The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-23
SOUTH DAKOTAS WHEAT CROP
1t Will Amount to 10000, 900
Bushels-Last Year It Was &c.,
100000.

\ correspondent of the New York Sum-
writing from Sioux Falls, under date of
July 10, says:
The great wheat fields of this State are
IA source Of wonderment and establishment
to the Northwestern farmer this year
Harvesting has begun in the southern
counties Of the State and the results are
surprising to all Not since the first set
Element of the Northwest has the growth
of small grain been so rapid as during the
present season, and the first dressings
which were begun this week, show that
the yield has been greater than ever in the
State history. Add to this the % per
cent. of increased acreage over last season,
and the State will produce 60, 600, 600
bushels Of wheat, as against %, 600. 900
bushels last year. The high price of
wheat last fall occasioned by the Letter
corner, prompted farmers to plant more
extensively of wheat this year but this
alone was not the only reason. The West
ern farmer has learned to cultivate wheat
at less expense than formerly, and the i'm
mense settlements of Russian farmers un-
derstand little else than the raising Of
wheat.
In the northern part of the State, at
the town Of Eureka, is the largest local
grain market in the world. Here forty
four grain elevators and warehouses are
employed to care for the wheat that is
brought from the country west of the rail
road terminus. All Of the great elevator
lines of the country are represented here,
and as many as ten trainloads of grain are
shipped to the Eastern markets daily
The railroad is now contemplating an ex-
tension further into the wheat belt west
ward, and the importance of Eureka will
then be impaired as a local market.
Vast wheat fields, where the grain stands
from two and a half to three feet high,
and extending in a radius of 100 miles
from the town, will be ready for the reaper
about the 10th, with every prospect that
the yield will be even heavier than that
now being cut and threshed in the south
ern part of the State.
Railroad companies are troubled over the
demand that will soon be made upon them
for transportation facilities when the crop
is ready to move. The capacity of the
elevators of the State is inadequate to the
demands that will be made upon them.
and storage contracts are now being made
with the large grain raisers, who will rush
their grain to market direct from the fields.
The whole Northwest has been excep-
tionally free from devastating storms dur
ing the growing season, and, while the
rainfall has been exceptionally great, it APP
pears to have been a benefit rather than a
detriment, as the farmers predicted.
The contrast between the condition of
the farmers Of South Dakota today and
that OF six years ago seems hardly credi-
bic. 1t will be remembered that then Gov
Sheldon proclaimed to the world that the
farmers were starving and aid was sent
them from the East. The great news
papers of the East sent agents to investi-
gate, and the sufferings of the farming
classes were graphically portrayed. The
farmers have since become rich and pros
porous. 1t is difficult for banks to find
borrowers among the farmers, and so indie
pendent have they become that many
small banks acting as agents for eastern
financial concerns, have been forced out of
business. Six years ago from IL to "a
per cent, was the rate Of interest paid on
borrowed capital. Today the State can
not lend its school fund at per cent.
South Dakota farmers do not need money
except for the purpose of buying more
land, and those who do not invest in land
are lending their surplus funds on town
mortgages.
immigration in South Dakota was tenn
porarily suspended by the declaration of
war, yet her increase in population so far
this year is estimated at 25, 900.