Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-10-27
DEVELOPING OUR COUNTY

At the testimonial dinner in
Pine City, Oct. II, in honor of
Matt Poferl who has been so sue
cessful with the Pine county
agricultural exhibit at the State
Fair the. past eight years, the ed
itor of the American read paper
which had to do with the devel-
opment of Pine county or at any
rate gave few of the writer's
thoughts on that subject. The ar
ticle was prepared especially for
the banquet but inasmuch as it
might interest others and car
ries a message to all those in
terested in the further. develop
ment. of the county, it is being
printed herewith and reads as
follows:
At a gathering of this kind with
folks present from over the county
it would seem quite in order to speak
few words on the development OF
our county, thing which naturally
interests all progressive citizens.
In 1900 Pine county had popula-
tion of 1856, according to the fed
eral census; in 1910 it was 1873, and
in 1920, 21,117, a good showing and a
gain of about 33 1870 in the decade
from 1910 to 1920. AS we all know
the trend for the four or five years
after 1920 was from the country to
the cities and 1 doubt that we have
shown an increase in population
since 1920, although Pine county has
Jared better than many of the north
ern Minnesota counties and with some
good boosting and determined effort
along the line of getting new settlers
and maintaining those we have, we
can show an increase in population
before 1880 rolls around. Much can
be done in two years-at any rate the
foundation can be laid for greater
efforts. Much has already been done
by Mr.. Poferl in laying a good foun-
dation.
We have many advantages in Pine
county that are worth making known
to the outside world For instance
we are close to good markets-Du
luth and Superior to the north, and
the Twin Cities to the south. A paved
road traversing the county from north
to south. Three good railroads, and
certainly many good state-aid roads,
county and township roads for coun-
ty that is yet sparsely settled. We
have good schools, rural mail routes
and telephones in nearly all COM
munities.
The soil is very fertile and we have
excellent water, nature has provided
well. We have also the lakes, rivers,
and smaller streams.
The winter may be a little long,
but it is vigorous climate and makes
for thrifty people. But the winters
are longer in Canada and they are
getting many settlers Speaking OF
long winters it reminds me of an
American who visited Norway, the
land of the Midnight sun. He was
in the ,northernmost portion of the
country and it was in the winter time
The Norwegians were on skis. He
was conversing with one of those
ski jumpers and was told that they
had nine months of winter and only
three months of summer. The Amer.
lean said: Don't you get tired of the
long winters, land don't they seem
dreary." The Norwegian said: ''No, the
only part of the year that drags
heavily is the summer time, those
three long months, when we CAM
use our Skis" and he hoped off again
on his skis.
Our growing season in Pine county
is not so long, but when things dc
begin to sprout they grow exceedingly
well and fast. You probably all re-
member some years ago when S. B
Wells of the Pine City community
exhibited corn at the State Fair anG
won first prize. The fair officials
sent man up here to investigate anG
make sure that the corn was grown
on Mr.. Wells farm and that it was
not imported, for they could hardly
believe that such mature corn ears
were raised as far north as Pine City
They found out that there was M
camouflage about it and Corn Kins
Wells had large quantities of it.
Our county is 48 miles north AM
south and SO miles east and west
amongst the largest in the state il
point of area. And it is well to have
a large county, there are more people
to get acquainted with, bigger prob
lens, and there is the incentive tt
strive on toward the accomplishment:
of the bigger problems.
Our population could be about five
times as large as it now is and yet