The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-12-21

,iety herewith presents it's annual re-
view of the progress of the state of
South Dakota for the year 1905, it be-
ng the ninth successive year in which
he people have enjoyed uninterrupted
prosperity of a high order.
Railroad Extensions-The distinc-
tive feature of the year has been the
action of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul and the Chicago & North
western railways in preparing to ex-
1 tend their respective lines across the
state. For twenty-five gears the west
srn terminals of these lines have been
At the Missouri river, at Chamberlain
and Pierre, respectively, and n effort
1as been made to extend them or 9th
erwise bring the two ends of the state
INTO convenient communication. The
Black Hills region and Eastern South
Dakota have been as remote from each
other and as inaccessible as foreign
countries. In the early spring of this
year the Milwaukee company announc-
ed its intention Of bridging the Mis-
souri, at Chamberlain and extending
It's line westward as far as White Clay
3uttes, in Western Lyman county, and
later in the season its determination
to extend the line through TO the Pa
,ific coast by way of the Black Hills
was announced. Active work was
pushed; by July the temporary bridge
was constructed and the first division
Of seventy miles west of the river is
finished and further extension is in
progress.
After the harvest the Northwestern
railway announced it's determination
% extend it's line from Pierre to Rapid
City. Construction was begun upon
both ends of the extension and upon a
temporary bridge at Pierre, and 1t
may be confidently predicted that the
review of the state a year hence a
.ecord that the long separated ends OF
! South Dakota are united by two great
railway lines.
Other Extensions-The Milwaukee
railway has also extended the Armour
branch a distance of about thirty miles
directly north from Armour, and has
constructed a line from Madison to
Sioux Falls.
The South Dakota Central railway
1as extended it's line, which was built
last year from Sioux Falls to C%oulton,
aorthward to Wentworth.
Belle Fourche Project-Only second
in importance to the railroad extern
sions is the great Belle Fourche irri-
cation project, under the direction of
the general government. More than
g, 900, 900 is being expended under the
provisions of the reclamation law and
more than 100, 900 acres of fertile land
will come under the Belle Fourche
ditch. Splendid progress has been
made during the season in the prose
cution of the work and twenty thou
sand acres of the land will be ready for
he homesteader in the spring OF 1906.
Legislation-The more important
enactments vested the state board Of
equalization and assessment with pow
ar to ferret out and assess property
which had previously escaped assess
ment and fix the standard Of assess
ment throughout the state. A bill pro
viding for the taxation of inheritance
was passed. A general irrigation code
prepared by the government authori
ties to govern the Belle Fourche pro
iect was enacted. Provisions made
for taking the census in 1905 and ev-
cry ten years thereafter, and for regu-
larly recording births and deaths in
the Offices of clerks Of courts in each
county, and for the state III the office
Of the historical society was also
made.
Census of 1905-The provision Of
the second state census was intrusted
20 the State Historical society by the
legislature. 1t was taken as of May
|. by the assessors. Population and
agricultural products were sought to
be enumerated, and it is believed that
a very accurate count was made.
New Capitol Building-The legisla-
ture authorized the construction OF a
wing Of a capitol building to cost not
more than $150,000, the plan to be a
portion Of a structure which, when
completed, should cost not more than
$500. 900. The funds for the structure
to be derived from the sale Of state
capitol lands. At this date the pro-
ceeds of the sales aggregate $4,000.
The foundation of the east wing of the
capitol building has been completed.
Provision was also made for the
erection of a large factory building at
the p~enitentiary and the installation
of a shirt-making plant to employ 100
men. A constitutional amendment
was also submitted to the people pro-
viding for the installation of a Irvine
factory at the ~penitentiary.
Private Building Operatio~ There
has been a vast deal of private build
ing in the way of business blocks and
residences. In the latter the farmers
have We'd with residents of the towns.
State Finances-The bonded debt OF
the state now amounts to $237, 900,
and there is in the sinking fund avail
able for the payment of these bonds
the sum Of $255 900, sufficient to pay