Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1916-01-06
SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS
OF A CAAuTAuQuA
Enhanced Land Values and
Other Advantages.

The working out of the plan for
the development of great agricul-
tural summer school and pleasure
resort at Spiritwood lake meets the
approval Of the public both rural
and civic No other enterprise will
be of greater profit and add more
surely to the pleasure of the people
in all the adjacent rural towns and
villages. Montana and Minnesota,
having great variety of mountain,
lake, stream and timber land, fur
nish natural Fairgrounds which add
greatly to variety and spice of life
and contribute much to the pleasure
of their people. North Dakota in
this respect has not been fortunate.
The prairie landscape sometimes be-
comes monotonOus. Especially is
this true in the case of newcomers,
among whom a frequent complaint
or criticism is heard: There is moth
ing to see-no place to go.'
This condition has become espe-
cially noteworthy since the advent of
the automobile. Sundays, holidays
in fact every day almost during
the summer months-the traveller
can count hundreds of automobiles
going to and fro, but to no place in
particular. The country people run
into town and out again; the town
people to the country and back
again, for nothing in particular.
Minnesota has profited greatly by
her natural outdoor attractions, and
will continue to do so. Much of the
time and money of great numbers of
North Dakota citizens have been
spent in that state because of its
beautiful summer camping grounds.
Spiritwood lake is a beautiful
body of water. We have taken it
too much for. granted. Nothing finer
in Minnesota, nothing to equal it in
North Dakota. At one time it was
Immensely popular because Of its it's
abundance of game fish. 1t can be
made so again, for the government is
ready to help if the proper law en-
forcement is added.
Amusement Features.
The bathing facilities can be de-
veloped and such amusement fea-
lures as shooting the chutes, tennis
courts, ball grounds, boating, with
an auditorium can be provided.
Musical programs at regular inter-
walls will attract music lovers and
there are few who are insensible to
the charms of good music. Hotel
accommode tions, bowling alleys and
golf g-cand and camping facilities
that will attract thousands of strang-
ers are being worked out according
to the plan of the Chautauqua man
agement. Spiritwood lake offers a
natural beauty spot for great as
sembly grounds. 1t is centrally To-
Gated for the state as whole and
automobiles, the means of transpor-
tation, will put the lake within easy
access of thousands of people who
will make long journeys in distance
but short ones in point of time, to
this resort.
Increase of Land Values.
A big asset financially in the or
ganigation of successful Chautau-
qua will be an increase in the selling
value of land in the vicinity and in
fact throughout q large area Of
country easily reached from the
lake. Land buyers will be naturally
willing to pay more for good farm
land within easy reach of such an at.
traction than for land distant from
such advantages. The sale of farm
products in the summer will be a
considerable item to the hundreds
of campers and strangers stopping
at the lake. Land firms are all in
terested In this view of the project
and land owners are sure to benefit.
Farmers in the territory adjacent to
the lake are nearly unanimous as to
the financial benefit that will follow
as the result Of the working out of
the big Chautauqua enterprise. A
little calculation shows that on q
basis Of an increase of only IS per
acre within a dozen miles Of the
lake. taken as a center. an aggre-
gate, gain of $1,3S2,400 is seen
$500 q quarter section. These fig
ures are startling, but the fact is
they are conservative and formers
can we'll feel justified in holding
their land for such an advance. In
fact, many farmers will no doubt
find that an increase price Of SO