Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, August 30, 1909, Page 1

T E BE J1 D. tstorical Soc Y PIONEER VOLUME 7. NUMBER 113. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1909. 2 IS TOO MUCH MOVEMENT FROM COUNTRY TO CITY “A Great Problem Confronting American People,”” Says Immigration Commissioner Welsh, “Is the Rapid Shifting of Population from Rural to Urban.” “One of the great problems con- fronting the American people is the rapid shitting of her popula- tion from rural to urban,” said George Welsh, state commissioner of immigration, recently in an interview with an representative of the Pioneer. Little appreciation is had of the rapidity with which this change is going on, and it is well to bring the facts out clearly by statistical quotation, In 1890 the rural population of the United States was 36,096,548, while in 1900 it was 39,528,398, an increase of 3,431,850. In 1890 the population of the United States was 63,037,- 704, while in 1goo this had increased to 75,148,576, so that the population of the nation had increased 13,110,872, or 9,679,022 urban as against 3,431,850 rural. While this proportionate increase is greater in recent years, it has continued for many years and is still increasing with great rapidity so that it is now estimated that over 50 per cent of the people of the United States are living in the cities and villages. Some argue that the improved conditions in farm machinery are responsible for.this and that it is a natural consequence from changed social conditions. Cer- tamnly farm machinery has improved so that the labor upon a farm now is reduced to the mini- mum 3s compared with the days of our forefathers; but a corre- sponding increase 1n labor-saving machinery has taken place in manufacture so that it is fair to estimate that one will offset the other. Probably the change mentioned above can be more accurately attributed to the rapid disappear- ing of public lands. Frontier life is a thing of the past. At present nearly all lands capable of agri- cultural development have gone into private ownership so that the acquiring of land today can only be secured by purchase. One thing is certain, the cost of living is constantly increasing, and by an examination of the foregoing conditions it can be readily seen that there is no hope for diffefent conditions in the near future except by a change of domicile. More people must derive their lLiving from tilling the soil. In the eastern sections of the United States, or the manufacturing districts, the urban population is much greater than the rural, but the disposition to remove from the farm to the cities seems to be quite evenly distributed. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas, great agricultural producing states, had an actual decrease in rural popu- lation from 1890 to 1900. The popu- lation of the state of Minnesota increased 405,293 from 1895 to 1905. Of this amount 97,555 was rural. * The changed social conditions which are going on so rapidly in the United States were brought to the attention of the laboring people more forcibly than ever during the winter of 1908 and 1909 when up- wards of two million laborers were out of employment. There now seems to be a desire on the part of many urban families to acquire lands on |\Minnesota was which they can build future and profitable homes, but a lack of infor- mation as to the real conditions existing in the different sections, together with the scarcity of money, prevents many of these families from removing to the rural districts. The increased demand and high prices of products of the farm and garden are now convincing the more intelligent laborers of their greater [ Now Another Smile | What is life if we cannot enjoy it? Let us be happy; let us be friendly, Every glass of BEMIDJI'S PILSENER BEER “BEER THAT BRINGS A SMILE” is a bumper of joy. Itis good and tastes fine. It comes to your table laden with strength, pleasure and absolute satis- faction. Bemidji Brewing Co. I!I Telephone 238 Bemmj.g The First National Bank of Bemidji — Capital, Surplus and Undivided Profits, $60,000 — - Welcomes and appreciates your business whether large or small and believes its extensive re- sources developed by over twelve years of constant, con- siderate, conservative accommo- dations, a splendid endorsement of its most satisfactory service to the people of Bemidji and vicinity opportunity for success by the pro- duction of things to eat. For the purpose of bringing the conditions as they now exist in the State of Minnesotabefore the intend- ing settler, it might be well to con- sider the facts. There are approxi- mately 50,000,000 acres of land in the state, 95 per cent of which is capable’of agricultural development, and not to exceed 18,000,000 acres of these have been actually tilled. The above does not include land in farms, as this would amount to ap- proximately 27,000,000 acres. Public lands both federal and state have practically disappeared from the southern and western sec- tions or prairie districts of Minne- sota, all of which have long since gone into the hands of private owners, but their tillage has by no means reached the maximum. These sections of Minnesota are composed of a dark, -black loan ranging in depth from one to four feet, resting almost universally on a subsoil of clay, having good, natural drainage, but in many instances re- quiring assistance by artificial means. This branch of improve- ment in Minnesota, while commen- ced in isolated districts, might be fairly stated to be in its infancy. This district up to this time has yielded such bountiful crops of wheat, corn, oats, barley, flax, hay, potatoes, etc,, that not enough attention has been .paid to the improvement of drainage which has so 1ncreased the production per acre in the more densely popu- lated areas of the MMSsissippi valley. The selling values in those sections are yet cheap when compared with their producing value. Taking the crop of 1907 (U. S. Agricultural Department) and combining corn, wheat, oats, barley, flax, and hay, the average production per acre in the state of $12.27: Illinois, $14,60; Towa. $11.80; NEDIaska, $10.39. North Dakota, $9.59%; Scuth Dakota, $10.51, The aver- age values of land on which this was produced was: Illinois, $152.58; Iowa, $70,03; Minnesota, $37.97. Improved farms in Southern Minnesota can be purchased on easy terms from $35 to $60 per acre, and in the famous Red River Valley, from $25 to $50. These districts are entirely supplied with good markets, rural telephone lines, rural free delivery, schools, churches, county and township buildings, roads, etc., the cost of which is a legitimate charge to the land in the district, The consuming population of the United States is slowly but surely moving westward until today the three great cities of Minnesota, i. e. Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth, fugnish as good a market for farm products as any place on the American continent as can be seen by comparing her products for exchange. The farm products of the State of Minne- sota now amount to approximately $275,000,000 annually while the manufactured products amount to $350,000,000. The employes per- fecting the latter must be fed, and the time is fast approaching when it will be unnecessary for any bread stuffs to be sent to distribut- ing points other than those within her own border lines. The great iron ore deposits of this state are being rapidly developed ands employing hundreds of thousands of men, thus making an additional home market for the products of the soil, Every farm in the state is now within easy access of these markets, If the value of the improvements be deducted from the present selling value of the land in the prairie sections of Minnesota, it will be found that the value of the land is cheaper than inany section where the agriculturist has an assured crop.. But all of these lands are improved to a more or less degree and are adapted to farmers with some capital who are desimu_s of building a home for themselves instead of paying rent or a high rate of interest. In the northeast, or timber dis- tricts of Minnesota, isa vast area of FORTY CENTS PER MONTH. ORGANIZED THE FIRST . STATE BANK OF LAPORTE Charles Roman, Formerly in First National Bank Here, Launches Out for Himself. Charles Roman, an energetic young man of Bemidji who, until recently, was a memder of the force in the First' National Bank of this city, has succeeded in forming a company to open up a bank in La- porte, a growing village on the Min- nesota & International railway south of Bemidji. Mr. Roman returned Saturday from St. Paul where he completed the organization of the Dew institu- tion, which will be known as the First State Bank of Laporte, The new banking establishment will be capitalized at $10,000 and the stockholders are W. J. Markham and Charles Roman of Bemidji; H. R._Elliott, member of a steel corporation of Duluth; Fred Soder- berg and P. J. Engberg, of the First National Bank of Braham; S. P. Crosby, of the First State Bank of Braham; A. W. Almquist and A. Gohres of Laporte. Messrs, Markham, Roman,Crosby and Almquist comprise the board of directors. = W. J. Markham, who was elected president, is a prominent young business man of Bemidji and will doubtless add = energy and “push” to the new bank. Mr. Roman is cashier and Mr. Almquist, vice-president: The First State Bank of Laporte will open'fSy, business on the morn- ing of etétaber 13th. 'Mr. Roman has béen ?he recipient of many con- gratulations upon his successful or- ganization of this ihstitution and has the best wishes of afarge num- ber of frieDus in Beidji for his future success. 000,000 acres, where, as yet, little agricultural development has taken place. Not to exceed 2,500,000 acres of this extensive territory has been ploughed. It is a tract that has ‘been almost entirely unknown to agricultural workers, yet it con- tains as many natural advantages as any section. Timber for fuel, build- ing purpose's and export affords em- ployment for every man who is desirious of securing same during the entire year. The miners and timber workers in this section of Minnesota are consuming a vastly greater amount of agricultural pro- ducts than the present developmert of the district can supply so that prices are high. When denuded of its timber this district makes such a prolific growth of clover, timothy, bluejoint, broom grassand alfalfa that it far surpasses the expectations or the most not- able agriculturists, and experienced farmers view it with such wonder and amazement as to the question their own eyes as to its reality. Yields of $40 and $60 per acre in clover seed alone are the common bounties of the- farmer, while ruta- bagas, carrots, sugar beets, and similar varieties of root crops are freqnently gataered at from 1,000 to 1,200 bushels from a single acre of land. At the Beltrami County Fair in 1908 a prize was awarded for the greatest amount of potatoes raised upon a single half acre. The yield was 232-1-2 bushels or 465 bushels peracre. The northeastern Section is particularly adapted to the pro- duction of dairy products, and rno better demonstration of its ability can be shown than the record of the village of Milaca, Mille Lac County, in 1908. Ten years ago this village, and practically the en- tire district, was dependent upon the revenues derived from the sale of timber, while in 1908 the bankers in Milaca paid to farmers $246,000 for butter fat alone. Small grains of all kinds are produced in abundance and are of such excellent quality that they are™sought after by the older sections for seed purposes. Small fruits grow in great abundance, and thousands of hands are employ- ed each season in gathering these land containing. approximately 20, [Continued on Last Page.] BLACKDUCK Blackduck,Aug. 30,—(Special cor- respondence of the Pioneer.) Charles Hayden spent Friday at Funkley on business. Mark Foster is back from a two weeks visit at Stillwater. E. E. McDonald of Bemidji, was a Blackduck visitor last Thursday. J. M. Reed has a fine assortment of new-fall suits on display at his store, Mrs. J. C. Koch, who isill, has been taken to a private sanitarium at Hudson, Wis. J. M. Reed and family, who have been camping at the lake, moved back to town on Thursday. Mrs. A, E. Swain 1s in Minne- apolis this week selecting her fall and winter stock of millinery goods. Mrs, Bisbeeewho has been here to help care for her danghter, Mrs. J. C. Koch, returned home to Duluth Thursday evening. Mrs, F. ). Barackman and children returned Friday night trom their annual visit to her parents near Granite Falls, Minz. At a meeting of the business men on last Thursday evening M. D. Stoner of Bemidji appeared for the promoters of the proposed wooden ware factory and asked for evidence of the good faith of the business men. There is no doubt but what it will be granted for the factory will mean a good thing for the town. IS VERY WELL PLEASED WITH LOGAL BUSINESS T. A. Boye, Albert Lea Real Estate Dealer, Will Locate Here.— Erects Dwellings. T: A. Boye, a prominent real es- tate man of Albert Lea, in the southern part of the state, returned to Bemidji last night from Interna- tional Falls, where he went to look over the real estate business, and spent today viewing Bemidji before returning home tihs evening. Mr. Boye stated this morning, in an interview with a representative of the Pioneer, that he was very favor- ably impressed with the business activity tobe seen in Bemidji and was pleased with the outlook for the future business-in this vicinity. So strong was the good impression made by Bemidji on Mr. Boye that he has decided to return to Albert Lea and wind up his affairs there this winter, preparatory to moving to Bemidji next spring. Mr. Boye’s activity lies principally in the direction of purchasinglots and erect- ing houses on them either to sell or to rent and he believes that there isan excellent opportunity for this line of business in Bemidji. Local news on last page. Members of State Drainage The trip of the members of the State Drainage Board and others to advantageous points on Upper and Lower Red Lakes and their tribu- taries, in order that the members of the board might have personal knowledge of the conditions which prevail' in the country drained by Red Lake, will undoubtedly prove of immense value to the board 1n mak- ing an intelligent report to the next legislature relative to the method to be pursued in making the Red Lakes a reservoir for storing the flood-waters of that section and in- creasing and conserving the water power developed by the uniform releasing of these waters. Frank A. Day, representing Gover- nor Johnson. as Chairman of the board; State Auditor Samuel G. Iverson, secretary of the board; Secertary of State Julius Schmahl, member of the drainage board; and George A. Ralph, state drainage engineer, on Saturday began a visit to different outlets and inlets of the Red Lakes. They were accompanied by George Welch, commissioner of the State Immigration Board, and .Carlos Avery, executive agent of theState Game and Fish Commission, who desired a more comprehensive knowledge of the section which the members of the Drainage Board desired to visit. With the party were J. J. Opsahl of Bemidji, representa- tive from the 61 district, chairman of the “house drainage committee, and who knows every foot of land in Beltrami county; E. E. McDonald, who has traversed much of the Red TLake section; S. C. Bailey of Bemidji, the present game warden for Beltrami county; and A. G. Rutledge of the Bemidji Pioneer, who, as game warden for six years, made frequent trips through the section. Saturday, the party left the Red Lake agency aboard the government steamboat "Chippew:," in charge of Captain A. G. Goddard: with Engzineer Frank English and Chef Patsy Needham. It was the intention of the party to go down the Red Lake river from the outlet of Red Lake to Thief River Falls, buta strong wind blew directly across Lower Red*Lake from the mouth of the river leaving the water at the bar but little more than three feet deep, ig being im- STATE OFFICIALS GAINING - VALUABLE INFORMATION Board and Others, Touring Red Lake County, Learn Much Which Will Doubt- less Bring Good Results for North Country. possible to take the boat over the bar into the river; and the trip to Thief River Falls was abandoned. It was noted that there is a splen- did opportunity at the mouth of the Red Lake river to build and main- taina dam and locks for regulating the flow of the water from the lake toward the Red River Valley. . The party was taken to the Cross Lake Indian school, six miles west of the “Narrows,” between the two Red Lakes, on the north shore of the lower lake. At the Cross Lake school Superintendent Lawrence has raised a model garden. as a demon- stration to the-aboriginees of what great vegetable and root crops can be raised on the Red Lake lands. Here were six acres of all kinds of vegetables, fully matured and of exceptionally fine quality. ‘These vegetables, together with two fine fields of dent corn, were of great interest to Immigration Commissioner Welsh, State Auditor Iverson, Secre- tary of State Schmahl and Private Secretary Frank Day, who gathered samples of the corn to take along with them to the state capitol- to show intending settlers, relative to the agricultural possibilities of Red Lake soil. The party rounded the “Nar- rows,” the “Chippewa” behaving beautifully and riding the lake in the “teeth” of a wind storm which rolled the waves ten feet high. Landing was made at Shotley, the party pass- ing the night in the Rogers hotel, Sunday was spent on Upper Red Lake, the party getting an early start from Shotley and visiting at Tamarac river, where the Tamarac flows into Red Lake, Moose Creek and Deer River, and noting the swampy condition of the country on the north shore. The party returned to Shotley Sunday afternoon, where Secretary Schmahl, Auditor Iverson, Engineer Ralph and Commissioner Welsh were landed, they going overland to Kelliher, with the intention of de- parting for St. Paul, over the M. & L., Sunday night. ‘The balance of the party remained on the boat intending to go up the Tamarac river, Agent Avery could investigate con- ditions with reference to the preser- vation of game and fish. Episcopal Sunday School Picnic. The Episcopal Sunday School v:'ill picnic at Diamond Point Wednesday September 1. All members are re- quested to meet at Mrs. A. E. Otto’s |residence, 921 Lake Boulevard at ten o’clock, North Park Lots are all sold but about 10, and they will be sold by night. There are always a few who fail to come to the office and secure contract for their lots and any one wishing to get lots in North Park had better leave their address at the office of Tuttle Bros. & . Bruce, 321 Minnesota Ave., and they will notify you of any unclaimed lots Little Baby Died. Marian, the one-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Young of * this city, died this afternoon with stomach trouble. Yesterday was the first anniversary of little Marian’s birthday. The funeral arrangements have not yet been completed. e —————————————————————————————————————————— ——— WINNESOTE - HISTORICAL SOCIETY. RPAR oa caa { ] where Executive |