The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-01-07
Total production for 1908. s1S6.o6s,2s

Total production for 1902. 121,12Aooo
Net gain. ............... SlA,9S9,2o4
Per capita. new wealth. 60. 253.77
The pleasant story Of advancement
can be best told in Secretary Robin
sons own words, the following being
abstracts from his report: ..
1.-THE growth of population has been
something more than normal This
review last year placed the total at
half million Much inquiry and compa-
tation confirm the accuracy of that
figure and justify the statement that
the present population is $4,000.
"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
large influx of homeseekers, who
have taken LOmesteads 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 lawns have done more than the
farms in the way Of new improve
ments. AS rule the conservative
farmer, already well housed, could
wait for better prices before building,
but in the towns it has been, as a rule,
matter of securing a home at any
price. Consequently building opera
| tons have only been limited by the
/ ability to secure material and work
! men. :.
"In no former year has public build
! ing been SO extensive, This incluges
schools. court houses, libraries, wafer
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, II;
! braries at Yankton, ,Redfeld and
Pierre, schoolhoUGes in many places, a
| Masonic teuple 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 ev-
cry locality has participated in this adj
! vantage upon almost equal terms. A
few have been exceptionally costly and
elaborate. but in the main the struc.
! lures have been substantial and tasty
homes Of medium cost.
Private finances continue to be In
most hopeful condition. Farmers
are as rule free from debt and many
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
coptions OF the thriftless and unfor
I 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. bat there
the same easy, money-ahead condition
does not exist to such an extent, foE
the reason that almost every denizen
of the towns has gone to the limit In
improving his property. New homes
additions 70 older ones, lawns, cement
walks, sewers and plumbing, gas
curbs and bouleVards cost money, and
the South Dakotan Is prone 90 provide
himself with all Of the modern com
forts.
eat the last report OF the bank ex
aminers there was S31,o00000 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 G5 per cent OF the
whole is the surplus of farmers and
ranchmen."