Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-07-30
Letter From III. O. Dalen.
Editor Graettinger 0owa) Times:

Editor Graettinger (Iowa) Times:
To defend our own rights, we
wish TO state that the reports made
by Mr.. Bergeson are not to be taken
up as a general thing all over the
State of South Dakota; we wish to
advise that Bergeson failed to see
what is termed as the grain growing
belt Of South Dakota; if he had, he
would have gone home with a diff
erent opinion. We do not wish to
bring this up as a personal charge
against Mr.. Bergeson, but the people
living in Iowa are SO suspicious of
the Dakotas that when a report like
that goes the rounds, it is taken for
granted that it is a general thing all
over.
Mr.. Bergeson's business generally
takes him to the ranges where they
do not pretend to make a business
of grain growing. There is as much
difference between grain growing in
South Dakota, and the ranges, as it
is between the fruit farms of Cali
fornia and the corn fields of the state
of Iowa. We can raise grain in this
part of the state, and we can raise
cattle-we can do either extensively
but we are adapted for mixed farm
ing and do not pretend to be in it
with the ''cow-punchers" in their
line, but when we say we have as
fine growing crop in Day county as
was we seen in the state of Iowa,
we can raise grain and have it to
show this year as well, will beproved
by testimonials which we have
secured from farmers living here the
past twenty years, which ought to be
evidence enough that the crops have
been coming regularly and an aver
age with the best farming country
of any state.
The farms in this part of Day
county are built up about as well
as you will find in your county.
Good thrifty groves shelter the
building spots, nice orchards and
small fruit grow as well as we have
seen while in Iowa. Why should all
this be if farming in not a C
Modern dwellings large barns, gran
cries and buildings of every descrip-
ton have been built from the grain
and stock sold off the farms on which
they live; county out of debt; good
schools at regular places for them.
What more can a man ask for to
prove that we are in the good enough
land for any respected and law abid-
ing citizen to make an honest living
and lay in store enough for a rainy
day.
We do not refer to Mr.. Bergeson
to have him apologize and go the
rounds to all whom he has come in
contact with since coming home: we
do not doubt that he did see poor
crops in South Dakota-such a thing
can be in any state in the union at
times-even in Iowa, but he did not
visit the farming country, where he
saw poor grain.
We will always take a back seat
for Bergeson when it comes to judg-
ing a steer, but if he takes a look at
the country around Butler, and inter-
view the farmers, and by doing 30,
can find anything against the country
he must show us, we're from South
Dakota.
We must apologize for using Mr..
Bergeson's name, but when the
report goes abroad that there are NO
crops in South Dakota, just take a
look at Day county, and if you are
not convinced and will 60 home with
a different opinion, we will pay your
expenses.
Wishing you an abundance Of
crops, of which the present outlook
for this part of the state promises
we are,