The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-03
North Dakota Maintains It's
Position as Most Prosperous

Iof nay ana privileges on
common school lands yet unsold. The
total amount expended during the las.
school year for support Of public
schools was $500, 1855, and the value
of school property was $10,437,142.
Among the higher institutions of
learning the state university at Grand
Forks maintains its splendid record
Of the past n adds its yearly quota
to the scholarly citizens of the state.
The two normal schools, located re-
spectively 1t Valley City and May
vile have been equally assiduous and
successful in maintaining their high
standard of excellence. A third in
stitution of this kind is now rapidly
approaching completion at Minot in
Ward county, and will soon be reliev-
ing the pressure which called for it's
erection. The state agricultural col
lege at Fargo has again demonstrated
the useful position it occupies in the
agricultural life Of the community by
dissemination of practical methods
n all avenue of agrarian industries.
To 1913 belongs the honor of wit
Messing in successful operation the
first plant for the briquetting of Ignite
coal for popular consumption. This
plant is lcated at MinOt and it's install
lation has demonstrated the tremend-
Gus field which awaits further de-
velopment along these lines. The use
of Ignite as a fuel for the home is
extending throughout the state, the
opening of the Pingree-Wilton branch
of the Northern Pacific railway add
ing greatly to the territory within
which this valuable native product
can be handled commercially. A SINH
lar satisfactory condition in the high
class brick industries Of Morton and
Stark counties is to be noted, neces-
stating the doubling Of capacity for
output by some Of the companies en-
gagged in this occupation.
Financially the state is in a sound
and fiourishing condition. On June
4th, 1913, a report from 626 state and
144 national banks stated the capital
of these banks to be $13, 1913, 300, sur
plus and undivided profits $5,774,332,
and deposits $4,000 ,6O2. This would
indicate a bank for every TAO inhabit-
ants, a record believed to be unsur-
passed by any other state in the union.
The per capita wealth of the state
is now estimated to be $2,041, which
is aloso a record.
Since the publication of the last
year book, the number Of counties in
the state has been increased by one,
the roster now numbering fifty. The
latest addition is Golden Valley coun-
ty, formed by the division Of the form
er county Of Billings. the new coun-
ty taking it's name from the valley
in which is located Beach, the new
county seat. The area of the new sub
division is 632, 712 acres, and it's popu-
lation must very closely approach the
6, 200 mark. In 1910 the population
of those townships comprising the new
county was returned at 4,402, since
which time many new settlers have
come in. Billings county retains it's
organization with an area of 1884,
$50 acres.
The rapid settlement Of the trans
Missouri counties is a notable feat
ure of the states development in 1918.
This has been caused largely by the
lieraI policies of the three great trans
continental lines. the Northern Pa
cifc. Great Northern and 500, in
providing transportation facilities for
the incoming settlers. It is expected
that these counties will all show large
increase in population at the next
census, a fact already f~Oreshadowed
by their increased agricultural pro-
duCtion.
During 1918 licenses were taken out
for 1905 automobiles and 913 motor
cycles. in the office of the secretary
of state, which office also issued
charters for 379 general n 81 bank
corporations, making in all 1884 COR
pOrate bodies in existence on the 31st
day of December. 1913.
Comparative statment showing as
sessed valuation of all property in
North Dakota for the year 1907 and
1913.