Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 26, 1914, Page 1

A VOLUME 11. NO. 257. BULLETIN TELLS OF ALASKA CONDITIONS Shows That There Are 100,000 Square Miles of Area on Which There Are Possibilities of Farming POPULATION NOW ONLY 65,000 Four Experimental Stations Located There Are All Successful In Rais- ing Wheat, Oats and Other Crops From Congressman C. f. Tavenner. Washington February 26—Did you know: That Seattle, Wash., is nearer Maine than it is to the extreme west- ern point of Alaska? That the mean annual tempera- ture of Sitka, Alaska, is about the same as that of Washington, D. C. That Alaska has numerous deep, land locked, ice-free harbors, and a coast line 26,000 miles long? That there are 6,000 miles of na- vigable rivers in Alaska, and that the present population of that vast domain is now but 65,0007 These are facts brought out by the Jatest bulletin of the Department of Agriculture concerning Alaska. The bulletin’s chief purpose is to dis- cuss the agriculaure possibilities of the territory which Uncle Sam is about to open up by construction ot a government railroad. The new bulletin describes the extent of this wonderful country its mountains, its climate, and its soils. You can get this bulletin by writing to the Department. The bulletin is No. 50. There are great possibilities for farming in Alaska, but the Depart- ment points out some of the dangers that must be avoided and some of the disappointments that will meet those who seek Alaska with too en- thusiastic a spirit. There are about 100,000 square miles of area on which there are possibilities for farming and graz- ing, according to the bulletin. The larger part of this area is in the in- tenfor, in the Yukon drainage basin. Along the Coast the climate is very mild, but the arable land is scarce because of the proximity of the mountains to the shore. Homestead- ers are allowed 320 acres free under the usual requrements, but the De- partments warns that little of Al- aska has as yet been surveyed, and it will be impossible to get title to homesteads until surveys are made. As the population increases a mar- ket for farm products will be de- veloped in Alaska. In fact, a good market exists today, since many of the vegetables consumed in Alaska are imported from the United States. Currants, raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries, blueberries and cran- berries are plentiful in Alaska in the wild state, indicating the pos- sibility of the development of small fruit growing. The Department has four experiment stations in Alaska, and has never failed to grow matar- ed crops of wheat, oats, rye, barley, potatoes and many other vegetables. Chicken raising is all proving feas ible. But winters are long and cold. Homesteaders must build frost proof buildings. Travel in summer is vir- tually impossible until corduroy road shall have been built, because the frost never entirely leaves the ground, but continues to rise to the surface all through the summer, making the black sofl like muck. Until roads are built, farms should be located close to navigable water. The swampy character of the ground almost everywhere in Alaska re- sults in great swarms of mosquitos and gnats which are a great worry to settlers. SCOO district: First choice........... Second choice.. Senatorial Straw Vote These are my preferences for the State Senate from this TELLS OF DYER'S EFFORTS Minneapolis Tribune Comments On Recommendations of Bemidji Man * Relative to Shortening Subjects “BOTH DESERVING OF FAME” If the 450,000 school children of Minneapolis knew the good things being planned for them by two of ithe state’s educators, they would rise in one harmonious, overwhelming, sky-rattling demand for the erection of two more monuments to distin- ‘guished public service. - The two men thus threatened with immortal fame and the thanks of a grateful people are T. A. Erickson, rural school specialist of the university’s department of agriculture, and 'W. P. Dyer, superintendent, of schools, Be- midji, says the Minneapolis Tribune. Mr. Erickson seems destined to go down in history as the man who gave the solar plexus blow to cube root, the chloroform to partial payments and the boot to complex fractions— so far as their place in the school curriculum is concerned. Mr. Dyer faces a similar destiny as the man who put the kibosh on useless mem- orizing of city nmames and locations on maps and otherwise emancipated the youth of the state from the clutches of “‘jografy.” All this is but a prelude to the statement that preliminary reports have been. issued of progress being made by the committee on reorgani- study, which was appointed a year ago by the department of supenint- endence of the Minnesota Education- al association. This department will hold its annual spring session at the university March 26 to 28, when final reports from the committee will ‘be made. Cube root, that monster of com- plexity which has been the bane of school youth and many ‘of their teachers for generations, is to go into the discard into the Jim Corbett class. It has no place in the elemen- tary school, says Mr. Erickson; it has done its share of havoc, wrought its ‘meed of dismay and heartburning. It’s day is done. No more will chil- dren in the early teens rave in the delirium of night mare about “the cube of the first plus two times the square of the first by the second,” ete., till daybreak. Of course, this future is only predicted, the de- partment of superintendance, com- posed, mainly, of city superintend- ents of the state, may not appmve the report. Here is what Mr. Dyer is doing. He also has sounded teaching senti- ment of the state. He would lessen greatly the memory work in geo- graphy. One of his conclusions is that too many cities are taught to the youthful geography student. In one text-book much used in Minneso- THE CUB REPORTER ta he counted references to 465 dif- ferent cities, outside of many others that were named on maps. He sug- gests that 160 cities should be a maximum for elementary pupils, dis- tributed as follows: Forty in North America, and the capitals of the states as well; 10 in South America, 30 in Europe, 10 in Asia, 6 in Africa, DISTRICT COURT BUSY Peterson Case Drawing Near Close— Motion For Dismissal Denied By Judge Stanton This Morning ARGUE FITZPATRICK MOTION Tomorrow is likely to see the close of the Emil Peterson damage sait now on trnial before Judge C. W. Stanton in district court, the defen- dants testimony having been practical ly completed late this afternoon. A motion this morning to have the case dismissed followfng the completion of the plaintiff’s case was demied by Judge Stanton. As the case now stands Peterson’s|. ‘claims are against the former vil- lage council of Baudette only, a mo- tion to have suit agaimst C. R. Mid- dleton, Halver Robbesrtad, Gilbert Roen and John Norquist dropped having been granted by Judge Stan- ton yesterday. In his com- plaint Peterson asked $24,- 600 damages which he alleges were done to his character and business by a malicfous prosecution in 1911, at the time he was. engaged 'in building a bridge for the village of Baudette. He was and is now a con. tractor and builder. George Edgerton, formerly assisi- ant attorney general, and R. G. O’- Malley, both lawyers of St. Paul were in Bemidji today for the purpose of divorce case, which was tried by Judge Stanton in St. Paul several months ago. Mr. Fitzpatrick is a wealthy 'St. Paul lawyer and both.be and his wife asked for a divorce. The divorce was granted and Mrs. Fitz- patrict given $50,000. The decigion was not satisfactory to either party and the motion today was made be- .I»ca»use«ot this fact. TWO0 HARBORS HERE TOMORROW Final Arrangements Made for Two- Game Series With Athletics Final arrangements were complet- ed yesterday for the basketball games to be played between the Bemidji Athletics and the Two Harbors five, That the Bemidji team will fall easy victims to the skill of the head of the lakes five is the opinion of the Two Harbors press, but local rooters who have watched the work of the athletes throughout the season show as much confidence in the local quint, but predict two fast games. Peck, who has been out of play because of an dnjured hip, was unable to re- sist the temptation of reporting for practice and was on the job again last evening, although not entirely recovered from his injury.Julius Bes- tul will not play Saturday evening, as he accompanies the high school five to Fosston. 4 in Australia and Oceanica. He would dgnore “rhetorical and fanci- ful names.” as “The Queen of the Adriatic.” He would standardize geography teaching in Minnesoha by simplifying it. cation of 4hs -eléumiei P vargu‘ing motions in the Fitzpatrick! BEMIDJT MINNESOTA, THURSDAY EVEMNG FEBRUARY 26, 1914. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH STRONG PROGRAM |100 T0 ATTEND BANQUET| INTEREST SHOWN IN FOR FARMERS MEET B. M. Gile, High School Agriculturist, Announces Plans For Giant In- " ‘stitute To Be Held Here MISS MABEL OLSEN TO TALK Will Entertain Women Folk While Supt. McGuire, C. R. Créne, Al Jes- ‘ter And Others Will Speak Farmers are taking more interest in the institute which is to be held in the high school building on Sat- urday, March 7, than in any . ever ‘held here, and one of the largest ga- therings ever assembled at a similar meeting is expected to be present when the affair is opened by A. J. McGuire, superintendent of the state experimental farm at Grand Rapids. An excellent program has been prepared, by B. M. Gile, agriculturise in the Bemidji Schools, and enter- tainment will 'be furnished for both men and women. Immediately fol- lowing dinner, Miss Mabel Olsen, will give a cooking demonstration for the women folk. Miss Olsen. is of the Crookston agricultural wchool, and I3 well known here be- cause of previous appearances. Her lecture will be entirely free and all ‘women of the city are invited to at- tend as are the wives and daughters of the farmers. \ Another “Feed” Miss Helen Hoover, who as head of the domestic science department of the Bemidji high. schools has sup- erintended several .dinners served for ‘the farmers and their families will, with the assistance of the cook- ing class prepare a noon day meal for all those attending the inetitute, This dinner will be free of cost. The dinner will be served at 12 o’clock. ‘Coming as it does during the first part of March, the meeting will be appropriate sfrom a farmers stand- poilt, as the spring work is just about to begin. Clubs To Compete It i8 understood that the farmers clubs of the county are going to be well represented at the meeting and several of them will endeavor to 'wrist the title from the Grant Val- ley club as béing the best in attend- ance. Rivalry is keen and it will be interesting to see which club carries away the attendance honors. T. A. Erickson, of the extension division ‘and ‘Charles 'R. Crane, head of the extention division of the Great Northern Railway company, will al- so be on the program. Jester To Talk Members of the Onjon Growers’ as- socjation are planning on being pres- ent at the meeting in large numbers, and Al Jester, president, will be one of the chief speakers. Other addres- ses will be given, announcements for wihich will be made later. The meeting will be called prompt- ly at 10:30 a. m, OPSAHL CHANGES OFFICES Real Estate Man Now Situated In Markham Hotel Building J. J. Opsahl, one of Bemidji’s best known boosters and real estate men, and formerly a member of the house of representatives from this distriet, has taken up offices in the Markham ‘hotel building. Mr. Opsahl deals in farm lands of all kinds. ° Regular meeting of the Knights of Columbus this evening in the council room at & o'clock. All members are requested to be present. P. J. RUSSELL. Another Break Like That And You’ll Tip Your Mitt, Scoop | | Large Number Announce Intention of Being Present At Business Mens Get-To-Gether Meeting SPECIAL * NUMBERS PROVIDED More than one hundred hoosters are expected to be present at the ban- quet which is to be given by the Re- midji Business mens association at the Mgrkh_a.m hotel this evenlpg at 7:30. Frank Koors, J. -K. Given and Charles Cominsky the committee which has had charge of the arrange- ments announced that all plans for the banquet and smoker are complete and. that special entertainment will 'be -furnished those: attending. Solos will be given by Miss Mabel Hyland and. Miss Manrgaret Newton, while Miss Vera Backus, elocutionist, will recite, - Immediately following the banquet a smoker will be held. Each mem- ber of the Business Mens association is given privilege of inviting one or more guests. Tickets are sold at ififty cents. WILL ATTEND MEETING| Frank 8. Lycan Leaves Tonight For St. Paul Where Efficiency Com- mission Will Hold Sessions’ TO RECOMMEND CONSOLIDATION Frank S. Lycan, will leave tonight for St. Paul where he will attend a meeting of group B of the effici- ency and economy commission. - Mr. Lycan is a member of group B which embodies drainage, forestry, game and fish, highways and sev- eral other state commissions. Each member of the various groups will 'also report and the chairman _of thése branches -of ‘the- efllciency commission willl report on the work covered by these committes when the commission holds a general meeting Saturday. ] Among the things which will be ‘iconsidered ‘at the Saturday meeting will be the recommendation of the proposed plan of re-organization and consolidation of various state com- mittees and boards. As each group ‘has had several weeks time to cover the work set for them by the Chair- man of the general committee some important steps are expected to be ta- ken and the report from the final meeting Saturday will be watched with interest. Mr. Lycan wiill re+ turn to Bemidji the first part of next ‘week. BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO MEET Session Will Be Attended by Attorney E. E. McDonald of Bemidji Attorney E. E. McDonald of this city, a member of the board of gov- ernors of the State Bar association, has been notified of a meeting of the board which will be held in St. Paul on March 7. Many matters of im- ‘potance pertaining to the associa- tion will be discussed, among them being the pushing of the campaign for added members of the supreme court, attitude in regard to a new building for the supreme court and Historical society, supreme court jus- tice robes, where and when the next annual meeting is to be held and na- tures of subjects to be discussed at ‘the next meeting. Mr. McDonald stated today that he will attend the meeting providing he is not detained by district court matters. By “"HOP” () /1 NEVER FELT STRAW VOTE FoR STATE SENATOR M. J. Brown, Frank §. Lycan And A. P. White Favorities Of First Day Voters—New Names ‘Added to List - ATTORNEY ‘IS NOW IN LEAD Two Days Of Campaign Left And As Ballot Closes Saturday Noon Voters Should Not Wait Unexpected interest is being shown in the straw vote which is' being conducted by the Pioneér in order that the voters of this senatorial dis- trict might have the privilege of voting for their preferences as to ‘whom shall represent them in the next legislature, With the straw vote in progress less than a day, three men, Attorney M. J. Brown, A. P. White and Frank S. Lycan are the favorities of those to first take advantage of the op. portunity offered to have a choice in the selection of a candidate. A. G. Wedge is also recommended by many of the first day voters as being the right ‘man for the place. Brown Now In Lead On going to press this afterncon Brown has 56 first choice votes to his credit, and 16 second choice, while White followed closely with 44 first choice and. 16 second ehofce. Frank 8. Lycan was favored by 40 1as being their first choice for the pen-~ ate and 12 as their second choice. Twenty votes were cast for A. G. |Wedge, while Kenneth Mclver and W. B.-Stewart followed with 12 each. |Others named by the voters and who recelved one or more votes follow, J. J. Opsahl, A. P. Ritchie, I. G. Hay- craft, Judge Marshall A. Spooner, E. J. Swedback, James Black, Graham, M. Torrance, F. A. Wilson, K. K. Roe, Charles A. Carter of Hines, and G. E. Carson. + % Is Not A Candidate Judg® Marshall A. Spooner, who ‘has been mentioned as a candidate for the senate announced today that he is not a candidate for the.position referred to. Editor Oberg of the Blackduck American in his current issue comes out strong in nom#nating F. A. Wil- son for the senate and states that , the Bemidji editor having served as a clerk during several sessions of the legislature would be the right man for the place. ' Closes Saturday Noon As the straw vote is merely a me- thod devised by the Pioneer to as- certain just what man is the prefer- ence of most of the votes for the sen- ate, in an short as time as’possible, the contest will under no circumstan- ces be prolonged after 12 o’clock Sat- urday noon. The man selected will he announced in Saturday evening’s Pioneer. If 'you have mot voted, do so at once, more than 150 voters have al- ready voted for their preferences, why don’t you? Votes may be mailed or left at the Pioneer office. Cut out the ballot. NEW BUICKS FOR BEMIDJI Olaf Ongstdd Will Leave Tomorrow For Cities To View Machines Olaf Ongstad will leave tomorrow evening for the twin cities where he will look over a shipment of ‘Buick cars which will be brought to Be- midji. Among Bemidji business:men who have ordered cars from:\this shipment are George Cochran, 'mlo has placed orders ‘for two Buicks, one a rTunabout and one atouring ca¥ and Dr. E. W. Johnson, who has pur-~ chased a Buick roadster. The cars will arrdve in Bemidji during the next few weeks. ‘While in the citles ‘Mr. Ongstad will be joined by F. 8. Lycan and Mr. Cochran, the latter will leave Monday night. On re- turing to Bemidji Mr. Ongstad will make arrangements to build an ad. dition to the present structure on Minnesota avenue to house a new welding plant which he expects to install. This equipment is some- thing entirely new in this section of the state and makes the welding of any metal in @ féw minutes possible. Attorney B. T. Willson and wife of Blackduck, were in Bemidji today. ‘While here Mr.” Willson transacted business at the court house. \ e