88o NORTH DAKOTA 



Agriculture. The acreage in farms increased from 15,542,640 1028,426,650 in 1900-10; 

 the improved land in farms from 9,644,520 to 20,455,092; the average farm acreage from 342.9 

 to 382.3 and the value of farm property from $255,266,751 to 8974,814,205 (8730,380,131 

 land; $92,276,613 buildings; $43,907,595 implements; $108,249,866 domestic animals); Of 

 the land area 63.3 % was in farms. The average value of farm land per acre was $25.69. 

 Farms were operated largely by owners (63,212 by owners, 484 by managers and 10,664 by 

 tenants). In 1909, 69 farms (10,248 acres: 8,043 in Williams and 850 in McKenzie county) 

 were irrigated; the acreage of which present enterprises were capable was 21,917 and that of 

 projects was 38, 173. About one-sixth of the acreage irrigated was under the U.S. reclamation 

 service. Wheat (1,268 acres) and wild grass (1,057) were the largest irrigated crops. In 1912 

 (preliminary estimates) the principal crops were: Indian corn, 8,758,000 bu. (328,000 A.); 

 wheat, 143,820,000 bu. (7,990,000 A.); oats, 95,220,000 bu. (2,300,000 A.); barley, 35,162,- 

 ooo bu. (1,176,000 A.); rye, 864,000 bu. (48,000 A.); potatoes, 6,656,000 bu. (52,000 A.); 

 hay, 510,000 tons (364,000 A.); and flaxseed, 12,086,000 bu. (1,246,000 A.). In 1909 (U.S. 

 Census) the value of vegetables (excluding potatoes) was $1,069,125. On January i, 1912 

 there were on farms: 691,000 horses, 8,000 mules, 272,000 milch cows, 446,000 other neat 

 cattle, 287,000 sheep, and 359,000 swine. 



The legislature in 1911 appropriated $15,000 to advertise the state's agricultural possibil- 

 ities through the department of agriculture and thus offset the advertising of farm lands in 

 Canada. A hail insurance department was created with the commissioner of agriculture 

 and labour as hail commissioner. The Buford-Trenton unit of the (Federal) Missouri River 

 pumping project was 38% completed in November 1912 and in 1911 irrigated 1,240 acres; 

 and the Williston unit, on which the Federal department of agriculture maintains a field 

 station, was 64% completed in November 1912 and in 1911 irrigated 3,800 acres. The 

 state experiment station has recently bred successful new varieties of alfalfa, Indian corn, 

 blue-stem wheat, and a hardy and fertile winter rye. Plant industry demonstration farms 

 and trial gardens at Mandan were established in 1912 by an act of Congress passed in August. 



Mineral Products. Total value, 1911, $957,425. The only important items were: coal, 

 502,628 tons ($720,489); clay products, $210,616; arid natural gas, $5,738. 



Manufactures. In 1899-1909 the average number of wage-earners more than doubled 

 (1,358 to 2,789), the capital invested increased from $3,512,000 to $i 1,585,000, and the value 

 of the product from $6,260,000 to $19,138,000. The largest single industry in 1909 was 

 flouring and grist-milling, $11,685,000. Printing and publishing, $1,910,000, and the 

 manufacture of butter, cheese and condensed milk, $1,029,000, were the only other industries 

 with a product value greater than $1,000,000. The products of Fargo were valued at $2,477,- 

 ooo, and those of Grand Forks at $1,910,000. 



Transportation. Railway mileage, January I, 1912, 4,703.21. 



Legislation. The isth regular session of the legislature was held from January 3 

 to March 3, 1911. On February 31 it ratified the proposed i6th amendment to the 

 Federal Constitution, providing for an income tax. Three amendments to the state 

 constitution, on which the preceding legislature had voted favourably, were submitted 

 to the people for their approval, at the regular election in 1912; one empowering the 

 legislature to erect, lease, purchase and operate terminal elevators for grain in Minnesota 

 and Wisconsin or in either of these states was carried (56,488 to 18,864); another govern- 

 ing the sale of school lands to railways was ratified (47,717 to 22,871); and the third 

 making the term of judges of the state supreme court ten years was defeated by 42,415 

 votes to 27,892. Various amendments, referred to the next session of the legislature, 

 provide in different ways for the initiative, both as regards statutes and constitutional 

 amendments, for the referendum, and for the recall of public officals; and for the 

 taxation of railway and public utility property, and for the permanent location of cer- 

 tain state institutions. The amendments for initiative and referendum are opposed by 

 the Prohibitionists, who think that their cause would be endangered. 



The legislature adopted a state flag. A commission was appointed to revise the probate 

 code, and district "juvenile courts" in counties were empowered to have jurisdiction over 

 offenders, and to keep a separate juvenile record. 



The state was re-apportioned into three congressional districts and the legislature is to 

 consist of 50 senators and 112 representatives until the end of 1914 when there are to be 

 47 senators and 113 representatives. United States senators are to be nominated at. pri- 

 maries like candidates for state offices, and delegates to national nominating conventions 

 are also to be chosen at primaries. An act was passed requiring party affiliation registration. 

 Lobbying is forbidden and lobbyists are hot permitted to go on the floor of either house of the 

 legislature. Second choice nominations were provided for in the case of United States sena- 

 tors or congressmen or any officer of the state. If no candidate receives 50% of the first 

 choice, the one of the two having the most first choice votes is to be chosen who has more 



