Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-04-02

and laborers, BY far the largest share
belongs to the farmer, as on the date
OF the bank reports merchants and
eattlemen are low in their bank ac-
counts.
Soil Improved.
A strange thing about the develop
ment OF South Dakota is the seeming
change in the richness or fertility of
It's soil. The first settlements were
on the Missouri river, near the Iowa
and Nebraska borders, and it was
doubted then whether the country was
good for anything but for grazing cat
tie. Wheat was raised with fair sue
cess, but corn did not thrive well for
dozen years or more. The svIl
seemed to grow mellow and corn ap-
peared to become acclimated, for,
where 1t was difficulty twenty years
ago to get ten bushels to the acre,
nifty to eighty bushels are now COM
mon. Land was sold then at an aver
age of about SIS an acre; it has ready
sale now at from $50 to SIS. These
changes caused the population to
crawl uorthward and westward, and
now the corn belt includes all of the
state east of the Missouri river.
Artesian Wells.
Artesian wells are doing much to
irrigate and enrich the soil and to
Keep live stock in good condition. Not
their least value, too, lies in the fact
that their flow has helped to form
small ponds and lakes all over the
northwestern part of the state In one
small section in Edmunds county last
fall more than thirty wells were sunk,
each having sufficient flow to supply
5000 head OF cattle. After all, the
best posted people now say that it is
On cattle and hogs that the state must
depend for its greatest wealth. They
say farming pays best only when live
stock are given close attention.
Mild winters and grass that cures
into nutritious hay give the cattle
grazing almost all winter, and general
~ they come out with good flesh in
the spring. Cattlemen are constantly
met with who are worth from $780,
900 to three times that sum, all made
in the last ten years. Some cattlemeM
simply buy and fatten cattle by CIV
ing them good grazing; the accumu-
lated weight nets large sums. One
case in point Is that of 500 steers
which gained an average Of 334
pounds each and Melted a profit of
about $4,000 on $4,000 invested all in
eleven weeks. Two young fellows did
this last year.
Fortunes for "Feeder0."
Feeders" who fatten cattle with
corn make fortunes. 1t costs more,
however and preparing 1000 steers
for market may cost altogether about
$140,0 900. but IL a fairly good sale Is
made they will sell for from 100000
to $3.50 900. Fine stock breeders with
their herds, of shorthorns, Herefords
and Polled Angus are scattered all
over the state Registered yearling
bulls sell to local farmers for SIS to
S200, and heifer calves from $40 to
500.
1t is understood on best authority
that the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul road will soon add nearly 500
miles to the 800 miles 1t has in the
state; last year this road built be-
tween Eureka, s. D., and Linton, n.
D., and this year 1t is to start building
west from Woonsocket, 1t is said Its
lines ut Armour and Orient are to be
connected, and that 1t VIII also build
west TO the Black Hills. The 800"
line is also making important extern
sions. among these being line to Abb
erdeen. The Chicago e. Northwest
ern line is planning to extend. 1t Is
said lines Will be constructed from
Aberdeen to Pierre and from Huron
TO Chamberlain The roads are all
figuring on heavy immigration this
year.