The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
Growth of Population.

words the following being abstracts from
his report:
Growth of Population.
..rhe growth of population has been
something more than normal. This re-
view last year placed the total at a half
million. Much inquiry and computation
confirm the accuracy of that figure and
justify the statement that the present
population is $4,000.
1.-The first effect Of last years phenom-
email land movement was a positive loss
Of people to the state by the emigration of
those who sold their lands to Spectators.
That loss has much more than been made
good by the immigration Of this year, and
in both farm and village the result of
growth is apparent. There has been a
large influx Of homeseekers, who have
taken homesteads on the government land
west of the Missouri river.
Building Operations.
'.This has been another year Of large
building operations, despite the almost
prohibitory prices Of labor and material.
For the last stated reason the towns have
done more than the farms in the way of
new improvements. AS a rule the con-
wait for better prices before building, but
in the towns it has been, as a rule. a
matter of securing a home at any price.
Consequently building operations have only
been limited by the ability to secure ma
terial and wOrkmen.
I'm no former year has public building
been so extensive. This includes schools,
courthouses, libraries, waterworks and
sewer systems and cement sidewalk build
ing, which has become almost universal
in the towns. Among the more important
Of the public buildings. in addition to
those provided for by the Legislature, are
splendid courthouses at Webster and
| fo1o h,,il1 ircr of
| libraries at Yankton, Redfield and Pierre,
schoolhouses in many places, a Masonic
temple at Yankton, and hotels at Mitchell
and Deadwood.
! ''The building of homes, however, as is
usually the case, has surpassed every
other building interest, and every locality
has participated in this advantage upon
almost equal terms. A few have been
exceptionally costly and elaborate, but in
| the main the structures have been sub
stantial and tasty homes Of medium cost
I Prosperity Of the People.
..Private finances continue to be in a
most hopeful condition. Farmers are as
a rule free from debt and many have a
comfortable balance in bank. Almost tbs
only exceptions are those who have purI
! chased adjoining lands, and they are max.
ing excellent progress in clearing off debts
contracted for this purpose. To the gen.
eral rule there are, Of course, the familiar
exceptions Of the thriftless and unfor
tunate, but it is a fair proposition tina
the industrious and thrifty farmer Is IL
very comfortable circumstances in ever!
portion Of the state
"The prosperity of the farms has re
fected itself In the towns, but there tn
| same easy, money ahead condition doe
not exist to as great an extent, for tn
reason that almost every denizen Of tn
towns has gone to the limit in improving
his property. New homes, additions t
older ones, lawns, cement walks, sewer
and plumbing, gas, curbs and boulevard
cost money, and the South Dakotan
: prone to provide himself with all of tn
modern comforts.
: cat the last report of the bank exam
iners there was $31,000,00O upon depos1
in the national, state and private bank
4 of South Dakota, figure scarcely differ
{, ent from that made in the review OF on
= year ago. A good deal Of investigate
y among bankers confirms the view ths
. about 65 per cent of the whole is the SUI
:, plus of farmers and ranchmen.