Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1902 — A FREE-LAND HINT. [ARTICLE]

A FREE-LAND HINT.

(Fargo Grain Growers’ Convention Proceeding*, Jap, 1902.) . Th* "Soo” Line received no land grant from the government and has no lands tor sale. It* only interest in the land guestion is based upon it* broad policy of tiding settlers and business men in finding desirable locations upon good lands where thrifty, prosperous communities may grow up. It has no favorite localities to boom. But from an Impartial standpoint will give such information to land seekers and others, and will lend •uch reasonable co-operation as will aid in this purpose. THE SOO LINE'S TERRITORY. The main line of the “Soo" runs northwest from Minneapolis to Hankinson, N. D., where turning more northerly it joins the Canadian Pacific system at Portal. From Hankinson running westerly to Wishek, in Mclntosh county, runs the Bismarck extension, with its terminus "at Braddock, 38 miles farther. From Wishek, by a detour to the south and west into Campbell county. South Dakota, runs the Missouri river extension, Z 0 miles long, with its present terminus at Pollock, four miles from the Missouri and only a short distance from the state line between North and South Dakota. WHERE GOOD LANDS MAY BE FOUND. For those with means to buy a farm there are abundant opportunities -for investments in the older sections of Richland, Sargent, Ransom, Barnes and otner counties. Passing northwest on the “Soo” Line as the distance increases the development is less, and in Ward, McHenry and McLean counties the homesteader may still find- excellent farming lands free under the homestead law. Settlement has been going on very rapidly in these far northern counties during the last three years and the immense flax crops and other crops harvested there last year have made new settlers rich and independent. In not a few instances did the flax crop on new breaking pay the entire cost of production, Including the value of the land and leave a surplus of from SSOO to SI,OOO in bank. To the farm renters of lowa and the older states, who have had the courage to strike out for themselves and come Into this country, it has been like an escape from slavery. The land hunger now on is the greatest in the nation’s history. The limit of free land is not far off and the price of land Is rapidly advancing everywhere. It will only be a year or two until all the land in these northern counties will have passed into the hands of homesteaders and under the plow. THE MISSOURI RIVER COUNTRY. Off the main traveled road of migration somewhat is the Bismarck extension of the “Soo” line. Along this line will be found even better opportunities for settlers than now remain to the far North. This is particularly true of the country opened recently to settlement by the building of the Missouri river extension from Wishek, in Mclntosh county, to Pollock, in Campbell county, South Dakota, passing through the beautiful Spring Creek valley. This country has long been waiting for the facilities which a railroad affords. It has been settled in part for a number of years and has some fine farms. The wheat crops of this valley have been so abundant as to make the country famous. Stock raising, previously the chief business on acd&uni of the distance to the railroad, will make a convenient foundation for diversified farming. This new extension runs from Wishek 1 south to Ashley, thence west through the new towns of Venturia, Artas, Herrled and Pollock, the last three being in Campbell county, South Dakota. This Missouri Slope country is now for the first time open for settlement with railroad facilities. It will fill up very rapidly, no doubt, and make excellent opportunities for businessmen as well as settlers. Parties Interested in the settlement in North Dakota are invited to write for information about the country in general, or any particular part contiguous to the “Soo” line, to D. W. CASSEDAY, Land and Industrial Agent, “Soo” Line. Minn.