The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-06-01

But few people in the eastern part of
the state know or appreciate the extent
to which irrigation has been carried on
In the western part of the state, or to
what extent the government projects
which are now under way will carry on
the work. The average cost of this work
has been SITS per acre, with a range
from 1914 to $20.12 per acre, according
to the systems used, and the manner of
the land to be handled. This work has
all been done by private enterprise, and
has proved beyond doubt the value OF
irrigation which has paid well for the
cost of putting in the plants. The setting
aside of $2,100,000 of the national irriga-
ton fund for South Dakota comprehends
irrigation systems on the Cheyenne, Lit
tie Missouri and Moreau Rivers, that on
the Cheyenne having been surveyed last
year, and the main bitches and reservoir
sites located. The lands covered by these
irrigation systems will be let to settlers
in S0-acre tracts on long time payments,
as larger population can be supported
on an irrigated section than on one which
depends upon natural rainfall, and this
work will make homes for thousands of
families when the projects are all COM
pleted. The products of that section will
find a ready market In the mining section
of the Black Hills, which now takes
thousands OF dollars worth OF Nebraska
products every year, and which can be
more easily reached from this section
than from Nebraska.
The advance sheets OF the 1904 report
of the state insurance commissioner are
out, showing the business of the insur-
ance companies of the state for 1908.
The premiums received by the old line
fire companies for last year reached
677,514.S1, while they paid in losses
SOL, 5000, leaving balance in favor of
the companies of $415, 963.S2, less the
expenses of their business In the state,
but to give them a fair sum for their
expenses, they would yet be about so
per cent of the premiums received, the
gamers. The old line life companies re-
ceived premiums in the state to the
amount of 81, 021, 720.6S, aud paid losses
to the amount Of SPOT, 473.45, leaving
them $S14,247.23, less the cost of con-
Quoting their business. AS the amount
they paid was practically 20 per cent of
their premium receipts, their net profits
Were beyond so per cent. The assessment
to the amount Of $494, 633.S7, for the
year, with payments to the amount of
| 1884, S2257. The A. O. u. W. shows
the largest amount Of business, with over
| $27, 900 000. of insurance in force in the
state, while the NJ. w. A. is close up
with nearly $24,0OO0O0 Of insurance in
force. The total amount paid out for
the past year by the people Of the state
for all classes of insurance, fire, life, ac-
cident, either to old line companies, mu-
tuals or beneficiary orders, was s., 632.-
001.98.
The Rosebud Indian reservation in the
southeastern part of South Dakota, in the
great corn belt Of the Mississippi valley,
has been turned over by the Indians to
the government for public allotment I'M
der the United States homestead laws,
The reservation is easily reached from
Chicago, Omaha, st. Paul, Minneapolis
and other western centers. About 400
600 acres are in the reservation and the
only requirement for entering Is citizen
ship, not less than 81 years OF age, and
the payment Of 81 per acre at the time of
entry, with deferred payments Of 75 cents
each at the end of two, three, four and
ent in person at the registry land Office
at Bonesteel, Fairfax or. Yankton, for
registration. The books will be open on
July s. and the drawings begin July 2S,
final entry to be made Aug.
8. As corn lands of the same
general character in northwestern
Iowa, few miles distant sell
at $50 per acre, and lands Immediately
adjoining the reservation are worth from
$50 to $40 per acre, it is expected that
there will be an immense number of APP
plicants for the land in the reservation.
A good many experiments will be
made this season by the farmers in the
raising Of sugar beets. Butte County
has the record OF the highest percentage
OF sugar in the beets of any county in
the state, the amount being % per cent.
The question is being talked over among
the farmers what crop will be Of the
greatest value on the irrigated ground.
The experiments thus far made show
that from eighteen to twenty tons of
beets can be raised on the irrigated
ground per acre, and the net profit per
acre w,ald be from $35 to 500. 1t is I'M
de1st I'd that eastern capitalists have in
nfnd the erection of sugar beet factory
in that vicinity, providing sufficient guar
antce can be obtained from the farmers
for beet supply. A large quantity Of
beet seed has been received from Washing
ton, which viii be planted and expert.
mented with this summer.
Reports from many sections Of the
state tell Of the use of traction engines
for the breaking OF prairie. This man
ner Of turning over prairie rod. with
gang Of several plows, is said by those
who have tried it to be much cheaper
than the use Of horses for the same work.
They do the work as well as it can be
| done with horses on land which Ia mt