of mois-
ture, the prospects are very bright
throughout the Red river valley.