Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-01-23
INVESTMENTS IN LAND
A Retrospective View by an InteIIl
gent Observer.
Northwestern Iowa Ten Years Ago tht
Same as South Dakota and Me-
biaska Now--The Prospects
Hopeful for All.


n most competent observer and judge
of values, has recently published the
following interesting sketch:
In the month Of June, 1887, accompanied
by n friend, l drove across the country
northwest from Storm Lake 10 Sheldon,
in O'Brien county, 20 attend n land con-
~vention being held under the auspices Of
Geo. ID. Perkins, the newly appointed
commissioner of immigration for the state
of Iowa. The distance etwee Storm
Lake and Sheldon In q straight line
across the county is about sixty miles.
On his drive we passed over many solid
sections of '.acant prairie. After leav-
ing Buena Vista county and getting
into the corner of Clay and O'Brien coun-
lies we began 10 note vacated houses and
abandoned farms, the number growing
quite large as we came near the county
seat town of Primghar. where we stopped
for refreshments. While we were eating
lunch the proprietor of the restaurant
begged us TO buy his farm, which we had
passed on the way. II lay two miles east
of town and was mortgaRed for about
5000. He wanted 500 for his equity, but
we felt that we would not be safe in offer
ing him 300 for his homestead subject to
the mortgage for fear he would take US
up. This would have made the farm cost
us less than IS per acre. IL had n COM
Portable little house and n nice grove OF
trees, and about eighty acres under cult
walton. We had noted the farm on
our way along with especial interest on
account of the ov~er-supply of dilapidated
machinery that we saw scattered around
the house and in the grove adjoining.
Hundreds of farms we found could be
bought on rs favorable terms I'm several OF
the counties of northwestern Iowa at this
time, and the burning questions that were
discussed at the land convention were how
TO attract settlers TO our prairies and how
to best promote the prosperity of those
already settled. We discussed fax grow
ing, dairy business, blue grass, timothy.
clover, etc. During the conven-
ton we heard from Alexander
Pcddle, representing Scotch colon
lists, and Close Bros, representing
English colonists. l.. 5. Coffin, of Fort
Dodge. made a stirring address, pointing
out the necessity Of keeping these lands
for American farmers who would yet come
in by he .Iousands and appreciate the
magnificent opportunities our prairies af-
forded of founding fine homes. Willis
Drummond, jr., of Chicago, was on hand
with his licuteuants representing the Chi
cago, Milwaukee and ST. Paul land grant,
and other men were on hand representing
the land grant departments of other rail-
road companies. these gentlemen wero
all perfectly willing to let the land be in
vadcd by the peasant farmers of Europe.
or India for hat matter, provided the lands
were sold at fair prices and a good first
cash payment made on the purchase.
Looking back across only the brief Pc
riod of eleven years and thinking OF the
really desolate character of northwestern
Iowa in that year when we were all so
anxious to promote immigration, one IL
lost in wonder and surprise at the swift
changes that have taken place in this por-
ton of Iowa. Since that day in June the
railway system of northwestern Iowa has
been perfected TO n wonderful extent, SO
that il /, impossible for n farmer TO get
more than ten miles from n railway sta
ton. The Northwestern line has been
built through from Eagle Grove to
Hawarden and beyond; the Burlington,
Cedar Rapids and Northern line through
from Grundy Center TO WATERFOWL and
Sioux Falls: the Illinois Central branches
from Cherokee to Onawa and Sioux Falls;
and last but not least, the Sioux City and
Northern, with its great lake outlet for the
products of the soil. If someone had pre-
dicted at our land convention in 1889 the
things that would come to pass during
these eleven years. indicating the com-
pact settlement of the prairics. the enorm-
Gus rise in the price of lands and the in
dustrial and agricultural changes incl
dent 10 improved methods of farming, all
who were present at the convention would
nave voted the man a visionary or per-
haps insane.
Taking up the cue from what we rave
all seen of northwesterp Iowa since 1850,
may not we who live here in Sioux City be
entirely justified in CHANGING to the west
aud northwest of us to find the conditions
that surround the people of Dakota and
Nebraska In a certain sense just the same
as surrounded the people of northwestern
Iowa ten years agoi May we not also he
entirely justified in looking for much
- -.
the next ten years in the section referred
TO than has been made by us in Iowa be-
tween the years 1880 and 1922 The soil
of the p~rairies west of US is as fertile rs is
that of Iowa, perhaps more 50, having n
larger quantity Of lime in .Se soil, thus
making sure a better qua ~ and yield OF
small grain. The climc &c is tho same.
The one drawback that has been menacing
the people of portions of South Dakota
namely, the lack of moisturc-is now in "a
fair way TO be overcome by irrigation.
1t is clearly shown that the irrigation of
immense areas Of South Dakota Is purely
n mechanical question, that Is to say, u
question of reaching the underground
flow of water, and then, when 10 Is found
distributing it properly in tie right season
over the LAND in crop. Millions OF acres,
however, that are yet TO be brought into
cultivation will yield profitable crops
without irrigation, SO that whether irriga-
ton becomes the commercial success that
Is hoped for or not, still the state of South
Dakota is capable of sustaining an agri-
cultural population ten times greater than
1t has at present and still not have its
first-class lands as c~ompactly settled as
are the lands of some of the eastern
states.
To give more than a nero hint at the
filling up Of Dakota and Nebraska that Is
sure to come within the next ten years
| raatl1 anan. a n Ia rnaAanaaarty fA, nta~
most thoughtful people fully concur in tho
idea of the rapid settlement of tho cheap
lands west of us. There Is no such body
of cheap lands to be found on the globe
today having the same climatic conditions
and railway facilities. No other section
of the country today presents such a field
for land investment or speculation. East
of MS very little unimproved land Is left to
sell and the improved lands are ranging
from $50 to S45, while 10 the west
of us the same quality Of land
with as good market facilities can be
bought at from $40 10 so per aero With
the thrush of new settlers and the stir
and enterprise hat will be in tho
air during the next few years no doubt tho
smaller towns and villages will he baila
up. The building up of tho towns
and villages will In turn affect
business In our city and give to our people
the opportunity on aiding and fostering
iuFtncr cutcrpIlscs tnat WIS fe-dct upon
and improve the gcnera' industrial and
commercial development of the country
surrounding.
We have entered into a period Of good
average prices for farm produces. This
condition win continue fo- n number OF
years without any question. In other
words, we will not see the Same depression
of agricultural products that has kept our
farmers behind for tho past six or seven
years Aside from the European demand
for our breadstuffs we are getting nearer
10 the point where the domestic consump-
tion equals the domestic supply. For tho
next four years, rs Erastus Wiman has
put II. 'thc farmer will be ON top That
we win all rejoice in the prosperity Of the
farmer goes without saying, and that this
prosperity will Incidentally affect us all,
and improve our condition on every hand,
may serve to Ill us with hope as we enter
npon the year 1892.
The Nasal Twang.
Memphis Commercial.
The fact Is the nasal twang in the
Yankee is a survival from the puritan
/ fathers of tha Nayv Ep1I,rd $50.