Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-19
Bismarck, Thursday, March 10, 1914
,Pr0QreSSs in North Dakota

Just as constant dripping Of water Will wear away
the hardest rock, so will persistent repetition OF
sound truth eventually overcome the grossest error.
This is true, whether the application relates to polit.
ical, moral, religious, industrial or agricultural activ'
tiles, and it is with particular reference to the latter
industry so far as the state of North Dakota Is con-
cerned, that these few remarks are set down.
For many years this state has been looked upon
as the foremost wheat producing state of this great
Union, and for that same length Of time its propo-
ganda and literature, made public for the purpose OF
attracting further settlement, has specialized alons
this line, until the thought has become crystallized
in the public mind to the extent that the name OF
Bread Basket Of the World has been given to a
large part Of our agricultural territory as a sort Of
subtitle of distinction among the great crop raising
areas of the globe.
That this was, and is, a meritorious reputation,
SO far as Il indicates courage and initiative years ago
on the part. Of thuse, hardy pioneers who demonstrate.
ed the splendid fertility Of our prairie lands, is un.
%doubtedly true. 1t has come to be recognized, how.
ever, thai, the -onecrop plan, as applied to a" whole
state, is by no means the safest Or most remuner.
alive method Of. securing the full fruits Of that fer,
tility, but, on. the contrary, is positively detrimental
TO- the fullest development. Of our latent resources.
This has been proven in q number of ways, by scien.
tidc- demonstration, soil analysis, shrinking yield per
Wv IO0o VI 4u0hty IA IAC ~ M AkaC@ tdAn "AOoS n
money to the exclusive wheat farmer. The campaign
of education needed to compel attention to these
facts has been a hard and difficult one, the more SO .
because there are many who have succeeded even
under the one-crop handicap, and that it has finally
come to its own and is receiving practical recogni-
ton Is a splendid example of what can be accom-
pltshed by steady team work and logged persever-@
ance. I'M
The efforts Of those who have seen the light have
been concentrated along the lines Of live stock and
dairy. development and it is, indeed, encouraging to
note that the results of their labors are now showing
Enthusiastically in the statistics which are gathered
yearly in the state department of agriculture and
labor. While the acreage planted to wheat has made
practically no gain during the past few years, tho
areas cropped to those. grains needed for the growing
and ~fattening Of live stock have increased amazingly
and show the successful work being accomplished by
those who have learned from experience or by listen
ing to the advice Of those who have devoted them
selves to this educative campaign.
The following table. compiled by Commissioner of.
sriculture W. G. Gilbreath, shows at a glance what
has been accomplished and will inspire with renewed
courage those who have the propaganda IN hand.
There is yet much to be done, but a grand start has
been made, and that: the final result will be the estab-
lishment In the 3~statesof a well-balanced and scientific
system Of crop rotation and live stock raising is
now q foregone conclusion. Let there he no looking
backward, but a steady pressing forward, until every
foot Of arabic land in North Dakota is contributing
Its fEull quota toward the solution Of that great ma
ttonalssproble'n Of adequate food supply, with a Just
remuneration to the first producer.
the three years progress in North Dakota, show
Ing a gain in acreage of feed grain and live stock,
~lS1V.19lS. Is shown in the following.