The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-11-17
"A. w. Stone and c. S. Carter
Make Resume Of Work Done
This Summer and Fall
FUNSTON DWELLS UPON
b VALUE OF COUNTY PLAN
Thompson and Fox Pleased
With Possibility of Present
UndeveIoped Region

~
+onice7 of discussion at the: MONDAY
luncheon of the Civic and Commerce
association ednesday, with A. w.
Stone, manager Of the Beltraml y Gou n
ty Land Clearing association. Harry
Funston Of. the 500 Line Immigration
department, Mark j. Thompson OF the
Duluth Experimental Station, ana
John F. Fox, land commissioner OF
the Northern Pacific railway as the
speakers. :.
"A short review of the activities Of
Of the Beltrami County Land Clear
ing association was made by Charles
3. Carter, and A. W. Stone was called
upon to give resume of the work
done by the association during the
summer and fall.
He stated that 100000 pounds Of
explosives had been received and
used by the farmers, $4,000 pounds
more were due to arrive soon, and
rs, 900 pounds had been sold by other
dealers, making in all about 100000
pounds used in the season. - .:.Ese Z.
Prior. to- the opening of the land
clearing campaign an average of
about one and one-tenth acres was
cleared per farm each year in this
county, but for 1921, a very conserv-
alive average per farm for the county,
in which there are 8 900 farms, would
be seven acres or a total of FL 900
acres for the county. Of this there are
more than II 900 acres south Of Red
Lake. Two-thirds Of this area is
stumped and brushed, much Of which
was in crop this summer. W
!, al Mr. Stone stated taaat :s;sss asst ieiys
aire was Being sent out TO 1000 far
1ners to obtain full inf formation as to
the amount cleared, the amount ot
explosives used and the area under
cultivation iris year, :I&5 s,ys
Harry F'unst ~, immigration ,>Mcial
for the 500 Line, stated that taking
Mr.. Stones estimate IF $1,000 acres
cleared in the county this year meant
adding at least $1,000; 600 to the val
ue Of the county, as in his opinion
each acre represented an added value
of $50 after it was cleared. He re-
ferr-d to the large amount of pub:ici-
ty obtained BY the county through
the land clearing campaign and cited
as one example, land clearing con-
ference which was held at Lansing,
:. Mich; where the Beltrami County
Land Clearing plan was outlined as
specimen Of the way the work may
be successfully carried OH. f. 5s..'
Mark j.. Thompson, in his usual
free style, told very clearly why it is
profitable to brush land in the late
fall and early winter. It is an idle
time for farmers there is no fire
hazard, it increases the value of land
and makes money for the farmer
when it: is hard for him to make
money any other way at that time of
year, and, the leaves being off, this
makes it possible to get clear view
of the work. Mr.. Thompson stated
that, in comparison with the values
in 1918, dairy business showed pres
! ent returns to be Lis per cent of
what it was then, while grain rails
ing gave only rs per cent of the re-
turns itrdid at that time. For this
reason land clearing and brushing
should be continued even though
farm products, were not as profit
able as it might be desired, he urged.
John F. Fox, land commissioner of
the Northern Pacific railway, also
briefly showed the future possibilities
Of this great area Of undeveloped
land anad stated that it was his opin-
. ion that some day in the future all
the land in this section of the coun-
try would be developed for some
form Of agricultural products. sf@ =.
4 "A rising vote Of appreciation was
given to the members $ofi the land
clearing association by the members
of the Civic and Commerce associa-
ton. IL -. Ills. III Nh