The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-05-27
Thousands Of Spectators Watch
Stu,nps Fly at Porte Farm
at Noon Today
COLLINS SENDS ACRE
OF STUMPS SKYWARD
Interesting Talks Are Made BY
Land Clearing Boosters
Before Demonstration

Land clearing activities in Bel
trami county, especially in the vicinity
of Bemidji and Blackjack, opened
in earnest today with the demon
strations at which Lieutenant Gov
ernor Louis L. Collins touched off the
blast which cleared an acre Of stump
land at one time. IS
In the presence of thousands OF
spectators at 1905 p. m. ,at the Thos.
Porte farm, north of Bemidji, an cleo
trio button was touched by Eeuten-
ant Governor Collins and instantly
the air was filled with flying frag-
ments of roots, stumps and earth.
Soaring a hundred feet high, pieces
of the stumps were hurled in all d.
rections. A dead line was drawn for
the crowd at $50 feet from the acre
of stumps. Snags Of trees, four feet
in diameter and 20 feet high, were
blown to atoms. - -
Prior to the blowing Of the stumps,
Lieutenant Governor Collins address,
ed the crowd and reviewed in his hui
morous way some Of the ancient his
tory of the north country He recall
ed the first wheat which was grown
here in 1853. He drew attention to
Horace Greeley's prophesy that wheat
would never grow in Minnesota, and
emphasized the. fallacy Of his argu-
ment. He stated that he. could not
lay claim to having been born on a
farm or raised. on farm as all poll
ticians who addressed gatherings Of
farm ers always claimed. He said he
knew nothing about farming, what
ever, but claimed he knew stumps
when he saw. them. 30: s s. I ... T, :
Lieutenant Governor Collins stated
that in 1878, $e3 ,0O0 was paid, elt
= by the state sfor grasshoppers at the
price of 81 per bushel, not because
the state. wanted grasshoppers but
because the farmers didn't want them.
Mark Thompson, superintendent OF
the: state experimental farm at Du-
luth, spoke on the necessity Of more
feed and more land on which to
grow it. ! - ~ -. .
John Hays, deputy commissioner Of
agriculture. said he represented the
business end Of farming and his de-
partment was for the purpose Of as
sisting the farmers in the marketing
and keeping their business records.
He stated that the people Of Bel
trami county were not living in 1921
but in 1925, in other. words they had
a vision and were making their vision
a reality. Beltrami county is being
looked upon as the leader in the
three states Of Minnesota, Wisconsin
and Michigan. according to Mr.. Hays,
so far as united land clearing IS con-
cerned. n ss.,tTs ts:.i ~. e..
Tractors of every description dem
onstrated blowing, pulling: stumps
and other kinds of work in field
close to- the site of the stump blow
ing demonstration. - The Northern
Farmers club served dinner and 9TH
er refreshments. to the throngs that
continually crowded around their
tent. -. ..-2 * - j .4tfs, 7N=tSt =
No accidents of any kind marred
the celebration. Every precaution
was taken to. accomplish this, and the
committee in charge Of the demon
ute to see to every detail. ~ -
Leutenant-G Governor: & Collins left
Immediately after, the blast for Black
duck accompanied by a large delega-
ton from Bemidji and including 4
large number Of .out-of-town$ guests
who are connected in various capaci-
ties with, agricultural development.
Distinguished visitors from out-of-
town arrived on the morning train
from the Twin Cities, and were es-
corted to the Markham hotel by,,a
delegation Of representative bust
ness men of the city and the Juvenile
band. Breakfast, with fresh trout
caught and furnished by members Of
the Bemidji Trout club as a 1headliner
Continued on Page 81 ~s...