The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-05-18
UYWFERWhNUU SA0

1bPI6kFEtktMO1 49,
A collection Of expressions Of greeting
from the governor of the different states
Of the union, on the opening Of the st.
Louis exposition, was requested, and
Gov. Herreid sent the following mes
sage: "On this glorious opening day Of
the worlds fair, more than half mil
lion people send patriotic greetings from
South Dakota. With her 10000 square
miles Of the most precious territory with
in the great Louisiana purchase. includ-
ing the richest 100 miles square on earth;
with soil and climate unsurpassed; with
an array Of school houses, churches,
newspapers, banks and all commercial
enterprises most flourishing, and popu-
lation prosperous, contented and happy,
South Dakota assumes it's position in the
procession Of states. During the last six
years we have produced more wealth per
capita than any other state in the union?
and have an actual valuation of one
thousand million dollars Of property. To
day we join the people of Missouri and
the other states with solemn pledge of
energy, property and intelligence for civ
ic and religious, and the perpetuity of
free institutions"
Since the completion of the new gas
well at Pierre, the supply is estimated at
100000 feet per day. This supply will be
sufficient for all present purposes, and
will bring the city a good revenue. The
rate at present is 81 per thousand for
the first $4,000 feet used per month, and
80 cents per thousand for any additional
amount, with yet lower rates for manu-
featuring purposes. BY using the gas for
power at the city pumping station, a saw
ing Of about 5000 per month on fuel is
made, and that with the sale of gas
brings a revenue which more than pays
the running expenses of the city. The
new well is even better than the one
which has been supplying the city for the
past two years, and on a test threw n
six-inch stream Of water over sixty feet
high. 1t is also sample Of pluck and
determination on the part of the con-
tractors, Norbeck & Nicholson, who are
out over $4,000 OH the contract, being
obliged to sink four holes before getting
the flow, on account of accidents, but
their perseverance has given Pierre the
best well ever sunk there.
Raymond F. Walter, who has charge
Of the national irrigation work under
way in western South Dakota, is in
Deadwood and will leave in few days
for Belle Fourche to establish headquar-
ters for his summer work. He is accom-
panied by G. III. Fitch, chief of his divi-
sion, who will remain with him for some
time. Mr.. Fitch arrived last week with
A. p. Davis and j. III. Cuinton, of the
United States geological survey, and the
three gentlemen conducted an examina-
ton Of the proposed big irrigating ditch
along the Belle Fourche River. They
spent three days going over the course
Of the proposed ditch, their investigation
pertaining to the feasibility of the pro-
ject. Mr.. Fitch says further surveys will
be necessary, as well as further meas
urements of the water supply, before
determination can be reached. Mr.. Wal
Ter will go into the field with force of
forty surveyors for the purpose of com.
pleting the preliminary work.
The business of the Pierre land Office in
HE way of filings last month consisted Of
1873 homestead entries, and 30 declara-
.ories, making total of 16S filings, TAX
ing up practically $1,000 acres more Of
the public domain. 1t is going about at
this rate every month in the Pierre dis
trict alone, and the Offices at Chamber
lain and Rapid City are doing practically
as much. With the same business at the
,ther two offices, covering the section
west Of the Missouri River. it would
mean the taking up Of over $4,000 acres
In April. While there is yet a large
amount of the public lands for the home
steaders, at the rate it is going it will
only be a short time until the supply is
gone. The filings which have been made
are, of course. either the choice locations
Or tracts easily within reach Of the towns,
and every day will send the settlers far
sher out.
During the past week the farmers of
South Dakota have utilized every availa-
bic moment to complete the work of
seeding, which was greatly retarded by
severe snow storms which swept over
the state early i'll April and on April 10.
In some instances, where seeding was
finished before the storms, grain was
found to have been injured by the freez-
ing temperature which accompanied the
storms, and fields had to be resown. In
parts of the state where farmers have
been able to secure enough men to aid
them, the small grain acreage will equal
or exceed that OF last year, but in local.
ties where farmers-already behind with
their work owing to the storms are fur
Their handicapped by scarcity of farm
hands, the acreage devoted to small grain
x.vsI chn -