The Bismarck tribune., 1919-04-01

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grain and other raw agricultural pro-
ducts and annually shipping out $685..
100000 to 200,0oo00o bushels Of grain,
the setting up by the state of an ele.
'vator, and mill, at comparatively
isolated spot along one of the natur-
al highways OF that vast commercial
movement, would come about as near
to setting the price or even exerting
an influence upon the price of those
millions Of bushels Of outgoing grain
as an ash screen set on edge In a
stream ,of water would come to dam
ing tuspthat stream and creating a. lake
on it's upper, reaches. = 80 u
( Asa pure business proposition it
would have been much better business
and .1nuch.les a violations of the cir
cumscribed functions Of f,government-
to haye offered the amount, appropri.
atedr2as bonuses to competent !or ex.
perienced individuals and corporations
to build and establish within the state
a real, comprehensive and permanent
terminal grain market, and which
might be both fostered and. control
led by regulatory supervision Estate
officials. But let us now take up cOh-
sideratiOn of the hOmesteader .simile
and see II we cannot there find still
more practical, sane and fundament.
al ground on which to start things
from which great or much, to be de
sired benefits are to accrue to the>
people of the state as a~whole. ~
We bave alredy found or decided
that about the first thing this sensi.
bic young, homesteader would do was
to look over and get acquainted with
his land, and spy out both its capabin+
ties and its possibilities. AS etllave
already found that states are insti-
tuted as a cooperative enterprise for
the purpose of throwing mantle OF
protection round and about the homes
within its confines, it naturally FOL
lows that about the first thing which
the people of the state, asa state,
should have done-or still do-was to
look oyer and get acquainted witl
their 1and-the state; and spy out not
only its capa bilities for the establish.
Ing Of farm homes-the aim and agre:
gate functions of the state being I'd
foster and promote homes-but to al
SO look up and ascertain its latent pos
sibilitfes and which utilized, directed
and controlled might. we'll multiply by
an hundredf0ld the states capabili.
ties for the establishment and support
of homes,
Z: Iftour state of North Dakota ever
really set out to do this it. would find
that this last mentioned possibility Isl
largely and perhaps absolutely true in
its entirety. For instance along the
western bank of prehistoric Lake
Agaasiz, by building suitable dams
across gorges through which flow the
streams from the higher ground to
the west, the triple purpose might
be accomplished of-creating an i'm
mense amount of water power and
through it cheap and abundant cleo
trical energy, the holding back of
sepring and summer floods from over.
flowing and immensely damaging the
Red River valley and, the creating of
an aggregate large water surface
throughout crop-growing months to
give added humidity and precipitation
and therefore increased agricultural
capabilities. II there was or. should
be any question about an all year
round flOwage where such work was
undertaken this doubf or possibility
could be removed by comprehensive
afforestation in connection; and this
afforestation in turn would also rem.
der cripple benefits to the people Of
the state.
This is illustrating what might be
done in but one small portion of the
state with latent forces and possibili-
ties not now utilized. And such un-
dertakings are not only within the
scope Of the states legitimate func-
tions but. are a part Of the duties i'm
posed upon it, while entering into the
sphere Of individual and corporate in.
dustry is neither.
IL we, besides our well known deep
and fertile soil, had ready and wait
ing vast amount of cheap electrical
the requisite power: ready
for producing it., and having
a climtte known to be saMhrious for
both man and vegetation, had also |
many lakes surrounded by beautiful !
scenery. does anybody doubt that |
manufacturers, farmers and AN otheE
kinds ,ot. .buildeEs s'ofs business and
homes would hasten to avail them