Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-06-17
OUT DAKOTA.
As Described by Mr., <. A. Stands.
Its Fine Lands and Hcspita-
bic People Great
Stock Country.

Its Zine Lands and Hospita-
bic People Great
Stock Country.
The following interview with Mr..
Stands, the gentleman Who is sou,,
to locate here is taken from II
HarriS"nhn'g. Virginia, paper. Mr..
Stands is not the only one that has
became infatuated with uur n-au,iiul
csnntry. All that is necessary is to
view the landscape and YOU are a
goner:
Having some curiosity to hear
something Of the new Stat" of South
Dakota from some one who had ac-
tualiy been there and seen Tor him.
self, and Knowing that ~ former
tnwnsnan, Mr.. +. A. Stands, was
buck here oh a visit, onr reporter de-
termined to interview him.
He found him engaged in transact.
ing some business which he wished
to complete before his return to his
now bone. hut luckily he was about
through. so he did not have long to
wait. When he explained his ousi~
Ness. Mr.. Stands very reality gave
us the information desired, aud
seemed to he quite enthusiastic
about the wild and woody West"
or at least. that part Of it included
within the territorial limits Of South
Dakota. Our conversation ran
something ike this:
Rnporter--'I have called to get
YOU to tell me something about
South DAKOTA"
"Wcll,,o he hrieF,'sail Mr.. Stands
Il consider South Dakota the garden
spot Of United States. 1t lays over
any country | eyer saw before, and
even exceeded my expectations"
ReporteI--''Is it rich III minerals?"
!, Mr.. Shands-"I know very little
about its mincrals,b but as al agricul-
tural and stock rnising country it
can not be excelieh. The land on
an average produces SO bushels of
corn to the acre; 80 bushels OF wheat
and 100 bushels of oats. and grass
grows luxuriantly. Immense num-
bers of horsts, hogs and cattle are
raised out there aud the stock is gem
erally>fne. The beauty Oft, too, is
that they can be raised at just about
half what it costs to raise them here"
Reporter-"What is the price of
good land?'
Mr.. Sllands-"Well. the price Of
land varies from 81 to $50 per acre,
according to location and improye-
ments.'
Reporter-"What about the eli
mate?'
Mr.. Shanls-"The climate is de-
lightful IN spring, summer and fall.
1t is said that the winters are some
times severe"
Reporter--"But how about the
population? Are not the inhabitants
as u general thing very rougli?"
Mr.. Shanhs-''Not ut al. On
the contrary, the people ofthe towns
are extremely sociahle and hospi-
table. They are altogether temper
ate, and the schools and churches
are numerous. One thing | think
our Rockingham farmers would like
and that is the scarcity of lawyers.
But while lawyers are scarce, it Is
the very country for the working
man and the small farmer A Ia
borer can get sl.25 a day and board.
One man with a pair OF horses can
farm sixty acres Of land handily.
In fact, one of the few drawbacks to
the country is the scarcity oftimber.
But fuei--in shape Of coal and wood
ii bought in the summer time can
be had nearly as cheap rs here"
In the above interview w have
not attempted to give in full all that
Mr.. Shands said, but only such
points as we thought would interest
our readers.
Mr.. Stands spoke of the proba,
bility Of his taking his fine Sam
Purdy stations, Elverton and Dan
Lamont, this fall out to Elk Point.
where he has located. If he does.
the people of South Dakota will see
IL remarkably fine team. He says
he has been carefully looking around
for a suitable farm and has about
fixed upon one.
OF course it goes without saying
that our citizens greatly regret losing
such a live, energetic citizen, but
they hope that when he makes 6
fortune his love for his old mother
state may induce him to come back
to enjoy it in the midst ofthe scenes
OF his childhood.