Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 27, 1909, Page 23

BRI BEMIDJI, BELTRAMI COUNTY AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. in cash for dairy products. Dairy farming is the system of farming to which North- central Minnesota is best adapted, it is the most practical and profitable system for the average farmer. It is a true fact that the adaptibility for dairying does not disparage the agricultural richness of the soil hereabouts for farming purposes, as ‘it 18 well known that Minne- sota is the wheat state of the world, the soil of which will raise anything from tobacco, coffee, peanuts, crops which have been exhibited and crops which have at- tracted widespread attention. In conclusion, let it be known that as far as dairying goes the grasses of this state are not like Buffalo grass, which thrives but for a few months in the fall, but are one perennial growth. Without exaggera- tion or with the sinister motive to deceive, -The Pioneer can unreservedly aver that the %7 soil of Beltrami county has produced three crops of clover in a single year. The above facts speak their own piece for the dairying interests possible in this country. However, if you are sceptical, write the Immigration Bureau at St. Paul for a corroboration of what we have here- in asserted. BEMIDJI’'S CREAMERY. This is one of the most important es- tablishments in this section, and one which goes to forcibly illustrate the pos- sibilities of Beltrami County’s dairying interests. When the fact is realized that the Bemidji Creamery daily turns out about 8,000 pounds of butter, a slight inkling of the worth of our grazing lands and cattle raising can be drawn. The Bemidji Creamery is also a strictly home concern, owned by Melges Brothers, the _ proprietors of the mammoth fruit and ecommission house which bears their name. notice of which is given in another col- umn. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the dairying opvortunities available in this county, as the people hereabouts are just awakening to this highly to be ap- preciated resource. Beltrami county truly offers hopes for success along these lines. The geological conditions are ideal. all conditions are pronitious for the raising of cattle which will produce milk of rich- ness and in great quantity, and it is a foregone conclusion that the Bemidii Creamery has not only filled a much needed field, but that it will develop into one of the greatest plants of its kind in the Great Northwest. Its reputation for a pure, sweet and clean butter production is widespread, its trade yield extends to every section of the country. and it con- stitutes a factor which greatly advertises the city. Farmers in this vicinity should realize the full value of the Bemidji Creamery, and give to it their most consistent sun- port, for they will then not only benefit themselves financially, but will have done their share toward fostering an in- dustry which means much to this city and county. MR. A. J. McGUIRE. In bringing the name of this gentleman before the thousands of readers who will peruse this edition of The Ploneer, we do so -because he has been one of the most prominent factors iIn the Northwest in bringing the dairying interests to the high plane and prominence with which they are now accredited. Mr. McGuire is superintendent of the ex- perimental station at Grand Rapids, a posi- tion he has held for five years, and that he is amply qualified for the position, is indi cated by the results of his work and the development of agriculture throughout north-central Minnesota during the past few years, and along the lines hel has advocated, based upon his work on the experiment farm. He is a graduate of the school of agriculture and State University -and also - from the ‘school of hard knocks.” That Mr. McGuire’s distinctive choice as head of the experimental station was a stroke of wisdom on the part of the Board of Regents of the State University can be imagined from the extent of the interest he has aroused in the dairying and cattle industries, and by the enormous sums of capital which his voluntary efforts and tech- nical knowledge have brought into the state. Through his conception of the dairy indus- try and by his impressive demonstration of the possibilities of agriculture in northern Minnesota, he has attracted homeseekers and cattle men in manifold numbers. We refer the reader to the special article on this subject, desiring as we do, to merely reflect Mr. McGuire as he really appears before the public. 7 Mr. McGuire is one of those men who is destined to rank among the first of those who have permanently benefited this state. He is tireless in his efforts to produce scientific results: he has devoted the last iota of energy to the matter of dairying, and The Pioneer can unequivocally assert, before the legislature and individuals alike, that Mr. McGuire has not only earned post tive distinetion which has come to him by virtue of merit and learning, but that he is among the most vseful men in the state. AS TO LIVE STOCK. Correllative with dairying, here 1is a salacious morsel for the live-stock breeder; taken from the records and absolutely bona fide. Minnesota has a large variety of soll, but all of a highly productive character, and scientific examinations show that the ooil in Minnesota containg more plant food than the average in other states. To be- gin with, prominent cattle breeders are feeding stock In this state—cattle brought from other localities. A fact which proves that stock-raising is a sinecure in this vicinity. At the World’s Fair in Chicago, samples of Minnesota soil, which were ex- hibited there, were awarded the prize for containing more plant food than any other state in the contest. Thig fact helps some. But further: Dairying and the raising of live-stock have become important industries here, and herds of the very best blooded stock can be found on almost every farm, with creameries and cheese factories in many villages. Statistics from the recent report of the state dairy and food ecommissioners present some Interesting facts, relative to Minnesota’s dairying, and are as follows: During the year 1906 the 825 creameries in Minnesota made over 78,455 pounds of butter and seventy-two cheese factorles made over 31,732,000 pounds of cheese. These few figures show that Minnesota is a dairy as well as a wheat state, and the dairy business is iIncreasine every year. Minnesota, bas been justly named “The Bread and Butter State,” as it produces vearly a bushel of wheat and a pound of butter for every man, woman and child in the United States. Corn raising is rapidly becoming an im- portant branch of agriculture in Minnesota, and the ylield in both quality and quantity is a match for the old corn belt of the United States. Statistics show that as far back as the year 1899, Minnesota raised almost 1,500,000 acres of corn, which yielded over 47,000,000 bushels, and at the St. Louis World’s Fair a nothern country farmer walked off with one of the prizes for a superior quality of corn. Fodder can be raised in abundance in all parts of the state, and is a boost for the dairy and live-stock interests of the state. While Minnesota farmers can success- fully raise any kind of farm products, in tame and wild grasses she stands head and shoulders above all others in both duality and quantity of production. Grasses thrive in every part of the state. At the last state fair Beltrami county exhibited some clover which measured six feet and two inches in length, and some wild blue joint grass which measured five feet and seven inches. Minnesota is particularly adapted for sheep ~ raising, but this branch of industry has . been neglected and has gone to the prairies of the west: However, farmers have begun to take more to this industry the past few years with remarkable success, and sheep raising will soon be an important and profitable business in this state, as sheep require undulating land, and over seventy- five per cent of Minnesota is of this char- acter, according to geological survey. The State Experimental Farm recently made an interesting experiment in raising sheep, which proved conclusively that Minnesota is a sheep state as well as a cattle state. Ten head of sheep were successfully pastured on one acre of land, and the same ten head were fed through the winter from the pro- duct of one acre. The experimental farm also sent a crate of five head of sheep to Chicago in 1901 and 1902 in a contest with the world, and in both cases Minnesota sheep were awarded the first prize. To tell of all of Minnesota’s agricultural advantages would require many pages, therefore we can only give a brief descrip- tion in this number, but we can say that one acre of Minnesota land will produce just as much as an acre of the land in the highly developed portions of the TUnited States, where it sells from $100 to $200 per acre, or more. The price of Minnesota farm lands, although steadily advancing, is still low, compared with many other states, and to the man with a little money who wishes to raise live-stock, enter the dairying business or farm, no better place can be found on the globe than Bel- trami QOunty. It is not speaking too highly to say that Beltrami County holds out better induce- ments than any other section in the union, to men in all walks of life. With soil, forests and prospective wealth and railroad and water- way transportation facilities unparallelled, it offers to you a sturdy and sound citizen- ship, and extends a hand of welcome to the industrious, thrifty and progressive citizen. The Pioneer requests that a careful study be made of the article relative to Bel- trami county’s abundance and resourceful- ness, which will be found on another page. It may prove interesting, as in similitude to this chapter of this editfon. If not, it i{s at least authentic and rests on its merits. We know well that Bemidji and Beltrami county people have friends scattered in every direction of the compass. They need not accept The Pioneer’s assertions on weighty subjects such as dairyving, stock- raising, farming and industry. This office respectfully requests that those who peruse this printed exploration of the dairying and stock-raising opportunities of this section, write their friends and ascertain if we are not presenting conditions as they exist. = ,!_-_,!w.w.' .»...Am.,...._....m‘»..r,.-.’:..a,.gmwafiraw»w;;wra e T e A ROTe T ]