Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-04-30
SOUTH DAKOTA.
A Pierre Correspondents In the world

A Pierre Correspondent In the world
Herald.
There is not much immigration to
South Dakota this year, ,sbut those who
are here are getting double extra hump
on themselves. Tt would seem as though
they were doing twice as much as they
ever did before to develop the country,
and if the country does not 60 back on
them and gives them fair season, they
will reap an ample reward. The people
are realizing as they never did before
that the state must stand on it's own
merits and not ON any boom. LIN fact
that is about all that there is left now.
Things have come too easy heretofore.
With little tickle of,the hoe the raw
prairie was made to grow crops enough
to more than pay for the land in one
season. Naturally this was too much
for the people of this country and there
is no denying they went little wild.
As is common remark, after the late
with drought, the people
will be better prepared for another one
should it ever come.
General Manager Ward of the Duluth,
Pierre & Black Hills railroad, has Just
returned from trip through the east,
and he says it is wonderful the amount
OF information the country has about
this states destitution. All classes tell
most narrowing stories how the people
of this state are gradually starving to
death. They put the implicit belief in
them. It seems that there have been
persons all over the east who have ap-
peared before church societies and all
kinds of institutions begging for the
starving people of Dakota. There is
seemingly none in any part Of the union
who have not heard OF the states awful
destitution. 1t looks as though it has
been quite profitable for these beggars,
and it occurs to one hearing these re-
ports that probably good many of
these beggars are frauds. It is known
that only a few persons have been
authorized in any way to solicit aid in
the east 1t is true that in some few
parts of the state there has been fear OF
suffering from destitntion, but the light
winter and the aid of personal friends
have entirely cared for all their COM
plants. And not only this, but seed
grain has been supplied in various ways
in abundance, and the reports from all
parts of the state come in that a larger
acreage of crops than ever before is being
put in. Hope springs anew in the
breasts of the people of the drought
stricken region, and all believe that the
worst is over.
Probably no better answer has been
given to the reports that this state is
worthless, than the late sale of school
lands. Nearly $4,000 acres sold at pub
lie auction in all parts of the state, and
it brought an average price of $14.50
per acre. Pretty good for raw prairie
lands in state where there is SO. much
vacant land as there is here. In Yank-
ton county valuable cement lands sold as
high as 800 per acre. In Minnehaha a
piece of farming land brought $65. In
Hughes county, in which Pierre is To-
Gated, one piece sold for $25. None
brought less than $40. 1t must be taken
into consideration, too, that money is
close and investments OF no kind are
sought in this country. The total
amount received from the sales so far
this year aggregate something over
$630,OOO. This is only the beginning.
OF the 10000 acres of school lands
belonging to the state none can be sold
for less than $40 per acre. The hand
some sum of $50, 100000 will some day
sustain the public schools OF the state
without the burden of single CENTS tax,
and besides be sufficient to cover all the
state, county and municipal Indebtedness
so that cents interest need not go out
of the state. This is the good time
coming when South Dakota will be
something more than drought-stricken
country.
ught-stricken! What was last
seasons record, for instance. Drought
stricken and barren South Dakota har-
vested 100000 bushels each of wheat,
corn and oats and her crop brought not
less than $3O,000,000. With the cattle,
sheep. hogs and horses raised, the stone
quarries, the silver. gold and tin dug out
Of her mines are added, it will be found
that this young commonwealth has
earned something over $3.50 for each
man, woman and child in it, or $3.50 for
each bread winner. This may not be SC
profitable as dealing in options or real
estate or produce in large city, but
ethically and physically it is better
What do the people want? How much
can they expect from new state that il
being developed and where some hard.
ships may be expected2 Compare the
early history OF this state with that ol
any other and the people will find plenty
OF reason to be satisfied. The people so1
South Dakota are not all starved tc
death yet, as this seasons business will
show.
The prediction can confidently be
made that South Dakota will see greatel
progress this year than. ever before
This will be the case i'm every line o.
improvement. The fact is the people
are getting down 10 solid business ani
that's what counts after all.
Can money be made in South Dakota
There probably never was better time
On the reservation lande west OF Pierr'
there are reliable stockmen who vii
agree to take any quantity of stock To-
$2.75 per hundred q year for cattle
Think OF shisi Stock run wild and d.
better in the winter time without feet
than in the summer. The range is fre'
and practically unlimited. Acres o
this land have been thrown open to set
tlement, and any one can 60 in and
a nraI rrE hsssnsnIf - AM, le..,a,