The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-08

Fargo, n. D., Sept. S.--Np-Hope
for the greater development Of North
Dakota's agriculture and industry is
seen by James s. Milloy, secretary
of the Greater North Dakota asso-
citation which is the new name Of the
combined North Dakota Automobile
association and Greater North Dako-
ia association.
Special significance is attached by
Milloy to an exposition of the North
Dakota situation contained in the
current issue Of Commerce and FIN
ance. Under the heading North Da-
kota Triumphant by John F. Fen
nelly, the North Dakota situation is
held to be "the most hopeful sign
that has come out of the Northwest
in recent years"
Excerpts from the article, which
outlines the political and economic
history of the state during the last
decade, follow:
THE farmers of North Dakota are
once more on the warpath. Twelve
years ago they attempted to solve
the serious economic difficulties then
confronting them by attacking the
so-called shackles of capitalism. To-
day their offensive has as its OBJ
ject the attracting of eastern CAPT
tai and industry to the state, and
their war cry is now "he serves HIM
self best who serves the state first"
Never Halfway
North Dakotans never seem to do
things by halves. When they became
convinced that they were being
crushed underfoot by the powers of
Big Business they began move
ment which terrified the whole coun-
try Now they have started cru
sade, entirely nonpolitical in aim.
to make North Dakota so attractive
to capital and industry that no out
slider will be afraid to invest his
money in the state.
1.-The movement may be said to mark
the close of the pioneer period in
North Dakota. They have seen the
truth in the statements made by
Pre- sident Coolidge and others that
there is no panacea for agriculture
in government legislation, but that
the solution Of their difficulties must
be worked out by the farmers them
selves.
Much has been written Of the re-
| cent economic difficulties of North
Dakota, but it cannot be reiterated
loo pItcH tHdt lcI dS ASlii pipbiS''a
are different from those of any other
state in the Union. 1t has been OBJ
viOus for Il long time to outside Oh
servers that the chief trouble with
our Northwestern farmers consists
in growing too much wheat and too
little else. The solution is not, how
ever, so simple as many are inclined
to believe. The transition from the
pioneer stage of bonanza wheat
farming to modern basis of
thorough diversification presents
grave difficulties, generally unappre-
ciated by outsiders.
Mine Crops
"The state was settled during the
period when it was possible to raise
heavy test weig ht spring wheat, of
the high gluten content so greatly
priced by American millers. The
wheat WAS raised by extensive farm
ing methods. the crops being liter
ally mined from the sail. The re-
suit, OF course, was a.speedy deter
ioration of soil fertility which soon
made it impossible for the farmer to
prosper by exclusive attention to
this single cro~ On the other hand
diversification was peculiarly diff
cult. because the western expan
of wheat farming had been so rapid
as to outstrip the growth of large
urban centers and the development
of industry.
"In Minnesota and Wisconsin had
occurred the same soil deterioration
and decline in wheat yields, but the
problem Of diversfication was rela-
lively simple for the farmers of
these states. Their proximity to such
great industrial cities as Minneapo-
lis, St. Paul, Milwaukee and Chicago
permitted the easy growth of truck
farming, dairying, etc. A similar de
velopment, however, was obviously
impossible for the farmers of North
Dakota. Their towns were small
and widely scattered, industry was
backward, and the soil was not
adapted for raising great variety
of crops. This situation was the
fundamental reason for the birth of
the Nonpartisan League in 1913, and
for the gravity of the long depres-
sion after 1920.
Relief Came
I'm 1924, however, good wheat
crop at high prices brought relief to
North Dakota, and the return from
the current crop promises to equal
that Of last year. The present cam
paign plans to take advantage Of the
existing prosperity and transform it