Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-01-07
Total production for 1903. s1ss. O6s. 264

Total production for 1902. 121,124,ooo
Net gain. $14,939 26i
Per capita. new wealth.. 253.77
The pleasant story of advancement
can be best told in Secretary Robin
sons own words, the following being
abstracts from his report:
"The growth OF population has been
something more than normal, This
review last year placed the total at a
half million. Much inquiry and compu-
tation confirm the accuracy of that
figure and justify the statement that
the present population Is SOS 900.
1.-THE first effect Of last years phe-
nomenal land movement was a posi-
tive loss of people to the state by tho
emigration of those who sold their
lands to spectators. That loss has
been much more than made good by
the immigration of this year, and In
both farm and village the result of
growth is apparent. There has been
q large influx of homeseekers, who
have taken homesteads on the govern
ment land west of the Missouri river.
"This has been another year of large
building operations, despite the al
most prohibitive prices Of labor and
material. For the last stated reason
the towns have done more than the
farms il the way Of new improve
ments. AS a rule the conservative
farmer, already well housed, could
wait for better prices before building,
but in the towns it has been. as q rule,
a matter of securing a home at any
price. Consequently building opera
lions have only been limited by the
ability Il secure material and work
men.
"In no former year has public build
ing been so extensive. This includes
schools, court houses, libraries, water
works and sewer systems, and cement
sidewalk building, which has become
almost universal in the towns. Among
the more important of the public build
ings. in addition to those provided for
by the legislature, are splendid court
houses at Webster and Aberdeen, IL
braries at Yankton, Redheld and
Pierre, schoolhouses in many places, a
Masonic temple at Yankton, and hotels
at Mitchell and D~eadwood.
1.-THE building Of homes, however, as
is usually the case. has surpassed
every other building interest, aud ev-
cry locality has participated in this adj
vantage upon almost equal terms. A
few have been exceptionally costly and
elaborate, but il, the main the struc-
lures have been substantial and tasty
homes of medipm cost.
Private finances continue to be In
a most hopeful condition. Farmers
have a comfortable balance in bank.
Almost the only exceptions are those
who have purchased adjoining lands,
and they are making excellent prog
ress in clearing off debts contracted
for this purpose. To the general rule
there are, Of course, the familiar ex-
captions of the thriftless and unfor.
tunate, but 1t is a fair proposition that
the Industrious and thrifty farmer is
in very comfortable circumstances in
every portion of the state.
"The prosperity of the farms has re-
flected itself in the towns. but there
the same easy, m-oney-ahead condition
does not exist to such an extent. for
the reason that almost every denizen
Of the towns has gone to the limit in
improving his property. New homes.
additions to older ones, lawns, cement
walks. sewers ard plumbing, gas,
curbs and boulevards cost money, and
the South Dakotan Is prone to provide
himself with all of the modern COM
forts.
AT tho last report Of the bank ex-
aminers there was SCI, 000, 900 upon de-
post in the national, state and private
banks of South Dakota, a figure scarce
ly different from that made in the re-
view Of one year ago. A good deal OF
investigation among bankers confirms
the view that about 65 per cent of the
whole is the surplus Of farmers and
rauchmeu."