Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-02-19
GRASS, GRAIN and GOLD.
The Three ssG's'' Which Are
Making South Dakota
'.,... '.. Famous. ~, -. &
OF THREE "G's.''
Ben Hoover Tells OF the Manner
in Which Three 'sG's''
We're Suggested.

When Ben P. Hoover OF Gettysburg
was in Sioux Falls during the editorial
convention, in conversation with a
reporter of the Argus Leader he sug-
gested the plan Of advertising the state
at the st. Louis exposition by the use
of three large ''G's" in some conspicu'
GUS place in the South Dakota building
or in the state display in the agricult'
ural building. An item was made OF
the suggestion of Mr. Hoover, which
has been taken up by many of the state
papers, and his suggestion is being en-
dorsed on all sides. Recently request
was made of Mr.. Hoover for the origin
of the scheme of the three 'G's" and
and further details of the plan which
he proposed The following letter was
received in reply. 1t is full of imfor-
nation and should be carefully read by
all: ... <..
ITO the Editor of the Argus-Leader:
Your inquiry at to what suggested the
three "G's' to me came about in this
way: t.....
"Governor Herried called for sug-
gestions for designs for the silver SER
vice for the armoured cruiser South Da-
kota. In talk with the governor, he
told me that he had farm, miningand
stock scene. This suggested to my
mind the three G's grass, grain and
gold, and asked him if this emblem
could not be engraved at least on one
of the silver service set and have since
been informed that he approved Of the
idea and the three G's will have con-
spicuous place and years to come will
elict comment and inquiry in the diff
ferent harbors of the world as to their
Significance.
when I came to Dakota Territory,
June 1. 1871. it was all grass; no grain,
no gold. The grain belt moved slowly
north and west. Then in 1876 came the
gold but without the grass it would
have been hard work for the thousands
to reach the Black Hills in 1877. How
fippantly we sometimes speak of the
natives grasses of our state but this
would not be 30 if one would but stop
to compute the value of the millions of
pounds of beef, butter mutton and wool
that are produced annually from the
grass alone, to say nothing about the
thousands of horses that are shipped
out of the state every year that never
knew any other feed than grass.
"The grass belt has extended until its
boundary lines cannot be defined. The
wild" has been driven out Of the soil,
and, az evidence of this fact, the report
of the department Of agriculture shows
that South Dakota, in 1908 produced as
much corn per acre as the state Of Mis-.
souri, and more than any other state
west of the Mississippi river.
1.-THE gold output has gradully in
creased until we stand third in the gold
producing states. Why shouldn't we
be proud and satisfied with our state,
We have no large manufacturing in.
dustries to be hampered by financial
disturbances or labor dissatisfaction,
and with our grain and grasses we are
producing the actual necessities Of life
which all who live must have and it is
safe to say that there will always be a
market for our gold.
II am like the small boy; I know a
lot about South Dakota but I can't
think of it. My vocabulary is limited
and I cannot paint. If could would
make picture of the state, commenc-
ing with the golden grain fields Of the
east, extending and blending with the
grass.covered hills or the western Mis-
souri, river slope and ending with the
evergreen covered foothills and gold
impregnated mountains of the Black
Hills Then those looking at the pic.
ture would not need the grain and the
gold. Sincerely yours,