The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-11
Gobbling Up the Land.

The rush for the limited number
of homesteads on the coded portion OF
the Rosebud reservation at 81 an acre,
is likely to have result OF far more
value to South Dakota than the direct
result of populating such small
area. "A Chamberlain dispatch points
out that there is a large amount
Of public land left in South EDa-
kota, west Of the Missouri river,
that has been open to settlement
under the free homestead law for
long time. 1t is altogether likely that
many Of those who are disappointed
in not getting a quarter section on
the Rosebud will turn to the free
lands which have been slowly settled
up for several years past without any
particular excitement. .,.-,.. -
1t is predicted that as result of the
advertising South Dakota is now get
ting, all the government land in the
state will be taken up. this year. In
view of the rapidity with which it has
been going of late, this can hardly be
doubted. now that there will be about
: $4,000 persons disappointed in Uncle
Sans great lottery for the Rosebud
lands. In 1903, homested entries were
made for $4,000 acres of land in South
Dakota and 10000 acres were dis
posed of for cash. For the first six
months Of the present year, the home
stead entries in Lyman county alone
cover 429,00O acres. At the beginning
of the. last fiscal year but one, there
were only 100000 acres Of unre-
served public lands left in South Da-
kota., .. The Indians and the forest re-
serves still hold 100000 acres.
The public lands are being occupied
with equal rapidity in North Dakota.
The homestead entries in North Da-
kato last year were 2,545,000 acres,
and the area of public land disposed
of for cash was almost 100000 acres.
The public lands in Northern Mime
sotasota are likewise going rapidly,
$4,000 acres having been taken in
homesteads last year, while $4,000
acres were disposed of for cash.
Most of these lands now being so
eagerly taken in the three states were
formerly considered unfit for agri-
culture. Those in the Dakotas were
| considered to be too dry, while those
| in Minnesota were objected to because
they are in the timber country. But
the large increase in the number of
persons going into the cattle business
on small scale has led to the taking
| up of thousands Of homesteads west
of the Missouri river. Moreover, it is
by no means so certain as it was once
thought to be that the western part
| of the Dakotas cannot be used for
farming. The Introduction Of new
| crops and improved methods of Ecul-
| tivating the soil where the rainfall is
limited, make it possible now to ac-
complish what would have been i'm
| possible a few years ago. las for the
| timber lands, the increasing scarcity
of supplies of lumber and wood has
enhanced their value to such an ,ex-
| tent as to offset the cost of clearing
| them. p
In South Dakota the lack of rail-
way facilities has retarded settlement
in the western part Of the state. Sew
eral railway lines are now projected
in the wake of the population move
ment. The building of these lines will
bring in additional settlers and benefit
| those already there. It is needless to
| point out the benefits that will come
to Minneapolis from the opening up
and settling of western South Dakota