The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-09-18
THE GREAT CORN BELT.
It's Production of Corn and Cattle Have
Laid a Great Foundation
for Wealth.

South Dakota is one of those states in
the union which is at present on the top
wave of prosperity, and her residence,
with the object Of calling the attention OF
her sister states to the unbounded
resources and her richness in an agriCul-
tural way, have decided to hold a corn
belt exposition in Mitchell on Sept. 20
to Oct. 8, inclusive The exposition will
be held in the corn palace building
which has been erected for that purpose.
The building is a very large one, $50
feet long by 100 feet in width and the
architectural skill employed in its con-
struCtion has made the exterior very
attractive for decorative purposes. The
interior is sufficiently large to accom-
modate several thousand people and
there is abundant room for the many
county exhibits which will show to good
advantage the CropS raised in the corn
belt region. Already practically all the
space that has been sci aside for the
county exhibits has been taken, which
nsurcs fine show in this respect.
The corn belt is the oldest settled and
most prosperous part OF the state. a
crop failure has scarcely -vcr been
known, and with the pride born of sue
cess the residents OF the corn belt are
endeavoring by this exposition to show
its resources in an attractive manner
and TO rid the minds of the fasteners of
the idea that South Dakota is a place
where only billiards. drouths, Indians
and destitute people abound. In this
land of bright sunshiny weather genuine
billiards are as scarce as they are in
the east; drouths have never affected
the corn belt; Indians are as scarce as
on the streets of Chicago, and the farm
ers housed in substantial homes, their
stock in roomy barns, and the residents
OF the state are intelligent as a class.
The state is peopled mostly by Ameri-
cans with good sprinkling of foreign
element who with the Americans have a
strong pride in their state and they pro-
pose that the rest of the world shall
know it.
In that part of the state north and
west of the corn belt region the farmers
some years ago were subjected to the
dlscouragements incident to new
country and to pioneers. The south
eastern part was more slowly settled
than the rest of the state and the resi-
dents were farming successfully when
the great influx of immigration came to
this country, The people who came to
secure Dakota land at a mere nominal
price were far different from the class of
men who are on the farms today.
They were brought here with the expec-
tation Of making a fortune and then
leaving the country. The majority of
the fertile acres of the broad prairies
were taken up by this class and many
never titled the soil only in careless
and hap way. The experienced
farmers among those who first came re-
NAMED; the inexperienced and shiftless
went their way and their places were
taken by the better element. Today,
without exception, the farmers of the
state are of the right class and are work
ing their way toward sure success.
While the wheat crop of this year will
not quite approach the crop of 1900, it
will reach fully 100000 bushels, due
to the absence of moisture in the north
part OF the state and also to the fact
that not so much ground was sown to
wheat this year as last. The corn crop
this year will be bumper in every re-
spect. The corn is past the frost line
and up to the present time there has
been but little frost in this part of the
state. A conservative estimate of the
result of the corn crop in this state is
gwen at 6o,ooo,ooo bushels. The oat
crop will be much larger than any pre-
vlous year. The effect of these Yields
has been to instill spirit of enthusiasm
and OF enterprise into the people of this
state which is showing itself in all direct
ions in increased business activity.
FROM an assessed valuation of year
ago of SI56,ooo,ooo. the state has in
creased in wealth rapidly the past year
and the assessed valuation of property
according to the state board this year is
500 100000. This part of the north
west, which was once considered way
out west" is but a twelve hours ride to
any of the leading market ports in the
middle west. Investments by eastern
parties are becoming more numerous
every year, lands are being bought this
year with a free hand, and these men
are not slow to take advantage of the
sure and steady rise in land. In this
vicinity alone over fifty farmers have
moved here from Iowa in the past year
and have marketed their first crop this