The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1922-03-24

Dakota, which was at a low ebbI
during the war years. is again ris-
ing. But homeseekers today will
find conditions affecting their search
for western homes changed from
days gone by, according to E. F.
Benson, manager, Department of
immigration and Industry, Northern
Pacific Railway company.
'The policy of the new West
must be permanent lana settlement.
rather than mere land selling,
said Mr.. Benson. Encouraged by
the special homeseekers' rates avail
able on northwestern railroads this
summer, many settlers will be at
tracted to the West. Heretofore
there has been too much effort to
get settlers on the land and not
enough, quite often, to keep them
there. The Northern Facific, for
one, intends to do all in its power
to see that the settlers interests are
safeguarded.
"Old fashioned methods Of land
settlement cannot succeed under
present conditions in developing the
West. The time has past when the
railroads, or any other influential
agency, will cooperate with mere
land spectators, but they will glad
ly cooperate with those land owners
and real estate agents WHO make
the settlers welfare their first con-
sideration.
Thousands of people, now living
in closely populated Eastern states,
are eager to move West to grow
up with the country but they will
not move until they know they have
chance to succeed, and that they
will secure a reasonable pioneers
profit. Heretofore many settlers
have been lured to western farms
by eloquent representations and left
there without enough resources to
permit them to develop their land
or make business success Of their
properties 49,, ssss5sss
"But these conditions are pass
ing. The West needs people today
more than ever before. The Unit
ed States has no greater problem
than the development of its unused
lands.
s'But. is the West ready to re-.
ceiye the settler? II it is, we can
send the people. We are receiving
hundreds Of letters weekly from men
who want to move to the northwest
and our immigration agents are
calling upon several hundred OF
the most likely OF these prospects
each month.
There is only one answer to the
question: "What are the best meth
DDS OF securing desirable settlers
for vacant lands? It is: Make
place for them Reverse the or
der OF things as heretofore practiced
in this country-ther of painting
bright picture of the land far awav
and then combining efforts at land
settlement to mere land selling, ana
instead, organize the land owners
into helpful and carefully planned
community development colonial
ton associations. Make it safe.
comfortable, and attractive for the
man with $4,000 or $4,000 to be-
come the owner of farm nome
that will yield a living ror himseif
and the family, pay the taxes anc
interest and ultimately the DEBT on
his farm; educate the children ana
provide amusement and social al
vantages for the women and cnlsd-
rem. make needed improvements TOT
the family's comfort and pleasure,
and finally lay up a modest sum ZOE
old age. Less than that is not an
attractive or reasonable PROPOSE
ton. - -
great boosters, the greatest, prop
ably, Ia the world. In fact. some
4 times they boost too much, without
hacking up their boosting with the
real goods. It is not enough SIM
nly 10 advertise ror settlers; be-
fore asking them to- come be sure
that you have place where the
ordinary thrifty farmer can sue
ceed. The ordinary booster litera-
ture will not get the people ID TINS
day. 49,, ohaar
land in. the West attracted settlers
They were lured on by the promise
az the pioneers profit. which was
Thought to be in sight, just as they
were lured to California for gold N
.There are still profits to be
made in the West, big profits-pro
Ats in satisfaction and happiness g
we'll AZ IN real money. But tnese
6 nrofits don't just come to people =
tho West any more than they CONS
In the East; they must be earned.
.sTo get permanent settlers W.
are convinced that the ancient land
selling schemes for the benefit 9
the land seller are futile. They q
more harm than good. What tn
west needs is colonization OF tn
type which has succeeded 50 vel
n California, III Australia and man!
european countries. This plan put
people on the land to stay, give
them chance to Iive ana prospe
and proves q permanent Denenl ! ]
the vicinity and state - Wnlcn tne! 8
successful colonization of West
ern lands Is dent largely upon
IA reasonable price TOT tn
land. . ~ /,