The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-12-28
WHY SOUTH DAKOTA
FARMER IS REJOICING
Difficulty Encountered by Early
Pioneer Has Been Long
Overcome.
ARE ALL PROSPEROUS
The Artesian Well Has Been the Means
Of Keeping Many a Farmer on
Eis Claim or Farm and Help
ing the Cattle Business

- - - AHN 80 ~ IANN
twenty years has seen northern South
X grow from "A trackleSs prairie
into n OF the finest farming sections
OF the union. The South Dakota pio-
necr had "A vast number OF things To
contend with. lie had n vast deal to
learn bout South Dakota soil n eli
mate u a great deal To unlcarn con-
corning farming operations which he
had been taught In the section from
whence he an
Hard Lot Of Farmer.
While the South Dakotan was earn
ing those lessons he suffered. Inn
bued ~ he was Mt hrst with the Arm
idea that the only way To riches as an
agriculturist was through raising
wheat. IL look several crop failures To
teach him that wheat raising should
not be the sole dependence OF the South
Dakota farmer. At first he secuted the
idea OF rising corn in South Dakota. In
the first place he did not believe that
corn could be successfully grown In the
state: In the second place. he consld-
cred wheat raising 80 much easier n
method OF earning a livelihood that he
did not care to devote h time and
hard work necessary to raise n crop OF
corn. Those farmers who did attempt
TO raise corn persisted In buying seed
from localities much farther south and
M n consequence the crop did not ma
haAN AA NAAaA w N1NaRN u.s. "'AAs AhNH
Time n experience. however, have
Temedled these matters.
Seed Better Aeelimated.
The more progressive farmers discov-
cred that by planting northern grown
seed OF quickly maturing varieties IL
was possible To produce corn that
would mature and be In shape TO gath
cr before frost. With this discovery.
which. strangely enough. was made
Hruf a. Nk.. ..nN..l un4 V.awghnrn a. rg3
OF the state. instead OF In the southern
section. the area devoted to corn pro-
duction has constantly ~broadened until
this year the northern counties OF the
state were dotted with corn fields. and
the farmer who places his dependency.
upon wheat alone no longer exists.
DO Not Ship Corn.
While northern and central Soutl,
Dakota is now a corn producing Sec
ton. IL In not n corn shipping country.
Practically every ear OF corn grown ir
South Dakota Is fed on the farms and
shipped to the biz city markets In the
shape OF hogs and Cattle.
In this way the farmer realizes every
cent possible out OF his corn crop.
For instance J. and =. Gcyer. pro-
Ereusive II living near Frederick.
this year raised "A 55-acre field of corn
which they fed To eighty head OF steers.
The steers were weighed in ut the time
feeding began n weighed out again
when sold and the Gcyers found that
they had received $3.50 per acre for
their corn. besides the profit they VIII
derive from a bunch OF hogs which fol-
lowed the steers.
When the fact Us considered that the
" upon which the corn was raised
= valued at but little more than $50
an acre. the profit In corn raising In
lorthcrn South Dakota is easily seen,
-fkatg nFllnFrN RnVs aud lnHRllinNnRn Ia
displayed.
a farmer near HiEhmorc, under sim
lar circumstances, realized sll.25 per
acre from his corn crop, and many sim
lar Instances are noted.
Creamery Helps Farmers.
Another thing that has tended to
make the farmer iu this section OF the
state prosperous Is the existence OF the
,rcamcry. In practically every town I'm
the northern hulf Of the state u cream
ny lourish"s.
Every farmer has at least n few
CONS, and cream H. quite generally sold
20 the creamery ut prices which make
he industry exceedingly profitable TO
the farmer.
Checks ars issued monthly for the
rcan purchased. an dcvery farmer In
! assured Of a steady monthly Income.
regardless of crop conditions.
The creamery Industry has proven
the salvation Of the farmer In more
than one Instance.
Zen years ago. FOR insLerce. the par
la failure OF the wheat crop which
occurred last year would have proven
an unmItigatcI calamity. Last year,
because the South Dakota farmer no
longer carries all his eggs In one basket,
the wheat failure, while discouraging,
did not materially uffeCt the general
prosperity az farmers In this section.
Advantage Of Artesian Wells.
TIL. artcsiun system. too. has added
millions TO the wealth OF the northern
part of the state.
Edmuuds county alone has over zoo
artcsian wells and other counties are
nearly as well equipped.
The aricsian wells have changed, In
very large degres. the climate of the
country. From the surplus water
mail lakes and brooks have been
formed. which, in many places, have
become the resort % Wild fowl and pro-
vide ideal hunting grounds.
hut they have performed a more I'm
portant part in the development OF the
state. Tor. since the advent OF the ar
tesiau well the rainfall has become
much more plentiful and a total crop
failure IL unknown.
With diversified crops. nrteSian wells
and the creamery, the farmer OF north
ern South Dakota has become indie
pendent. He lives In "A neat. vel!
painted. comfortably arranged farm
house. and his wife enjoys the convent
cncc. with her sisters In the cities. OF
having running water In the house
thanks. again. To The artesian well; he
has large barns. bloodcd horses and
cattle. and ln all particulars is as well
fixed" as the farmers In older states
wher. lard Is higher priced. That LAND
IL rapidly increasing In value In shown
hl gl. fnsg that in MfBhaFgnn county
a half section which sold two years ago
for 81. 400 wns sold again last week for
5000.
I >
BOYS SELL MINK HIDES.
.a..r.nI. Y Ii nnn q -Gnmn Of lhn