Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-04-08
The Rate at Which South Dakota
Expects to Grow.
Expects 10 Keep VI the Calf for Ten Years
1.-The Feeling Of Confidence Grow.
ing...Evsry Train Brings
Home Seskers.


states farther east are TO the effect that
the rush now is nothing compared to
what it will be in few weeks. Every
eye seems TO be turned toward South Da-
kota, the good crops Of the past two years
having given eastern people confidence IN
the state that will very shortly take its
place ut the head of the agricultural
states In the union. This feeling of con
fdence is constantly growing among the
eastern people, and letters are daily re-
ceived from persons who are forming coll
onies which will leave for South Dakota
within the next few weeks. From all
sides they come. From the eastern,
the central and every other state in the
union. All these forces combined will
make an influx OF people that has never
before been witnessed In the settle
ment of any new state. The bulk OF these
new settlers are farmers who have been
renting lands in the various states, with
no hope of ever saving enough from their
earnings to purchase q farm for them
selves at the prices which are charged for
farm lands in their states. In order TO
secure fine farms at tritiing cost they viii
come to South Dakota, where they can
procure excellent farms at slight cost
The millions of acres of government land
which await the coming of the hardy
nuSDuuuUlaU III lnlS SJate dHOFu tn" OPP
portunities for which these people have
long waited. And from present appear
ances thousands of them will take advant-
age of this opportunity to secure for them
selves and their children farms of the
choicest land which lies outdoors. The
opening OF the Sioux reservation to set
tlement three years ago occurred at a
time when the state had suffered to
great extent from partial crop failures,
and In consequence the rush for lands at
that time was not as great as expected
After the two good crops for the past two
years the people have regained confidence
In the future of the state, fully believing
that South Dakota has seen its worst
days, and that from now on the state will
continue to prosper In way that will cast
into insignifcance the rush to other new
states.
Among the best portion Of the free gov
ernment land In South Dakota Is that
portion ceded to the government by the
Sioux Indians three years ago. II Is to
this land that the great volume of the
present immigration is pouring. The
country is rapidly settling up, and in a
short time the land where the Indian and
the buffalo roamed at will but few years
ago will be dotted over with the happy
! homes of thousands of brawny homebuild-
! ers. Many inquiries are received regard
fag these lands. and the object OF this
article is TO give information about that
vast trsSct of government land lying be-
tween thi.>city and the Black Hills. In
exchange for-$hese millions of acres OF
land the government agreed 10 pay the
Indians fair price hAcash, which Will he
placed to the credit Of the 1ed men in the
treasury at Washington. All IS.aS sold
during the first three years after fHs&
opening OF the reservation was to be paid
for at the rate of 81 p per acre, the set
tiers taking lands during the three years
being compelled, at time ofproving up on
the land, TO pay for it at the rate stated
These three years expired the 10th
of last month, and the settlers
now taking lands need pay only IS
cents per acre for them-and this at
time Of proving up, II has always been
the intention of South Dakota people to
ssEed 10 pass bi,Y wiiae... @ ss.asiS s proves.
that the government should shoulder the
debt due the Indians for their land, and
then the land could be secured the same
rs other government land without pay
ment of a certain price per acre. 1t is no
should shoulder this burden instead OF
the settlers, and this is almost certain to
be done before any of the settlers now go-
ing upon the land will be ready to prove
up. Still the Is cents per acre is compar-
atively cheap when the excellent charac-
ter Of the soil In the ceded lands Is con-
s!dered For centuries the luynrient
grasses have decayed and soaked into the
soil, thereby rendering II of the very
richest character. The soil is of rich
black loan of the best kind and is highly
productive. The land is free from stones
and is practically ready for the imple-
ments OF the farmer. The best of the
land lies along white river, and already
the prairie and valleys for fifty or sixty
mi es out Is dotted over with the homes Of
the farmers who have located there dur
ing the past few months. Notwithstand-
Ing the rush to that section there are still
thousands of acres of land that can be
had for the taking. That country is well
watered, living streams running In all d.
rections through it. Many of the settlers
are locating along Medicine creek. This
creek starts in Pratt county, in the ex-
treme western portion Of the ceded lands,
and runs east through the best sections of
the fertile lands, and then empties into
the Missouri river north Of here. The
length OF this stream is fully seventy five
miles, and IL waters the country midway
between the White and Bad rivers. Quite
Q number OF little tributary streams run
into Medicine crek, affOrding a plentiful
supply OF water to the settlers who locate
In that vicinity. There are many streams
running into White river from the north.
Every five or six miles along this river
There arc littlt cTcckS W HlCn eUupty lntO III,
these creeks starting on an average OF
six or eight miles back from the river.
This supply gives the settlers all the
water that Is necessary for farm and
stock purposes. Wells are also easily
made in that country, abundant supplies
of water being struck at q depth of from
twelve to twenty five feet AS an illustra-
tion of the inexhaustible supply of good
water it can be related that few days
ago Farmer Rex, living two miles east of
Red Buttes. after having dug down four
teen feet was surprised to discover that
water was already. running into the hole
he had dug. He was compelled to make
hasty retreat from the hole, and in but
short time il was filed with water, and
parties who have recently seen il say the
water continues to flow steadily over the
top, II Is q natural artesian well and Is
the talk OF the country. Another story Is
told of a Russian who visited this country
last week. He wished to he certain that
there was plenty of water in the country
even shcu,d the creeks become drv. which
of course Is impossible. So taking an ak
he went to White river and commenced
cutting hole In the ice 10 see IL there
was really any water under It, Suddenly
the Ice gave way and the Russian was
precipitated into the ice cold water, being
rescued with difficulty by parties who
fortunately for him happened to DC near
at hand.
The ceded Sioux country is also para
disc for stockmen. There are now tens
of thousands Of head of cattle and horses
grazing an the rich grasses in that sec
ton, and stOckmen who have tried all the
ranges of the United States maintain that
the ranges Of the cedcd Sioux lands sur
pass them all The open winters are es-
pecially favorable for cattle, aud they
rapidly fatten on the rich grazing. They
require but little care, being able to Craze
on their regular ranges during the entire
year, the absence Of heavy snowfall max
ing this possible. During the coming
year many thousands more head Of stock
will be taken to the ranges west Of the
Missouri river, hundreds of head having
already been crossed here this winter on
their way 10 that section. The influx of
settlers will drive the stockmen and their
herds to the interior of the ceded lands,
but this they realize is exactly what they
could have expected. La but short time
ell that section OF the ceded lands extend
ing from the Missouri river 90 distance
Of fifty miles west of that stream will be
thickly settled by farmers. The land en-
braced In the section indicated Is all good
farm land and while thoclainls along the
Missouri and White rivers are naturally
being settled upon more rapidly than
those farther back, 10 will not be long
until that whole portion Of the country Is
settled - thickly as any county east OF