Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 27, 1909, Page 75

= e el rr————— T BEMIDJI, BELTRAMI COUNTY AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. ENTERPRISING FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS Who Have Built Up Bemidji and Beltrami County MAYOR POGUE. MAYOR J. P. POGUE. Bemidji is excessively fortunate in sundry and diverse ways, but it is peculiarly lucky in having a chief executive who impress- ively typifies the real worth, determination and resourcefulness of the populace of this section of Minnesota. Mayor Pogue is a true example of that husky and substantial manhood which has developed and built up the Great Northwest. Coming here ten years ago, when Bemidji was a mere ham- let, Mayor Pogue rolled up his sleeves, put his shoulder to the wheel, did his share of the lifting of the heavy log of progress, and has lived to see this prairie and timber land blossom to an extent never dreamed of. MAYOR POGUE’S Mayor Pogue is a native of Vermilion county, Illinois. Appreciating the prolific- ness and incomprehensible resources of this vast territory, he located here, with the resuit that he has been enriched to a pro- portionate degree that have others who have settled here. A new arrival, he was, like the thousands of others who migrated here, imbued with an unshaken confidence in Minnesota’s greatness, he labored hard and long, conscientiously and unceasingly. Result: Mayor of Bemidji, holder of ex- tensive properties both in this city and in the farming community surrounding, and a self-made man who has left his influence felt in manifold ways. Mr. Pogue has risen from a “toter” on a prairie freight train to his present position of prominence. He was “SWELL' TEAM. a Jehu, making rigors of winter regular trips, during the and heat of summer, and before railroads were known to them, to Turtle River, Tenstrike, Blackduck, Northome and Big Falls. Gradually ascend- ing the scale of public recognition, Mayor Pogue assumed his first public duty as street commissioner and superintendent of the water works plant, a position he held for three years. Since that time his prog- ress has been rapid and enduring. He is at present the proprietor of one of the larg- est livery stables in the city, he has other business interests which prove beyond cavil that this portion of Minnesota pays meas- ure for measure, heaped up and running over, and he is a shining specimen of what the Great Northwest is capable of making of a man of determination and foresight. Visitors Impressed With Our Wonderful Resources Petersburg, Ind., Jan. 25, 1909. Mr. J. J. Conger, Bemidji, Minn. After having paid you a visit some weeks ago, I have been revolving in my mind the wonderful resources of north- central Minnesota, and the richness and fertility of your lands, and more than this, your district is so completely itrav- ersed by a network of railroads( the most of which have been constructed within the past few years) it was a surprise to me to find so many prosperous towns scattered all over north-central Minnesota, principally along the different lines of railroads; and most of them enjoy all modern improvements, such as electric lights, waterworks and churches of all denominations, and such excellent public schools, and still more favorable, I find such perfect laying lands, most of which is covered with a growth of fine hard- wood and pine timber, and while some of the most valuable timber has been re- moved, there yet remains sufficcient tim- ber on much of the lands to pay for it twice over; and now, that your lands have become so valuable for agricultural purposes since the coming of your rail- roads, I do not wonder why people are scrambling for it at the price from $6.00 to $15.00 per acre. Such rich, level, black sandy loam soil as lays surrounding your beautiful little city of Bemidji, and throughout Beltrami county, which has been made richer for centuries from the foliage of your forests and rank decayed vegetation, is what makes lit yield such enormous crops. I was told that many places your soil was ten to twenty feet in depth and rests upon a sandy sub-soil. No wonder why such forests grew. When such lands are put into cultivation, as they are rapidly being done, it is very easily understood why they yield such enormous crops of wheat, barle, rye, and oats, as well as red clover and timothy hay, and potatoes that will weigh from two to four pounds each, in addition to all kinds of root crops, cabbage, as you have said, two heads to the bushel; and when it comes to climate, health and water, I find your district is most favorably blessed with these important features, and that you hardly know what it is to contract a case of typhoid fever, diphtheria, malaria or lung trouble, and that your pure, light dry air will everlastingly paralize a case of asthma, providing one does not eat {00 much or smoke too often. However, I will leave your case in the care of Mrs. Conger to see to it that you do not violate these two rules. I might dwell at length about your scenery and more especially about your beautiful lakes of clear crystal spring water with their lovely sand gravel banks and bottoms, whose shore lines are fast becoming the summer homes of many from the east and middle west, but I will leave this story to be told by some more able writer. I have spent a great deal of money looking for land that I thought had a quick future increase in value, and I believe I have found it in your county, and I believe your many visitors and investors will act as your best advertise- ments. I shall soon return to North-central Minnesota, where I hope to build a home ocn the shore of Lake Bemidji. Thanking you for past favors, I am Yours very truly, H. R. SNYDER. H g i |