The Minneapolis journal., 1903-09-29
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RIGHT KIND OF MEN,


There are whole counties in South Da-
kota where the average wealth Of the
farmer is estimated at $25, 900. Few of
them are worth more than $50 O00
Most of these well-to-do men have
made their wealth during the past tWen-
ty years. Their sources of income have
been grain, crops, cattle, and hogs. While
accommodating much property, and money
they have lived we'll and have given their
children the advantages of good educa-
| tion. Not infrequently all the children Of
large families have taken college courses,
generally in the excellent schools of the
state, frequently at the advanced univer-
stiles of eastern states and Europe, and
sometimes at both.
How was such exceptional prosperity
acquired? The settlers bought lands
when they were cheap, often going heav-
lily in debt, even tho their farms cost
them only few dollars an acre. These
farmers are chiefly found in the older set
tied portions of the state, but many Of
the sparsely settled sections show a large
percentage of population to be in en-
viable financial condition. Numerous sue
cesses are now being made and opportuni-
ties are still plentiful.
There are large areas of land good for
diversified farming, which may be had at
low prices on easy payments. Such lands
are as sure of crop as the lands now SELL
|
were first settled.
South Dakota offers better advantages
than..lands farther north or farther south.
| The climate is neither hot enough nor
cold enough to be enervating. Crops are
certain. To the man who has energy,
South Dakota offers golden inducements.
| No Haroships.
South Dakota, in common with other
parts of the new west, is the subject of
many wild and mistaken ideas among the
people of the east. The yellow style of
literature, together with the facetious hu-
morist and the willy adventurer, are re-
sponsible in a great m easure for this con-
dition Of affairs. Then, too stories of
| the hardships of the early pioneer in the
Mississippi basin are still In evidence, and
lead many people to believe. that like con-
ditions still prevail at the present time in
the newer west AS a matter of fact,
nothing could be farther from the truth.
The social and mechanical revolutions of
the past fifty years have reached in their
most perfected stages every outlying post
| of civilization.
| Instead Of the long, tedious and some
| times dangerous journeys which the pio-
neer farmer Of the past was forced to
make in the transaction of his business,
his son of the early century is enabled
! to take advantage of the modern con-
veniences. To-day the progressive farmer
or ranchman, in his home, steps to the
phone and, receiving the latest market
reports, sells his stock or produce as to
him seems most advantageous. In the
evening he may sit with his family by the
freside, and in the daily paper read the
events and transactions of the world in
every detail up to sunrise of that morn
ing. Hardship! The South Dakota pio-
neer of to-day knows and need know moth
| ing of hardship.
Decided lands can be purchased for prices
which to an eastern man seem almost in
credible. It is not land which has been
| worn out by half g, century of unremit-
ting cultivation, either. One may buy
raw lands and make improvements to
suit himself, or he can find farms with
substantial buildings.