The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1916-12-26
(From Dakota Farmer)

results Oh Ine One-crOp system at
TING when the farmer hoped for such
different results. f,.f>-,~., -.- 90. nd
80 The Trip to Linton. ~
From Aberdeen west and north to
Linton probably one.quarter of the
land in sight of the Milwaukee track
was under cultivation. On this one.
fourth of the land the farmers and
their sons, and sometimes the women
Of the house had worked hard early
and late during the season in an ef-
tort to make a crop-generally Of
wheat. A field of corn was a rare
sight on this entire trip except in
5 0llel s9estwR localities. We. could not
help but feel, as we rode along, the
dlsappointments and discouragements
that prevailed in this part Of the
country, and particularly in the
houses. We do not mean. by this that
these people are going to be hungry
this winter. Almost without an ex-
ception there will he enough to buy
the necessities of life. But how many
OF these farmers and their wives had
the hope that there would be enough
over and above buying necessities to
provide some Of the Injuries of life
also. This particular section Of North
and South Dakota is one Of the most
exclusively small grain sections to be
found in the two states. Naturally
some of these people will this fall and
winter blame the country for the fact
that they cannot have or enjoy some
OF the Injuries they would like to
have. -
Grass.
Hpweyer there is one crop that was
wonderfully good all over this great
area. And, the acreage Of it was al
most unlimited. There was grass
Going to; waste. and, q, splendid crop
Of 1t, as Tar as we could see during
the entire trip. Grass, the richest that
ever grew from a soil; grass that
Nature provided without price: grass
that lever fails; grass, the feed Of
the pffal9 and the antelope, the b est
these Skillful animals could find in
this great American country when
they s:wefS roaming it from Washing.
ton to Florida; grass that il properly
used makes more money for the farm
er who uses it than any crop. OF grain
growing in any country; grass that
the cattle would convert into money
while the farmer planted his wheat Or
other crop; grass that IS the richest
feed in the summer and the best of
hay in winter; more grass is going
to waste this year in this section
than was grown in any Of the cotton
states except Texas. =.
We pride ourselves. sometimes on
our intelligence, our good Judgment
our ability to make money, our great
Independence; then why do we work
ourselves to death blowing, sowing,
reaping in the heat Of summer while
this enormous waste is going on in
cur Hidst? If grass did not grow so
readily, these same men and women
would work Just as hard to get It to
grow by planting it and cultivating
it as they now work to grow wheat
to'segf to the elevators. However we
may farm in: this great northwestern
country, and no matter where we go
to investigate agricultural conditions.
we always find rich soil, prosperous
people, big farms, good homes, where
grass is used as .:the basis of their
agriCultpEeSQn thasOther hand, wher.
ever the ealtivated crop, whatever il
may be, is depended upon, and the
crop sold in its natural condition, we
find soil already depleted or growing
poorer year by year, high interest
rates and discouraged people.
Things Are Better.
Eut. things are better in this coun-
try than they were just few years
ago. Wherever one looks out of the
train window he sees scattered over
the prairies where originally stood
the sod or adobe house. neat. com.
modi0us farmhouses. with sufficient
barns to take care of the stock, many
Of them strictly modern and of ample
capacity. The roads have been. i'm:
proved. Here and there some en-.
thusiastic farmer with the right spirit
has not only undertaken to build
house, but to make home. He has
planted some trees and fenced the
garden. The place has the appear
ance OF permanency rather than OF
only q stopping place until money
enough can be made to move to town.
The outlook is splendid.
A Former Great Wheat Center.
About noon We reached Eureka, S.
D. This little city only few years
ago Boosted of being the largest orig.
inal wheat marketing center in the
world. We think It was true. At
that time, if We remember correctly,
they counted more than 20 elevators
along the Milwaukee railway within
the limits Of the town. Farmers came
for 60, 80 and some of them for 100
miles from the north and west to
market.their wheat at the price some
body might fix for it that morning in
Minneapolis, Chicago or Liverpool In
man. instances the whole family
came, each member driving some
kind of a team hauling as much
wheat as the team could handle. They
we're a tired looking group when they
reached Eureka after having spent
one day and sometimes two nights
sleeping by the roadside. But they
were doing the best they could to
make themselves a home, and they