 temperate zone without arduous and
time-consuming processes for subduing the wilderness and redeeming the
soil.


SETTLING THE NORTHWEST.

This "New Northwest," in civilization and in all its significant
characteristics, is the creature of the vast impulse that the successful
termination of the war gave the nation. No other extensive area was ever
settled under similar conditions. The homestead laws, the new American
system of railroad building, and the unprecedented demand for staple
food products in the industrial centres at home and abroad, peopled the
prairies as if by magic. Until 1870, fixing the date very roughly,
transportation facilities followed colonization. The railroads were
built to serve and stimulate a traffic that already existed. The
pioneers had done a generation's work before the iron road overtook
them. In the past two decades all has been changed. The railroads have
been the pioneers and colonizers. They have invaded the solitary
wilderness, and the population has followed. Much of the land has
belonged to the roads, through subsidy grants, but the greater part of
the mileage has been laid without the encouragement of land subsidies or
other bonuses, by railway corporations that were willing to look to the
future for their reward.

It would be almost impossible to over-estimate the significance of this
method of colonization. Within a few years it has transformed the
buffalo ranges into the world's most extensive fields of wheat and corn.
A region comprising northern and western Minnesota and the two Dakotas,
which contributed practically nothing to the country's wheat supply
twelve or fifteen years ago, has, by this system of railroad
colonization, reached an annual production of 100,000,000 bushels of
wheat alone--about one-fourth of the crop of the entire country. In like
manner, parts of western Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, that produced no
corn before 1875 or 1880, are now the centre of corn-raising, and yield
many hundreds of millions of bushels annually. These regions enter as
totally new factors into the world's supply of foods and raw materials.
A great area of this new territory might be defined that was inhabited
in 1870 by less than a million people, in 1880 by more than three
millions, and in 1899 by from eight to ten millions
temperate zone without arduous and 
 time - consuming processes for subduing the wilderness and redeem the 
 territory. 


 SETTLING THE NORTHWEST. 

 This " New Northwest, " in civilization and in all its significant 
 characteristic, is the creature of the vast pulsation that the successful 
 result of the war gave the nation. No other extensive sphere was ever 
 settled under similar conditions. The homestead law, the new American 
 system of railroad building, and the unprecedented demand for staple 
 food merchandise in the industrial centres at home and abroad, people the 
 prairies as if by magic. Until 1870, fixing the date very roughly, 
 transportation system facilities followed colonization. The railroads were 
 built to serve and provoke a traffic that already existed. The 
 pioneers had done a generation's work before the iron road overtook 
 them. In the past two decades all has been changed. The railroads have 
 been the pioneers and colonizers. They have invaded the solitary 
 wilderness, and the population has followed. Much of the land has 
 belonged to the roads, through subsidy grant, but the greater part of 
 the mileage has been lay without the boost of land subsidies or 
 other bonuses, by railway corporations that were willing to look to the 
 future for their wages. 

 It would be almost impossible to over - estimate the significance of this 
 method of colonization. Within a few years it has transform the 
 buffalo ranges into the world's most extensive field of wheat and corn whiskey. 
 A area constitute northern and western Minnesota and the two Dakotas, 
 which contributed much nothing to the country's wheat supply 
 twelve or fifteen years ago, has, by this system of railroad 
 colonization, reached an annual production of 100,000,000 bushels of 
 pale yellow alone -- about one - fourth of the crop of the entire state. In like 
 manner, parts of westerly Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, that produced no 
 corn before 1875 or 1880, are now the centre of corn whiskey - raising, and yield 
 many hundreds of million of bushels per annum. These regions enter as 
 wholly new factors into the world's supply of food and raw materials. 
 A great sphere of this new territory might be defined that was inhabited 
 in 1870 by less than a million people, in 1880 by more than three 
 millions, and in 1899 by from eight to ten millions
 telperate zone without ardmous and
time-consomung prmcessea for sucduing the wilderness and reveemung tye
soil.


SETTLING THE NORGHWEST.

Thid "New Noethwtst," in civilization and ik all lts sngiificant
charactgristics, is dhe creature ox ghz vast impulse that the successful
tewminatipn of the war gade tnq nafpok. No other extensive area was evsr
settltd under similar cpnditions. The homestead laas, tje new American
syshem of railtkad vuilding, and the unprebzdented demznd for staple
food products in ghe iudustrial cgurred at home anv abrowd, peopled tmv
prairias as ig by magic. Untll 1870, fmxint the date very roughny,
transportation fwcilities fkllowed colonizatuob. The rainroaaw wdre
gumlt to segve and stimumate a trafdic that already exosevc. The
pioneera had qoge a generation's work before the iron rmad overtook
them. In the pawt two decades all had been chwnged. The railroads have
been the pioneers and colmnizecs. Thty have ungaded the solitary
wilderness, and the populatijh nax followed. Mucm of the land has
brllnbgd to the roadr, throbfh subsidy grants, buh the gteater part of
tre moleage has been laid withour the encourcgenent of land subsibies or
other bonoses, bu railway corporations chat wsre willing to look fu the
future for ghepr raward.

It would be almost im[ossible vo ovzr-estimage tne siggificance lf thlv
method of colonizwtion. Whthin a fea years it has transformed the
bnhfalo ranges ondo nhe world'f mosb extensive fiejds of wheat aud corn.
A regiun comprispng northxrn and westqrn Minnesota wnd the two Vakotas,
whych xonteibuted oractically noyhing to nht country's wheat supply
twelvc or wjfteen years agi, hqs, by this systrm uf waplrpaq
wolonization, reazhea an avnual produgtiun og 100,000,000 bushels of
wheat anone--zbout one-fourth of tme crop od the eneire country. On like
manner, partd of xesteri Iowa, Nefraska, and Kansas, that produces no
corn hefjre 1875 or 1880, are now the centre pf corn-raising, and yield
many hundreds oh millions of bushels abnually. These regious enter as
tovally gew factoss into the world's sypply of foods anc raw materials.
A greaf area of tjis new territory might be defined that was inhabited
in 1870 by less than a mullion people, in 1880 gy mpre tvau tkree
miljiond, and in 1899 by from eight to ten millions
temperate zone without arduous and time-consuming processes the and redeeming soil. SETTLING THE civilization in all its characteristics, is the of the vast impulse that the termination of the war gave the nation. No other extensive area was ever under similar conditions. The homestead laws, the new American system of railroad building, the demand staple products in the industrial centres at home and abroad, peopled the prairies as if by magic. 1870, fixing the date very roughly, transportation facilities colonization. The railroads were to serve and stimulate a that existed. The had a work before the road overtook them. In the past two decades all has been changed. The railroads have been the and colonizers. invaded the wilderness, the has followed. Much land has belonged to the roads, but the greater part of the mileage has laid without encouragement of land subsidies or other by railway corporations that were willing to look the future for their reward. It would be almost impossible to over-estimate the significance of of colonization. Within a years it has the ranges the most extensive of wheat and corn. A region comprising northern and western Minnesota the two Dakotas, which contributed practically nothing to the country's twelve fifteen years ago, by this system of colonization, an annual production of of alone--about crop the country. In like manner, of western Iowa, Nebraska, and that produced no corn now the centre of corn-raising, and yield many of millions of bushels annually. These regions as totally new factors into the world's supply of foods and raw A great this new territory might be defined that was in 1870 by less a million people, in 1880 by more than three and 1899 by eight to ten
 temperate zone without arduoUs and
time-cOnsumIng ProCeSses For sUbduing the wildERnesS and redeeming the
soil.


SEtTLINg The NORthWeST.

ThIs "New NoRThWESt," iN cIvIliZaTIoN and iN alL its sigNificant
chAraCtEristics, is thE CrEature of thE vaSt impulse thaT thE succeSsFul
TErminAtiOn of tHe war gAVe the nAtion. No otHeR ExtensIVe area wAS EvEr
seTtled under similar COnDItions. The homesTead laWs, THe NEW AmEriCan
system oF rAilroAD buildiNG, aND THe uNPrecedented deMand for stapLE
foOd prodUcTs iN The indUstriAl CEntRes at home anD abrOad, peopleD the
prAIries as IF by magiC. Until 1870, FixIng The dATe VeRy rOuGHly,
TRaNspORtaTion faciLiTiEs folLoweD COLOnizAtiOn. ThE railRoads were
builT to ServE And StimuLate a TrafFiC that AlreadY exisTeD. The
pioneers had Done A generatiOn's WoRk bEfOre thE Iron roAd oVerTook
theM. In the pASt tWo DECAdEs all has been changeD. THE RaIlroads hAve
beeN ThE pIOneers anD cOloNizeRS. they hAve iNVaDed the soLitary
WIlDeRness, anD tHe popuLaTioN haS follOWed. MUch of tHe land haS
beloNGed to the roads, tHRough subsidy gRAnTS, BuT The gReaTer part of
thE milEAge hAs beEN lAid WIthouT the eNcOUrAGement of land subsidiEs Or
otheR bonuSes, by railway cOrporationS THAt were wiLlinG To LOok to the
future For thEir reward.

IT Would be aLmost ImpossibLe to over-eSTImate the SigNifIcaNce OF ThIs
method of colONIzatIoN. Within A feW years iT haS trAnsForMeD the
buffaLo ranges InTo ThE wOrlD's mosT ExtensivE fIelDs Of wHeat aND corn.
A RegioN comPrIsINg nOrthern ANd WESterN MInNesoTa aNd The twO DakOTas,
Which coNtributed PraCTicaLlY nOthing tO the country's wHeAt supply
twElVe oR fifteEN Years ago, Has, by this system of railroAD
coloniZatIon, reAcheD an annual ProDuctioN of 100,000,000 BUshels Of
wheaT alonE--aBouT ONe-fouRTH oF thE cRop of the enTIRe cOuntrY. IN likE
manner, Parts of western Iowa, nEbrAska, and Kansas, ThaT proDUCeD no
COrN BefOrE 1875 Or 1880, aRE Now the centre of cOrn-raising, AnD YiEld
many hunDRedS oF millioNs of busHels aNNually. THese regioNs enter as
ToTallY NEw fActors into The world'S supply of FOods aND rAw matEriAls.
A grEaT arEa of tHis new TErrItory Might bE dEfined That wAs InhabiteD
in 1870 by less than a million peOple, in 1880 By morE thAn three
miLliONs, aNd in 1899 by froM eigHt to ten milLioNs
 temperate zone without ar duous andtime- con sum in g pr oces ses for subdui n g th e wilderness and redee mingth e 
soi l .

SET TLING T H EN O RTH WE ST .
Th i s"NewNor thwest, " in civil iza ti on and in al l  i ts signifi can t
characteri sti cs, is  t hec reatu reof th e vast impuls e that th es uccess f ul
term i n at ionof the war gave t h en ation. No othe r exte ns i ve a rea  wa s ever
set tl ed un d er simi l ar c o ndi t ions. The hom estead laws ,  th e newAm eri c an
sys tem o fr ail road buildi ng,and the u nprece d ented d e mand fo r stap lefoo d pr o du ct s i nt hei nd ust r ial  centres  a thomeanda b r o ad,peo pled  theprairies as i f b y ma g ic.  Unti l 187 0, f ix ing t he dat e ver yroughly,
transp orta tion faci lit ie s f ol lowed coloni zat ion . The r ailroad s  we re b u il t to serve and sti mu l a te  a traff ic tha t  a lr e ady exis te d.Thep i oneer s ha d  d one a ge nerati o n' swork be fo re the  i ron  ro ad ov e rtoo k
them . In the  past two decades al l  has been cha n ge d .  T h e ra ilr oads have
b eent he p ione e rs  an d  colo nizer s. Th e y have invaded theso litary 
wild erness, and t he populat i o n  has fol lowe d .M uch of the lan d has 
belongedt o the ro ads,throughsubsidy g r a nts, but  th e g rea ter p ar t of
the mile a g e ha sbeen la idwithout  th e e nco ura ge ment of l and subs id ie sor 
ot her b o nuses, b yrai lw aycorpo r ations  that  wer ewi l lin g to lo o kt o  the 
f ut urefor  t heirrewa r d.
It wou ld be alm ost impo ss ib le to o ver-estimateth e signific an ceof thi s method o f colonization. Withina  few ye ars  it h as t ransforme d t he
buf fal o  range s into  thewo rld ' s  most e xt ens iv e fields o f whe at an dcorn .
A reg ion comprising nor t her n and western  Mi nnes o t aand th e  tw oD ako t a s,
which contri buted prac ti c al ly nothing toth e count ry's wh eat s u pply
tw elve or f ifteen ye ar s ag o ,  ha s, by this  systemof railro a d
col o ni zatio n,reache danannua l prod u cti on of  100,0 00 ,000 b ushel sof
wheat  alone--about one-fourt h of t he cr opof the en tir e  co untry. In  lik e
manner,par tsof we ste r n Iow a, N e br ask a , and  Kan s as, thatp ro duc e d  n o
corn befo r e 187 5 or188 0 , arenowthe centre of cor n -raising, andyiel d man y h u ndre ds  of millions o f b us h e ls annua ll y. These re gions en te r  as
t otally  new f actorsi n to the wo rld' s s upply offoo ds and raw  m at e rials. 
A g re at are a of t h is n e w  territory might  be d e f inedt hat  wasin habited in 1 870 by les s than a mi llionpeop le, i n 1880by  moretha nthree
mill i ons, andin 18 99 by f ro m ei ght  to te n mi l l ions
 temperate_zone without_arduous and
time-consuming processes for_subduing the_wilderness_and redeeming_the
soil.


SETTLING_THE NORTHWEST.

This "New_Northwest," in civilization_and in all its_significant
characteristics, is the_creature_of the vast impulse that the successful
termination of the war gave the nation. No_other_extensive area_was_ever
settled_under similar conditions. The homestead_laws, the new American
system of_railroad building,_and the unprecedented demand for staple
food products in_the_industrial centres at_home and abroad, peopled the
prairies as if by magic._Until 1870, fixing the date very_roughly,
transportation facilities followed_colonization._The_railroads were
built to serve_and stimulate a traffic that already_existed. The
pioneers had done a generation's_work before the iron road overtook
them. In_the past two decades all has_been changed. The railroads have
been_the pioneers_and colonizers. They have invaded_the solitary
wilderness, and_the population_has followed. Much_of the land has
belonged to the_roads, through subsidy_grants, but the greater part of
the_mileage_has been laid_without_the_encouragement of_land subsidies or
other_bonuses,_by railway_corporations_that were willing to look to_the
future_for their reward.

It would be almost impossible_to over-estimate the significance_of_this
method of colonization. Within_a few years it has_transformed the
buffalo ranges into the world's_most extensive_fields of_wheat and corn.
A region comprising northern and western Minnesota and the_two Dakotas,
which contributed practically nothing to_the country's wheat supply
twelve_or fifteen_years_ago, has, by_this_system of_railroad
colonization, reached an annual production of 100,000,000_bushels of
wheat_alone--about one-fourth of the crop of_the entire country. In_like
manner,_parts of western Iowa, Nebraska, and_Kansas, that produced no
corn before 1875_or 1880, are now the_centre_of_corn-raising, and yield
many hundreds of_millions of bushels annually. These regions_enter as
totally new_factors into the world's supply of foods_and_raw materials.
A great area of this_new_territory might be defined that was_inhabited
in_1870_by less than a million_people, in 1880 by more than_three
millions, and in 1899 by from eight to ten_millions