The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01


his report:
Growth of Population.
The growth of population has been
something more than normal. This re-
view last year placed the total at a half
million. Much inquiry and computation
confirm the accuracy of that figure and
justify the statement that the present
population is $4,000.
The first effect of last years phenom-
email land movement was a positive loss
Of people to the state by the emigration of
those who sold their lands to spectators.
That loss has much more than been made
good by the immigration of this year. and
in both farm and village the result of
growth is apparent. There has been a
large influx Of homeseekers, who have
taken homesteads on the government land
west Of the Missouri river.
Building Operations.
''This has been another year of large
building operations, despite the almost
prohibitory prices Of labor and material.
For the last stated reason the towns have
done more than the farms in the way of
new improvements. AS rule the con-,
sentative farmer already well housed could
wait for better prices before building, but
in the towns it has been, as a rule. a
matter of securing a home at any price.
Consequently building operations have only
terial and workmen.
In no former year has public building
been so extensive. This includes schools,
courthouses, libraries, WaterWorks and
sewer systems and cement sidewalk build
ing, which has become almost universal
in the towns. Among the more important
Of the public buildings, in addition to
those provided for by the Legislature are
splendid courthouses at Webster and
Aberdeen, a federal building at Aberdeen,
libraries at Yankton, Redfeld and Pierre,
Schoolhouses in many places, a Masonic
temple at Yankton, and hotels at Mitchell
and Deadwood
1.-THE building Of homes, however, as is
usually the case has surpassed every
other building interest, and every locality
has participated in this advantage upon
almost equal terms. A few have been
exceptionally costly and elaborate, but in
the main the structures have been sub
stantial and tasty homes of medium COST
Prosperity Of the People.
Private finances continue to be in a
most hopeful condition. Farmers are as
a rule free from debt and many have a
comfortable balance in bank. Almost the
only exceptions are those who have pur-
chased adjoining lands, and they are MAX
ing excellent progress in clearing off debts
contracted for this purpose. To the gem
eral rule there are, Of course, the familiar
exceptions of the thriftless and unfor-
tunate, but it 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-
| fected itself in. the towns, but there the
same easy, money-ahead condition does
not exist to as great 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
and plumbing, gas, curbs and boulevards
cost money, and the South Dakotan Is
prone to provide himself with. all of the
modern comforts.
| '.At the last report of the bank exam
liners there was $31,00C,000 upon deposit
in the national, state and private banks
Of South Dakota, q figure scarcely differ
! ent from that made in the review Of one
! year ago. A, good deal Of investigation
among bankers confirms the view that
about 65 per cent of the whole is the sur
plus of farmers and ranchmen."