The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-08-26
FARMERS OVERCOME
MOISTURE PROBLEM
BY T1LLAGE SYSTEM
Catholic Priest There Since
1904 Has Played Great
Part in Progress
WOULD MAKE A FINE PARK
Martin, Closer, Rust, Maecke,
WaIery and Cress Farms
Are Beautiful

Gladstone, N. D., Aug. 26.-Rev
Father Paul Lotter, rector of St
Thomas parish in Gladstone, a pio-
neer of southwestern North Dakota
remembers that back in the late
nineties farmers in the vicinity OF
Richardton and other places plowed
their fields only nee every four OF
five years. They did not pillow oftenel
because the soil would blow" being
dry and loose; and of course those
early settlers raised crops in accord
ance with such tillage, the average
being below six bushels per acre
Scores of homesteaderS moved away
but many Of them came back, drawn
by the charm of the Missouri Slope
Today the same farmers, cultivatine
the same ground in an intensive way
as BELTS semi-arid conditions, are
raising as high as 40 bushels of wheat
to the acre. They have learned how
nature hides her secret treasures in
the soil.
Remembering this bit of history, the
public spirited padre took for his text
on a recent Sunday the Old Tesla
ment story of the father with sever
sons, who told them he had a treasure
hidden on his little farm. They were
to dig for it, and, to use modern
~phraseology, flinders would be keep
ers." They dug for the treasure early
and late, and COR the farm produced
crops of such abundance that the
boys realized production of crops was
the treasure the father had been hint
ing at. AS it was in the days of an
tiquity, so today infallibly the word
runs true.
Gladstone is situated in the midst
of a rich farming section where the
farmers have been thoroughly
schooled in the secrets of good tillage.
The pretty village stands on a high
plateau overlooking the deep ravines
and rich valley lands Of the Heart and
Green rivers. and the scenery at all
seasons is charming. The e e-studded
meadows and shady glens of the Heart
river bordering the town would at
tract thousands of visitors II made
into a public park. and there is con-
siderable agitation to that purpose
now in progress.
Heart River Is Scenic
That the scenic magnificence Of the
Heart river can be maintained as well
as improved upon has been proved by
Father LOtter, who has been at the
head of st. Thomas parish here since
1904. The church property comprises
about five acres on the outskirts of
the village and running down into the
steep, rocky and wooded gullieS of the
river. The steep declivity back of the
church property was used in former
years as a dump ground. This rubbish
has been removed and the nature
loving minister has quarried lodges of
stone to build stairs and winding
paths by which mixers and pleasure
seekers may descend to the river. A
stout rock dam has been laid across
the stream to impOund the water for
a swimming pool, where old and young
may frolic and find comfort in the hot
days of midsummer. All of this work
Father Lotter did with his own hands,
with such simple tools as a spade, a
pick and a wheelbarrow. The min
lister has demonstrated that trees,
shrubs and flowers will grow ON the
upper plateau as we'll as down along
the river. Many splendid shade and
fruit trees and lilac bushes are flour
ishing around the church and parish
house, and most of these have been
grown without irrigation.
Gladstone has the distinction of be-
ing the first town built in Stark
county. and was in fact the first vii
lage plated west of Mandan and east
of Glendive. The first settlers came
in 1882.
Records kept by the Gladstone Com
mercial club show grain shipments
from this point totaled a half million
dollars in value in the 1925-26 season.
Cattle and hogs brought close to
$4,000 and poultry and eggs added
about SIC, 900 more to the income for
that period. The receipts will be
greatly reduced this year owing to the
extremely low prices for agricultural
products of all kinds.
Settlers Are Organized
The Stark County Old Settlers as
ISOLATION. organized here in 1886, has
held annual picnicS at Gladstone ever
since. It is believed to be the Oldest
organization Of its kind in North Da-
kota.
There r many outstanding ex-
amples in this vicinity where farmers
of thrift and ability have dug for
tunes out of the soil. These fortunes
have not been boarded and hidden
away but have been used in building
modern houses and barns, improving
the fbcks and herds and identifying
the home premises.
East Of Gladstone two miles is the
Frank Martin farm, where the large
home and other buildings will meas
ure up to city specifications as soon as
an electric light plant, now being in
stalled, is completed. This home has
been made a show place" for sight
seerS because it is so close to town,
but there are many others just as
handsome and up to date.
Another model farm, 10 miles to the
north, is owned and managed by Sc
bastian Gieser. The farm is 800 acres
and the equipment includes silo, grain
elevator, electric lights, and q water
system is oon to be added. Mr.
GieSer has a considerable flock of
sheep which this year Melted him $2.15
per head for the wool clip alone. The
lamb crop wa quite satisfactory.
Another farm home worth seeing
in the same locality is owned by AL
bert Rust, whose parents were among
the first settlers. Robert Muecke has a
farm close by with a good home and
complete equipment for labor saving
farm operations. Mr.. Muecke was one
OF those who picked and sold buffalo
bones IN the early days to exc out a
living. Mr.. Muecke specializes in baby
beef. Last year he shipped . COW to