The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-19
Land hunaer.

Whatever may be the disposition OF
me farmers of the east. a serious land
aunger possesses the farmers of the
Nest. They have a feeling based on
actual knowledge that there is not
much really good lane to be possessed.
That the really agricultural portion OF
the Mississippi valley capable of culti-
walton without irrigation has been
quite fully occupied. and that there
fore a piece of good land is the begin
ming of a fortune. if not in the days
Of the present owner then for his
posterity. The opportunity to home
stead or obtain land by purchase at
p low rate afforded by the opening of
The Indian reservations this suGmer
thoWs how intense this and hunger
has become.
We have not cared to urge our read
ers to risk much on these reserva-
tons. We have rather discouraged 1t.
because we realized tina very few
would win prizes, that most of this
land is of comparatively little value
pr otherwise undesirable. and that there
Is bound to be a good deal of vexation
md disappointment and no little loss.
There was a time when homestead
Ing land paid largely. 1t was, how
ever. when homestead lands in the
humid district We're plenty and a man
could have pick and choice. Even
whether the farmer who worked on
q firm by the month for five years
and saved his wages could not buy
the lan6 outright for which the home
steaJer had given five of the best years
of his life. and he and his family sub
mitted to privations unknown in a more
settled country. In other words, the
M N Nyl- h,y 4L~ ~,~,tL --1
his money WOULD be quite as far
ahead as the homesteader. even If he
vas successful in getting a good piece
of land, and in the meantime would
have had a great deal more enjoyment
put of life.
How. then. can this land hunger be
satisfied? 1t is in itself a healthy sign.
piece OF land, improves it wisely and
farms it we'll, has laid the foundation
OF a fortune. He will not be a millions
aire. He will not, possibly, be a very
rich man from an eastern standpoint,
but he will be in no danger of the
sheriff. He can educate his children
In habits of industry, thrift and
give them a good education If they are
Fit for 1t. and can have for himself and
wife a maximum of the real comforts
of life n the minimum Of it's dis
comforts. Why. then, should not the
ownership of a good piece OF land be
highly desirable today?
: There Is. In she humid sections a
chased at from ten to twenty dollars
per acre. land which If properly farmed
land by this We mean If it is asked
to grow the crops which it's Creator
Intended 1T to grow will make the
farmer comfortable and happy. And
We think the chances for achieving
success are a good deal better on this
KIND of land than in any of the Indian
reservations that are now being
opened either for purchase or home
stealing. We advise every man who
Is by nature fitted to be a farmer to
get hold of a piece of land, if he can
do so without burdening himself with
debt. Until he is able to pay from
one-third to one-half down he had bet
ter not buy 1T.
We must not expect a continuance
OF the prosperity of the last four or
five years. We don't anticipate any
great disaster, but prices are always
proverbially unstable. In the very
nature of things adversely follows pros
aerity and prosperity follows adver-
sity, as the waves follow each other
to h shore. 1t has always been so,
will always be so, and therefore we
don't advise any man to burden him
self with debt which he cannot carry
comfortably in case there should be
or three years of dull times. Many
a man has been ruined by buying high
priced land and involving himself in
that have compelled him to
let go or keep his nose to the grind
for years to come.
We would rather take our chances
on a small portion of irrigated
land at a high price than on any land
that is now open to homesteading any
where in the United States. The
great agricultural development in the
next ten or fifteen years will be in
the irrigated sections Of the plains and
states, and there, we believe.
In the next generation will be found
the highest type Of civilization on this
Observation-Disclosures Farmer.