Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, July 18, 1907, Page 1

A N THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONE VOLUME 6. NUMBER 74 BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 18, 1907 s / MINNESOTA HISTORICAL TR FORTY CENTS PER MONTH “T'HE BEAUTIES OF THE ‘NORTH (From the Mankato Free Press.—Written by M. D. Fritz, General Manager of the Free Press, je——— STAR’ STATE” “Minnesota Has Donned Her Summer Garb and Presents a Picturesque and Attractive Panorama.---Scenes Near Bemidji.”---An Able Article on This City and the Surrounding Country, by a Southern Minnesota Man. o Lake Bemidji Opposite Public Dock 3 v Rich Farm Land, on Mississippi, East of Bemidji M. D. Fritz, the manager of the Mankato Daily Free Press, recently visited Bemidji and was so profound- ly impressed with what he saw while coming here, while here, and in going away that he wrote the fol- lowing article for the Free Press, concerning his trip: “Minnesota has donned her sum- mer apparel, and she presents a pic- turesque panorama with her soft car- pet of Nature’s own weaving, ripe and growing grains, wild and culti- vated flowers of every shade and hue, embellished with a green rich- ness that is not manifest at any other time of the year. The year has been backward, but the opportune rains and warm sunshine of the past three weeks have accelerated a rapid growth, which is characteristic of Minnestota crops, and the result will be a bountiful, golden and munificent harvest. ““I'he development of the northern part of the state has not been as rapid as the conditions would justify. Southern Minnesota—that part of it which but a few years ago was cov- ered with the virgin timber, and which today, by the hard toil of man, has justly achieved the title of the bread and butter section of the union, was much the same as northern Min- nesota. Conditions that have been changed in southern Minnesota—the harvest of grains, vegetables and grasses supplanting the stately tree —can be changed in northern Min- nesota, and in a few brief years the latter will blossom with the products adapted to this section, and the vast acres of timber and brush that now lie dormant will bud and bloom as does the southern half of the state. ““I'he vastness of Minnesota’s acres can scarcely be realized until you board a train and travel from one end of the state to the other. iephune poles, and posts can be seen in almost every direction, This | work furnishes employment to thou- sands of men. ‘Yim Hill—he also ban a goud fellar—has squad after squad of men employed in railroad construction and work along the line. Oak ties have become so scarce that the Northern Pacific company is now using birch ties, which, I am told, last for years after being treated chemically with creosote at a plant built by this road at Brainerd ata cost of one hundred thousand dollars. | Practically any kind of wood can now be used for railroad building after a plunge into the creosote™ vat. “Brainerd is a pretty little city and has many handsome and costly busi- ness blocks, residences, county build- ingsand schools. “Walker, the home of our former townsman, Ed. I P. Steade, is located on Leech lake, along the banks of which are situated many pretty cottages. Walker is the coun- ty seat of Cass county, and recently a court house was built there that in size, design and architectural beauty is equal to any in the state, popula- tion considered. Mr, Steade is pres- ident of the Walker State bank, and owns a large sawmill in the city, in addition to many other interests. Near Walker is located the state sanitarium among the pines on the shore of Leech lake. Here the writer met General C.C. Andrews, state commissioner, who was on his way to Bemidji” where he went to meet Hon. S. D. Green, state horti- culturist. These gentlemen together examined the forest east of Red lake, which belongs to the Red Lake Indians. General Andrews talks enthusiastically and entertainingly about the forests of Minnesota. Pre- cautions are taken to avoid forest fires in the northern part of the state. Under the present forestry laws the town supervisors become “A few days ago a representative | the forest wardens and are expected of The Free Press made a trip to|to extinguish forest fires promptly. Bemidji going by way of St. Cloud | The General deplores the fact that and Brainerd over the Northern Paci- | many northern farmers are stripping fic railroad, following the Mississippi | their entire farms of the timber on river as far as Brainerd, then north-|them, and thinks that at least twenty west, winding around beautiful lakes|acres on every quarter section studded with pine, balsam and hard- | should be preserved, cutting those wood trees. The towns along this|trees only as fast as they mature and line look prosperous, asa rule, and | when they cease to make money by many of the smaller stopping places|greater growth, thus giving the have sawmills, taking a log of almost | younger trees a better chance. In every size and converting it into|this way ample wood can always be saleable lumber of various dimen-|had. “Approaching the city of Bemidji wood, lath, pulp wood, box wood, tel-| may be seen well cultivated farms, sions, Mammoth piles of logs, cord managed by thrifty farmers, who are growing all kinds of grains and who in recent years are devoting some consideration to the raising of stock. “Bemidji is charmingly situated, has a population of six thousand, and possesses that spirit of enterprise characteristic of northern Minnesota cities. Buildings were erected large and of substantial material with a view to greater growth and develop- ment of the rural district surrounding. Business men stand unitedly for all that which militates and inures to the upbuilding of Bemidji. Nature has done much for this place. Thousands of strangers are attracted here yearly by the picturesque bodies of water, on the shores of which are beautiful shade trees spared by the axman whoin the early years fore- saw the beauties of Lake Bemidji and contemplated the picturesqueness of cottages along the lakeside, built under the shadow of the hard maple, birch and pine trees.. Lake Bemidji is but a few steps from the business section of the city, andis six miles in length and about two miles in width., Through Lake Bemidji flows the Schoolcraft river which empties into Lake Plantagnet, a short dis- tance south, A boulevard drive . Jaround the lake, the banks of which are some fifty feet high, is an attrac- tive feature. Several cottages have recently been built on the east shore of the lake, which is an ideal spot for building or tenting. “Senator S. D. Works of Mankato owns fifty of the choicest spots here and anticipates the sale of all of these lots this and next season. They are located east of the. city, and the lake steamers make three visits daily carrying passengers and baggage. It is difficult to conceive of a more picturesque outing place than on east shore. Fish and game are plentiful, and launches, steamers and row boats are always to be had at the boat house. Asan indication of Bemidji’s growth, I am informed that upwards of one hundred houses were built there last year, and many business blocks. This season - the streets are being raised above the lake level in order to afford better sewer drainage. This has necessi- tated the raising of nearly all the business houses of the city. “The city of Bemidji was named in honor of the old chief who died there three years ago at the age of eighty five years, ,One of the largest and best equipped saw millsin Min- Lake Bemidji. It is the plant of the Crookston Lumber company, owned principally by Thomas Shevlin. The mill employs nearly one thousand men, and it is estimated that there is enough timber in that vicigi)y to keep it running night and ‘day for twenty years. “Several other manufacturing plants are located here, among them an axe handle factory, brick._ yards, lath mill, brewery and cold storage plant. *‘Bemidji has two live town boost- ers: viz.: "A hustling daily news- paper, The Pioneer, with A.G. Rut- ledge; managing editor, Clyde J. Pryor, business manager, anda Commercial club, of whichS. F. Lycan is president and C. J. Pryor, secretary. As The Pioneer publishes no paper on Sunday the ministers of the gospel take up the work of boost- ing on that day and the praises of Bemidji are sung and spoken loudly from the pulpits and Salvation army barracks. With the spirit of push manifest in Bemidji, nothing will prevent the city from growing materially. Itis situated on the southern edge of Bel- trami county, midway between Duluth and Grand Forks; N. D., on the Fosston branch of the Great Northern railway. Itis also con- nected with the twin cities by the Park Rapids branch via Sauk Center; this branch having its northern ter- minus in this city, and also with Brainerd and the twin cities, by the Minnesota and International - and Northern Pacific railways, which operate jointly and furnish a through service from St. Paul to Northome, the northern terminus of the M. & L R. R,, forty miles north.of Bemidji, which is now extending its line to International Falls. This city is also the gateway to a large area of the northern country and the outfitting point at all seasons of the year. It is 180 miles from Duluth and about the same distance from the twin cities, and one of its most val- ued assets is the fact that itis on the edge of, probably the largestand most valuable tracts of both hard and soft timber yet standing in this coun- try. To the north for hundreds of square miles, upto the Canadian boundary line, lies one vast forest, save for the' clearings made for the new towns that have sprung up with- in the last two years; the small clear- ings of the homesteaders and nesota is located on the south shore,ofl Continusd on Last Puu |