The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1922-09-01

and met many people who were there
spending their summer vacation at
camping more than they were fish
ing. 1t was on one of these jaunts
that we ran across Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilson and daughter of Bathgate on
their return from Lake Ponto to the
Itaska Park where they made their
headquarters. They were apparent
ly. as pleased to meet us as we were
to see them.
One has to take off his hat to the
state Of Minnesota and the way they
are spending money in constructing
roads: The Babcock system adopted
on every main road and the construc-
tion is systematically carried out.
Hills are cut down and fills made like
in railroad construction and the sur
face is. leveled off with gravel foot
and more deep. From Pine River
northeast through an unsettled dis
trict about sixty miles a new road
has been laid out since we were there
that would do credit to the trunk
lines out Of Chicago and the large
trucks and double teams haul five
yards of gravel to the load and dump
it along the sides where men level it
off with rakes. If there is stone
the size Of hens egg it is placed
in pile and carried to lower places
to be covered up later with fine
gravel.
The hauls of gravel sometime ex-
ceed ten miles but in most places
gravel, is obtained nearer than that.
Settlers have been coming in large
numbers since these roads were
built. Most of these people come
from Iowa, Missouri and the cities to
the south. It is all "cut-over" land
that is owned by lumber. companies
who have cut the larger timber into
lumber several years ago. This land
sells for 500 an acre up and it cost
from SIS to $50 an acre to clear it..
It is very light soil and Pembina
county farmer would be disappointed
trying to make living cultivating
almost any Of that land.
The average farmer has about 80
acres Of land on which he raises rye,
corn, potatoes and garden truck.
There was one carload Of wheat ship
ped from Backus last season we were
told.
We. visited three threshing mach
ines at work while there. They re-
selnbled more a si1o shredder than u
separator and 1920 gasoline engine
was the motive power. Hay is scarce
and sells generally for $50 per ton.
At these prices cattle raising is not
very profitable.
But for these facts most Of the
people living there seem to be sat-
isied with their lot.
All along the roads one sees these
signs: Vegetables for sale," 'ice
and milk for campers for sale,"
"boats to rent" etc. Which goes to
show that the good roads and the
tourists, trade is looked upon as of
considerable Importance.
Among the businessmen of Backus
is C. wv. LaMoure who is doing
good business. He owns one of two
elevators in town, buys grain, has two
lath mills in different parts of, the
neighborhood and handles wood fence
posts, setc. He and his wife and boy
had just returned from an auto trip
to Virginia in their Hudson Super
Six which took them several weeks,
returning home via New York and
Philadelphia.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. LaMoure arrived
there Saturday, August 10Th and we
transferred the responsibility of run
hing the camp to them, and with
Esther and Luella LaMoure and Ver-
nita Thompson they will remain there
for few days before returning
home.
Touring and Its Difficulties
There is lots of pleasure in ramp
ing around the country in an auto
mobile when conditions are right.
But there are many who motor
around aimlessly who should not be