The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-01-10
A REVIEW OF THE pROGQFSS}
Is 4 - - = Of the Stale Of South Dakota for the Year 1901.
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BY DoaneR Robinson, Secretary Of the State Historical Society. )
copyrighted by Doane Robin son. Aberdeen, somh Dakota )


1t is my purpose to carefully set down
in this the closing number of this maya
zine for the year 1901. a record of the
more important facts and conditions
which have existed and prevailed in
South Dakota during the season to the
end that there may be an authcritive re-
sumo of the year to which future genera
items may look with assurance of the
truth. In the writer's efforts to gather
and preserve the history of the state he
has constantly found it difficult to Sc
cure reliable information of the finan-
cial and economic condition and of the
prosperity or depression of the people.
This lack in the past has induced me to
in~augurate the plan of a carefully made
annual review, which it is hoped will be-
come a permanent feature Of the work
of the historical society.
Oficial Record.
The opening, noteworthy event of the
year was the converting of the state legis-
lature and the induction into office of
Gov. Charles N. herreid and the other
state officers chosen at the election OF
November, 1900; These were George w.
Snow, Lieutenant Governor; O.. c. Berg,
Secretary of State; James .. Reeves,
Auditor John Schamber. Treasurer; Da-
vid Eastman, Land Commissioner; E. e.
Collins, Superintendent of Public I~nstruc-
ton; Frank LeCocq, Railway Commits
sioner. The house Of representatives in
the legislature elected A. G. Somers,
speaker. The legislature contained one
hundred and seventeen Republicans and
seventeen fusionists, and on the Odd of
January Hon. Robert J. Gamble of Yanli-
ton was chosen United States senator,
over Hon. r. +. Pettigrew, by a strict
party vote.
Legislative Action.
The legislature continued in session for
the full period of sixty days, and passed
1873 aws and p joint resolutions. Many
of these were merely p~erfunctory amend
ments to existing statutes. The more i'm
portant cnactments are enumerated be-
low.
Dairy Commission
The law creating food and dairy COM
missioner is probably of first interest in
the development of one of the states most
valuable resources. The business of dali
rying has expanded with most gratifying
results in recent years, and now ranks
among the most productive and safest
of the industries of South Dakota, de-
maTding the protection of the state from
the receptions and frauds will which the
business is beset. Gov. Herreid prompt
ly appointed Carter p. Sherwood of De
Smet commissioner, under the provisions
of the bill, and he has already accom-
plished much for the protection and adj
vancement of the industry.
Law Revision.
The laws of the state having continued
without revision or compilation since 1877,
the legislature provided for a code COM
mission, and made an appropriation for
its maintenance. The governor was for
tunate in securing the distinguished serv-
ices of Judge Bartlett Trip, former min
lister to Austria, and ple~nipotentiary IN
behalf of the United tSates in the settle
vnnnf ~ rho Govnnan difi11r1fioc TI,doo
Gideon C. Moody, former United States
senator and judge Of the federal court in
h days of the territory. and of Mr..
James Brown, a prominent lawyer of Eu-
reka, to undertake the compilation, re-
vision and annexation of the laws OF the
state.
Law School.
The legislature also provided for the
establishment of the law department of
h state university, a proposition which
Is Indicative Of the genuine advancement
OF South Dakota in the line of higher de-
velopment. The regents of education have
elected Hon. Thomas Sterling, a distin-
guished lawyer of Re1field. dean of the
law school, and he is devoting himself to
the organization Of the classes.
Department Of History.
The department of history was created
by the Legislature, and it's administration
placed in the hands of the state historical
society. This work, previously neglected..
Is now being energetically followed, and
much Of vital interest in the states his
tory has already been rescued and pre-
served.
Circulating Libraries.
An important act in the educational de-
velopment of the state provides for the
building up of a system of public %circulat-
Ing libraries in the school districts. The
people interested In these libraries are
putting the law in force with much enthu-
siaSm.
ScnvenEer Tax Bill.
An important law of the session Is
known as the scavenger tax bill, and is
intended. to dispose of the real estate
upon which owners have defaultes in the
payment Of taxes, and which has been
bought in at the tax sales by the counties.
This real estate consists chiefly of town
lots plated in he old boom days of the
eighties, and upon which the accumula-
ton of taxes Is considerable. The law
provides for the entry of judgment in rem
in all Of these cases, and the sale Of the
property by the courts. Tho act has al
ready resulted In bringing q large amount
of money into the public treasury, and
returning to the tax lists much property
which for years mas not contributed to the
revenues Of the state.
Appropriations.
The appropriations made by the legis-
lature for all Of the demands Of the state
for the biennial period ending with June
90, 1903, aggregate $1.3y6, 781. 80, or Seas
S95. 68 per year. These appropriations In
clude provision for iew educational and
charitable buildings to the extent Of $685.
800, ana provide for the maintenance OF
the state government, end the educational
and charitable and reformatory institu-
lions. 1t IL interesting n highly COM
mendable to South Dakota to compare
these figures. to those OF other states, -
Nebraska where tRo and a half million
are annually spent for the same general
purposes, while in Iowa, Minnesota and
Wisconsin the annual budget devoted tc
these objects about Ave million in each
state. In North Dakota the nnual APP
preparations of the legislature approxi-
mate one million one hundred thousand
dollars.
No More Deficiencies.
The legislature effectively provided