The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-23
FOR LARGER FARMS
One Farm on Coded Sioux Lands Not
Large Enough to Sustain
One Family.

During the capital campaign it has
been maintained by Mitchell that
OH account of the deficient rainfall
in the country between the Missouri
river and the Black Hills that it was
practically impossible to make agri-
culture a success TO the extent Of sus-
tanning mi family on 100 acres, of
land, and for that reason that Sec
tion could never hope to be as..dense-
" populated as the eastern portion.
In the Monday Sioux City Journal
appeared an article from Sioux Falls
which verldes the contention OF the
Mitchell capital committee to the
letter. 1t states that a movement is
on foot among the prominent men Of
the state to introduce a bill in con.
gress to make it possible for one nan
to enter GAO acres as a homestead on
the Sioux land, for the reasons ex-
planned in the article. and that it
will have the support Of the South
Dakota delegation in congress.
Should this bill become a law, and
there is no question but what it will,
it will put an end to the dense pop
ulation which the Pierre people have
been trying to demonstrate in the
DRY in their part of the campaign.
They have argued that a farmer on
every quarter section will equalize
the population. but when it is now
admitted by prominent men that 100
acres will not sustain a family it is
very evident that the increase in
population will be very meagre in
comparison with this section of the
state. The article makes very IN
teresting reading and it is given be-
low:
Influential residents of South Da-
kOta are %agltating a matter which is
regarded as of the utmost Importance
to the development of that part of
South Dakota Known as the coded
Sioux lands, an area embracing many
millions Of acres, and extending from
the Missouri river to the Black Hills.
This region was opened to white
settlement early in 1890. Except in
limited sections the thousands of
persons who have from time TO time
taken homesteads In that region and
attempted to make a success of farm
ing have met with failure. The soil
is excellent, but the rainfall, except
in the limited areas mentioned, has
not been sufficient to mature crops
season by season.
Under the homestead laws each
person who makes entry of land i'm
that part Of the state is entitled to
only 160 acres. This it has been
demonstrated IN the greater number
OF instances is not sufficient to sus-
tain a settler and his family.
In view OF this and the great de-
sire on the part OF the residents of
western South Dakota to have that
vast region developed, the lnfluen-
tial men alluded to are arranging to
have a bill introduced at the APP
preaching session OF congress with
the object OF having the homestead
laws amended so that those who
make entry Of public lands in that
part OF the state can enter 64O acres
instead Of l6U, as at present.
1t is figured that il settlers are
permitted to enter an aggregate of
$40 acres they will have sufficient
land to enable them to engage in
cattle raising on a moderate scale,
and that with small lunches OF cat
tie and such crops as they could
raise each season they would be as.
sured OF good living aud enabled to
reside permanently or --their home
steads.
This would result in the develop
ment of that vast region and tighten
the burden Of the present residents
by adding greatly to the area OF
lands subject to taxation.
The proposed measure will doubt
less receive the hearty support OF the
South Dakota delegation in congress,
and every effort will be made to in
duce congress to PASS the bill.