The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-11-05
"a FEW r AC, rs,
What Farmers Are Actually Doing
ii Bon Homtne and Hutchinson
Counties, S. D.

y N<SSAANASS3 " - 55tsss sstS9s
The rapid immigration that is
coming to this country, the NUM-
ber during the past year reaching.
the enormous total of nearly one
million souls, and the already
crowded condition of the farms,
factories and mines in the East.
make the question of seeking a
new location for many Of these
people an important one. In the
selection of a place to build up a
home two principal factors must
sbbe be ccons;d cred the climate and the
business or financial prospects.
In both of these features we believe.
that South Dakota, and especially
this portion Of the state, offers 5ex-
ceptional advantages. The nature
of the climate is easily ascertained
by study of the reports from the
weather bureaus, which now have
official records covering a period
Of from 25 to 80 years. These
records will show that this section
OF the country compares very IA
yorably in healthful and agreeable
climatic conditions with any state
in the Union, not excepting the far
famed Pacific coast states.
When it comes to studying the
financial conditions a closer obser-
yation is required. For this there
is no better method than study
of the financial condition of the
present inhabitants. Where the
inhabitants have succeeded and
are succeeding others can succeed,
for what man has done, man car,
do" There will always be indi-
vldual exceptions in every commu-
nifty, but wherever the general con-
dition Of the people is one of pros
perity and wealth it is safe to con-
clude that the conditions surround
ing them are favorable to success,
and the converse of this is equally
true. If in q farming community
the farmers are constantly placing
a higher valuation upon their land,
and are continually seeking to add
to their acreage, it is reasonable to
conclude that this land is a profit
able investment, for no one knows
better what the actual producing
value Of land is than the farmer
who tills it.
These are the conditions which
now prevail in Bon Homme and
Hutchinson counties. Farmers
are buying more land and are pay
ing for it, either in cash or from
the proceeds Of the land itself.
Under present conditions this can
easily be done in from two to three
years. Good land can be purchas-
ed at from $55 to $50 per acre.
This land cropped to corn Will yield
from IS to IS bushels per acre
This season the crop is not excep,
tionally large, and we have heard
Of no yield less than 80 bushels
after allowing for waste acreage
occasioned by flooding in the early
part Of the season, while some are
going as high as 66 bushels pc,
acre. By converting this corn into
hogs or cattle the farmer can easily
realize 40 cents per bushel for his
corn. The field which yields Al
bushels is therefore producing al
annual income Of $l8 per acre, 0:
from one third to one-half the price
Of the land. These figures are no
ezaggerations nor exceptions, bu-
sare plain statements of what ou
farmers are actually doing.
The difficulties in providing pas
ture and rough feed for stock is be
ing overcome by the raising 0
tame grasses. Timothy, red clio
yer, alfalfa, blue grass, brom,
grass, are all raised in create
quantities every year, and are al
well adapted to the soil and eli
mate. In fact the same crops tha
have been successful, and hav'
\ brought prosperity to the farmer
4 in Iowa. Illinois and other easteri