The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-14

are the cheapest lands for general |
farming and stock raising on the face
of the earth. Comprising, as the state ;
does, more than $4,000 square miles and
40 ,O0O,O 900 acres-there are lands IN the
greatest quantity to suit all classes
and at prices running from SIS to 500 |
an acre. The price depends lar gely !
upon location, improvements and near
ness to railroads and whether in the
newer or older settled portions of the
state. There is no difficulty in secur-
ing just the kind of a farm or ranch
you have in mind; while to the investor
the state presents opportunities that
will never come again in the life of the
present generation-if ever. Fortunes
have already been made in South Da-
kota lands and still larger gains await
those who take advanta &c of the prices
at which desirable holdings can new be
secured.
Money invested in lands is always
safe. 1t neither burns up nor is blown
away, nor is stolen. When periods of
depression come there is always a sure
dependence in time Of need-that is
your land. South Dakota land has
reached the point when to own it is to
be certain Of independence.
Soil and Climate.
The soil Of South Dakota east of
the Missouri river is deep, black
loan with porous subsoil, which
serves as a reservoir for moisture to
The given up in heavy dews when most
needed. Except in limited areas little
gravel is found, nor is the land sandy.
tween the soil Of South Dakota and
that of southern Minnesota and north
western Iowa.
The rainfall in nearly all of the state
east of the Missouri. river is ample to
: mature crops. The United States
! weather bureau gives a record of seven
consecutive years, showing an average
annual rainfall Of from: eighteen to
thirty-five inches, according to local
ity. ....- .-....>...
Sure Crop Area Extending.
Soil changes with settlement. and
cultivation: During the past thirty
Years the area Of sure crops has ex-
tended steadily to the north and the
west. In the eastern and southern
parts Of the state it took from ten to
twenty years for farmers to get the
best results from their land. It was
not believed that corn could be raised
successfully, and fruit culture was not
= thought of until few years ago: Land
offered at prices from $3.50 to $500 an
acre was a drug on the market. The
same land is now selling from $50 to
$lOO an acre. ....''' -....--. e..
Now corn is successfully grown all
over the state, while lands that five
years ago hunted buyers at $500 to
$500 All acre are changing hands at
$15 to 500 an acre. ,''.'
mented the rainfall, giving to many
parts Of the state-especially in the
James river valley--an> inexhaustible
supply of water of even temperature
and free from harmful minerals. These
: wells were found most valuable for
q stock growing and sometimes for pur-
8 poses of irrigation in periods Of
/ drought. The, water is usually of a
temperature of above Is degrees and
as they would not do of cold well or
lake water. In the past two years
hundreds of artesian wells have been
e sunk, and the country is fast becoming
4 dotted with little lakes and ponds,
i many of which have been stocked with
n fish. Some Of the wells, notably. those
t in towns and cities, are Of and 8-inch
. municipal purposes at high pressure.
g Other wells furnish power for electric
light plants and Touring. mills.
r Artesian wells with a pressure Of
J. 1875 to $50 pounds to the square inch
n are common all over the state. For
n merly it cost from $4,000 to $4,000 to
r sink an artesian we'll. Now, with the
n improved machinery and better knowl-
e edge of the work, q farmer may get
a strong flowing, inexhaustible wells at
j a cost not exceeding $500 in less than
n one week $ time.
o The climate of South Dakota is one
of the most delightful in the world.
AS rule little snow falls before the
holidays, and cattle and horses find
green grass until the first Of Dec ember.
e The long Indian summer gives oppor-
:; tunity to care for all crops in pleasant
E weather. The snowfalls-when they
Q happen-in midwinter are always fol
q lowed by sunshine. Foggy, shivery
e weather. which causes SO much .disconl-
e fort in eastern states, is unknown in
e South Dakota. @r .-;