The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-04-24
Some Telling Enct.

manager OF the Elwood Land company
Of st. Paul. who has travelled extensive
iy over South Dakota, says:
"The creamery, dairy, agricultural
and live stock industries of South Da-
kota have increased wonderfully in the
past five years. Her state debt Is the
lowest of any state in the Union. Many
of her counties have not dollar OF
bonded Indebtedness. She is well rail-
roaded and in close proximity to the
best markets OF the Northwest. Her
climate is superior, and she possesses
all of the qualifications that will soon
place her in the front rank of all the
great Northwestern agricultural states.
Her wealth and population has been in
creasing by Leaps and bounds, and farm
lands in South Dakota had a larger
percentage of increase in value than
those of any other state in the Union in
the past five years. The wealth added
to South Dakota through its increase OF
land values must be estimated by mill
Ions of dollars, and this added wealth
Is as substantial as though IL had been
produced by the raising of corn and
wheat or cattle. for land values viii
never be less than they are to-day. Any
man owning a South Dakota farm to-
lay, can, If he desires, go to his nearest
bank and find thac his farm gives him
4 credit for borrowing purposes larger
han the entire price he could have sold
the farm for four of five yearc ago, and
he can borrow his money at and per
sent, instead Of 8, 9 and 10 Fer cent, as
b. did only a few years ago.
South Dakota mortgages are nearly
a thing Of the past and, while South
Dakota ia not kno yn as a contrasting
state, It has, however in the past two
years, raised more corn than wheat.
Farm lands In Southern and East
srn South Dakota have already reached
rrices that would have seemed fabu
lous q few years ago, and many farm
ers in that section of the state are sell
ng out to Iowa and Illinois farmers and
rebuying cheaper lands ir the northern
part of the state, where they expect to
get another quick advance in price In
the next few years, reseilirg again at
another handsome profit; or, If their
age is such that they do not care TO
move again. they will probably remain
at their new homes permanently.
1.-THE Elwood Land company has sold
about half million dollars worth Of
South Dakota lands per year for the
past six or eight years, practically all
Of il To farmers who purchased Their
lands on time. depending on the crops
TO pay for the land, and this company
has never had a mortgage foreclosure;
which easily proves that the crops
have been sufficient to pay the indebt-
.dness on the land. This fact is further
proven by investiga ton of the records
at any of the county seats, which will
show the largest decrease in farm mort
cages of any other state.
1.-The president of the Elwood Land
company has travelled extensively over
all the Western end Northwestern
States, in connection with the land and
immigration business, and the fact that
his company has made nearly all of its
Investments in South Dakota proves its
,aith in that great and growing state"
In "Jim" River valley.
X. Mckenzie of Groton, S. D., who
was postmaster at Groton from March,
1898, until April, 1902 and who has spent
the last twenty years in South Dakota,
sold $500. 900 worth Of Brown county
and last year. He says:
mo better soil than that of the great
.r part of Brown county east of the
James river. can be found in this state.
The surface soil is a rich. black loan.
ranging from eighteen inches to three
Feet I'm depth, with a heavy clay sub
soil from ten to twenty feet deep. The
country is nearly level and free from
stone or gravel. Good water I'm abund-
ince can be obtained from wells rang
ing in depths from fifteen to twenty
ave fet The soil is admirably adapted
20 raising all kind of small grains,
grasses and vegetables. Corn can be
grown successfully and proftably.
Yields Of thirty-five to forty-five BUSH
els are common. Small fruits do well.
No better country for raising cattle.
nogs and sheep can be found. The cli-
mate suits them and disease is I'M
Known. We are located in the artesian
oelt Many farmers have small-bore
wells, and others large wells, furnishing
water for artificial lakes, that are
stocked with different varieties Of FISH.
they utilize the power from the wells
or various purposes, such as feed mills,
,rean separators, churns and washing
machines. Many farms in this locali-
ty contain modern improvements that
would put TO shame the improvements
n older states. III Is not an
thing to find farm residences heated by
furnaces and lighted with acetylene
gas, having rural free delivery at their
ioors. and in communication by tele-
ohone with the outer world. These are
but a few OF the conveniences and i'm
provements you can find on many p
farm in Eastern Brown county.
I'm the past twelve months I sold
over half a million dollars worth OF
land i'm Brown county alone. The buy
srs were from Southern Minnesota.
iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and the SOUTH
arn part of the state. Nearly all OF the
nigh priced lands that 7 sold are being
settled on by the purchasers. Others
will move here after harvest. Holland
ars from Jasper and Marion counties.
iowa, purchased a large tract OF land
north of Groton. The first contingent
arrived last week, bringing with them
100 head of registered Shorthorn heifers
Others from these same counties will
follow soon.
'"rhe outlook for a much larger i'm
migration from this section from the
states above mentioned, during 1902. is
very favorable.
"The verdict of thoCe who have
looked this section over, and who are in
position TO pass judgment upon II is,
that lands tributary 10 Groton wilt in
side OF one year, sell FOR $40 and $50 an
acre. much more readily than they now