The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-31
NORTH DAKOTA
SHOWS RAPID
DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUED from page ons)

or conditions which prevailed over
a considerable portion of the state.
This resulted In reducing the bulk
of the grain crop by considerable
amount but it did not serve to put "A
stop to the impetus of the diversified
farming movement.
A study Of the U. S. census figures
justifies the statement that North
Dakota is making more rapid strides
toward balanced system Of farming
than any other state in the union.
In five years time, from 1919 to 1924,
the acreage of alfalfa practically
do1bled, increasing from 1886 acres
to 1929 acres. The acreage in 1926
has been estimated as exceeding $780,
600 acres. Various counties last
spring reported increases ranging
from 36 to 100 per cent.
In 1919 there was practically no
sweet clover grown in the state,
census returns reporting less than
10000 acres. In 1924 the L. S. CEN
sus figures showed l6s,502 acres of
clover and the acreage in 1926 has
been placed at more than 100000
acres.
The outstanding increases have
been in dairy products, hogs. NUT
ton and wool, and poultry. Hogs are
regarded as real revenue produce RS
for the farmers of North Dakota,
Reports from 10 counties reveal that
the importation Of breeding ewes
from Montana has resulted in an
average increase Of 95 per cent in the
number of breeding ewes since 1924.
The place poultry has taken on North
Dakota farms is emphasized by the
fact that the value Of eggs, chickens,
turkeys and other poultry products
in 1926 exceeded the value of any
single small grain crop except wheat:
Creameries on Increase y
The progress made in dairying is
responsible for the remarkable in
crease in the number of creameries.
Today there are .63 creameries as
compared with Al in 1921 and 38 in
1916. The number of cream stations
is placed ut 1,845 as compared with
1870 in 1921. The 1926 butter pro-
ducti0n by creameries within the
state is placed at 36,584 ,4O8 pounds
as compared with 16,lO2,90O in 1921
and 3,21O.767 in 1916.
Millions In buildings
Despite any temporary setback in
some sections of the state as q result
of a short grain crop, the report de-
clares, there has been no let-up in
North Dakota's great push forward to
greater development. In Grand Forks
Devils Lake, Minot, Williston, Dickin-
son, Mandan, Bismarck, jamestown
Valley City and Fargo the 1926 build.
ing construction, other than municipal
improvements, amounted to $8,456, 900
Municipal improvements on q larger
scale than in any year since the war
were reported by all of the larger
cities. This extensive building con-
struction has also extended to small
or cities and towns. The railroads
are carrying out extensive building
programs and construction of the
states improved highways, providing
the state with supplementary tran.
sportation system, has been carried
on at top speed.
The close Of 1926 finds 2,764 miles
If the states proposed 7.434 mile
highway system graded with 1885
miles of this gravel surfaced and IL
miles paved. During the year 44h
miles of grading, GOO miles Of gravel
surfacing, "a miles of clay surfacing
and three miles Of paving were com.
pleted. There were carried over into
1927, on contracts started but not
completed, 67S miles OF eartn grad
ing, 14O miles Of gravel surfacinG
and the Sanish and Williston bridges
The Sanish bridge is 81 per cent com.
pleted and the Williston bridge 81
per cent completed. To date the state
highway commission has requests fol
1,1O1 miles of grading and between
500 and 600 miles Of gravel surfacine
for 1927. The building Of the Fargo.
Moorhead and Des Laos bridges will
also be included in the coming year
If the present rate Of speed If
construction Of improvd highways j.
maintained the entire system will b,
completed in eight or nine years. II
another year Highways No. 8, 8,
and I will be completely graded AM
more. than 90 per cent gravel sur
faced.
Coal Fields Developed
With the market for North Da
kota coal gradually being extended
the report declares, Ignite interests
are anticipating that the current Goa
year will see . total production O.
more than 1900 900 tons, the great
est in the history Of the state. Tn.
last four months Of 1925 have set nev