Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-04-08


consideration the soil, climate. water,
grasses. and facilities found present In
our. .territory for the successful prosecu-
ti6n of dairy farming In competition
win not only the Old World but even
With the acknowledged dairy fields of
our eastern and middle states. How then
do We stand as compared with our ne gh-
borss This matter has 30 often been re-
fetNd and discussed in all its bear
in4Ethat will merloy summarize and try
to Droup a few points in our minds.
Qulte possible were we to claim that the
people in Arkansas and Texas to the
south; or the people of northern Dakota,
ngf1hern Minnesota, and Manitoba on the
nUrtA. were not inside our dairy belt, we
night get into an angry discussion. But
we md it very generally admitted that
for successful profitable dairy farming
wesre situated right here in the town OF
AlgCna about the very center Of our
dairy belt. Perhaps We might shift the
center little to the east and locate it at
Chs a,sss City. for instance, and then say !;
Our nrst-class natural dairy belt extends
as many miles west as 1t does east and
as many miles north as II does south but
here Is the center Coucede that the
natural prairie grass is not long lived
enough to give early and late pasture.
yet those OF us who have experimental
find that we can Seed down our prairies
to timothy and blue grass without break
ing the turf or ever turning furgow.
As to the absence OF springs and brooks,
have we not an abundance of pure water
only twenty 10 thirty feet below the sur
face that only requires to be tapped by a
well anger and lifted TO the surface by our
windmiIls to supply the needs Of man
and beast summer and winter? Grant
that some ofOur winters are very cold, as
this last one has been. but even this min
listers to our success. al dairymen, in
giving plenty Of ice with which In the
summer 10 temper our milk end cream
and carry our butter in refr gcratOr cars
safely to market. Further, tits suggested
that owing TO our deep frcsts our soil is
rendered more friable and therefore al.
lows the fire roots of grain, grasses, and
vegetables to 60 deeper down for nour-
ishment Most important question Of all
is the one of the first cost of the land de
voted to dairy farm ne when the idea Of
competition is suggested. With us out
here the average price of land is only
from five to fifteen dollars per re, while
our competitors Of the middle and eastern
states are using n the same business land
costing $50 to $50 per acre, and in the
Old Word land costing exactly ten times
as much if bought outright. or from $500
to $500 per acre. These arc cOmpar.t tive
statements, but il Is only by making them
that we can real re our immense advan-
tage over our ncigbors at home or our
kinsmen across the sea engaged in bushes
similar to ours.
9Th. Another reason why there is no
immediate danger of over production of
dairy produts is that the people who are
accustomed to raising crops of grain do
not take kindly to care of cattle, and of
mich cows especially. From my brief
acquaintance with dairy farming-b by
proxy-I am persuaded that dairymen are
like poets, born and not made" The
patience, tact and gentleness requisite to
succeed with cows is not found on every
farm in the northwest. Besides there Is
n certain amount of excitement attendant
upon grain farming. The very uncertain.
ties of the situation all through the sea.
son keeps up the fever Of our speculative
nature. Every storm depresses us.
Every rumor Of war in Europe or Asia
elates us. How we scan the crop reports
and the editorial comments on the same
in our daily or weekly farm journals;
All through the season we are kept
until the threshers tally states the truth
as to quantity and The grain dealers bank
cheque decides the value. No such cx-
element for the dairyman His is plod-
ding quiet daily round OF duties with Wis
ible daily rewards. He can reg ster each
day the quantity and value of his cream
or butter; note the growth OF his stock.
! and sleep the christian sleep of man
who does not hope to sec thousands of
his fellow beings slaughtered In any part
of the world so that his few hundred
bushels of wheat may advance few
cents per bushel
Sc we conclude in all seriousne Js-far
fetched though the reasoning may SEEM
that lecture and preach as we may about
the beauties, advantages and profits of
dairying only very small number will
be converted each season from specula-
tive grain growing into steady and re
munerative dairy farming. Therefore, |
say, therein lies one of our main raasOns
tor having no fears whatever for our
OVERRIDING the dairy business with its
cogBate pursuits. This reason must be
added, of course, to the ono of location.
That is TO say: Outside of a certain ter
fitofy the dairy business cannot be car
ried on under any circumstances on ac-
count of its being too hot, or too cold, Of
having almost no winter on the one hand.
or almost no summer on the other. And
inside the ideal dairy region, of the
world--which Is Ollrs--R vast proportion
| of the farmers either will not, or cannot,
switch over from one line of pursuits on
the farm to another line for which they
are untitled by Nature or education.
Now, gentlemen, will not test your
| f,,~ Athn
for taking very sanguine and hopeful
dustry That we have good reason to be
devoutly thankful that 'the lines are
| fallen unto us in pleasant places have
not the least reason to doubt. 1t is true
we have had bitterly severe winter Il
contend with; but this weather has smit
| ten the shivering poor of our cities with
| fenfold more force than II hassOur prairie
| farmers. Bread we have all had to eat
and to spare. Many debts have been paid
and farm mortgages lifted by thrifty far
mers. the past winter. In no part of thu
civilized world to-day is the outlook 81
cheering and encouraging as II is for tn.
| thrifty farmers OF this stigmatizcd 'neu
| tral belt of Northern Iowa ant
Southern Minnesota. You may re
member that only very few
years ago two prize essayists from Scot
land were writing UP this part OF thu
| west and they discr bed this favored sec
ton Gs being neutral belt" fitted nci
ther for one thing nor another. II, was
they said, too far north for corn. ant
too far south for wheat. Co.: SAID
they to their countrymcn. ITO Missour
go to Manitoba If you want to get int,
1 Tho whao< halt rrnncr % Tn raulvin0 n