Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1914 — INTERESTING LETTER FROM NORTH DAKOTA [ARTICLE]

INTERESTING LETTER FROM NORTH DAKOTA

W. F. Clarke Fulfills Promase Made Before Leaving to Write About His New Home.

Minot, N. D., Meh 23, 1914. Editor Rensselaer Republican: I remember promising you that I would sometime write you from this far away country. I say far away.In someways it seems so; in reality. however, it is only a little over a day’s remove from Chicago. And there are two railroads which run trains through to Chicago from this point, the Great Northern and the Minneapolis, St. Paul .and Sault Sainte Marie. The world grows smaller every day. Probably the first thing most people of Indiana think about when they hear this state mentioned is either its wheat crops or its climate. It is noted for'both. The situation as to its wheat crops is changing somewhat, some people Think that the climate also is changing. I have my doubts about there being any remarkable changes in weather conditions. . It seems reasonable to think that the settling up of the country and the planting of trees would make some modification of climatic conditions, but not mueji. It is human nature for "people-living" in a region with unfavorable features to its climate to try to think that such features are-passing away, especially if they have real estate interests in the region. There is one respect in which the weather reports have doubtless changed somewhat. The govern men t now has various stations over the state where weather conditions are scientifically observed and carefully recorded and reported. These reports tend to check the ardor of the individuals who like to tell big weather tales. I have lived several years in the northwest and have noted rather carefully climatic«conditions, but 1 have never been able to meet with experiences that were up to the tales I have heard regarding the weather of this region. For example. I had heard tales about the severity of the weather here in this part of North Dakota, so that it was with some misgivings that I moved my family out here. Yet I do not recall a more enjoyable winter than the one we have just gone through. Not a drop of rain has fallen since early in October and there has been very little of snow. That means that there has been a great deal of sunshine. There was almost no severe weather until February. Since that time we have had some days when one was glad to stay indoors. But the majority of the cold days were very enjoyable. The air was clear and crisp and acted as a tonic to one’s whole system. The worst feature of the climate here is the high winds, which blow rather frequently. These at times are very disagreeable, filling the air with snow in winter and with dust in summer. The seasons which are regarded as the country’s finest are the late summer and the autumn. During the hot days, when about the only redeeming feature the Hoosier can discover in the state of the weather is that “it is good for the corn,” North Dakotans are sleeping at night under blankets. The change regarding the wheat situation referred to above is that wheat is ceasing to be Dakota’s only crop. Farmers are learning that diversified .farming pays better. The soil wilr not produce well one sort of crop indefinitely. A German farmer who has lived in this country 25 years and is prosperous, tells me that corn is the most profitable of the crops he raises. A Hoosier, on looking at his corn and noting its short stalks and small ears; wonder at this statement; but the German was quite sure he was right. This same man paid fifty dollars an acre for his farm and would not sell it now for one hundred an acre. There is much land out here, however, which can be bought for much less than fifty dollars an acre. Minot calls itself “The Magic City.” It is a city of some ten or twelve thousand population and undoubtedly has a good future ahead of it. Its location settles bat. Like all towns founded in frontier days, it has a history that includes some rough tales. But the city is getting away from the conditions of such days and is becoming a very satisfactory place in. which to live. There are, of course, no open saloons in the city, for it is one of the provisions of North Dakota’s state constitution' that there shall be no saloons within its borders. That there is some sale of intoxicants throughout the state, that drug stores find ways of evading the law and harvesting illegitimate dollars, citizens of Rensselaer could easily understand. But that conditions are as bac as in a neighboring state, where saloons are permitted, no one acquainted with conditions in the two states could well affirm.

The coming of the state normal means much to Minot. It is acting as a stimulant to move the citizens to prove themselves capable of providing a decent environment for the institution. It will bring many citizens to live here. It brings many lectuers, entertainments, etc., which are sure to react wholesomely on the city. The presence of sucQra body of young people as fill the halls of state normal schools will also have a salutary influence, as well as an inspiring one. I might write more, but this must suffice. If I can furnish to ahy one

interested in this region information along the line of his interests, I shall be glad to do so, though of course my brief residence here makes iny fund of information limited. Mrs. Clarke and I retain i only pleasant recollections of our brief sojourn in Rensselaer and we wish to take this opportunity of extending greetings and best wishes to all our friends there. Very, truly yours, Wm. F. CLARKE.