Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-12-21
GREAT PROGRESS OF SOUTH DIK00T1Il'
Fifth Annual Review Compiled by Secretary Doane
Robinson of the Historical Society.

| Pursuant to a custom inaugurated
with its birth, the State Historical so
ciety herewith presents it's annual re-
view of the progress Of the state of
South Dakota for the year 1905, it be-
ing the ninth successive year in which
the people have enjoyed uninterrupted
prosperity of 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-
TEND their respective lines across the
state. For twenty-five years the west
ern terminals of these lines have been
at the Missouri river, at Chamberlain
and Pierre, respectively, end no effort
has 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
Its line westward as far as White Clay
Buttes, in Western Lyman county, and
later in the season it's determination
to extend the line through to the Pa
cific 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
to extend its line from Pierre to Rapid
4 City. Construction was begun upon
Doth ends of the extension and upon a
temporary bridge at Pierre, and 1T
may be confidently predicted that the
review of the state year hence can
record that the long separated ends of
South Dakota are united by two great
railway lines.
/ Other Extensions-The Milwaukee
galway has also extended the Armour
branch distance of about thirty miles
directly north from Armour, and has
constructed line from Madison to
Sioux Falls.
The South Dakota Central railway
has extended its line, which was built
last year from Sioux Falls to Coulton,
northward 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
100000 is being expended under the
provisions of the reclamation law and
more than 100000 acres of fertile land
will come under the Belle Fourche
4 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
the homesteader in the spring of 1906.
Legislation-The more important
enactments vested the state board Of
/ equalization and assessment with pow
err 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 inherita ice.
was passed. A general irrigation code
prepared by the government authori
/ ties to govern the Belle Tuuroihisss pro
| ject was enacted. Provisions made
i for taking the census in 1905 and ev-
cry ten years thereafter, and for regu
larry recording births and deaths in
the offices of clerks Of courts in each
county, and for the state in the Office
of the historical society was also
4 made.
I. Census of 1905-The provision of
the second state census was intrusted
to 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 1t is believed that
a very accurate count was made.
i New Capitol Building legisla-
! ture authorized the construction of a
wing Of capitol building to cost not
more than 100000, the plan to be a
portion Of a structure which, when
completed, should cost not more than
100000. 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 large factory building at
the penitentiary and the installation
of 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 Operations There
has been vast deal OF private build
/ ing in the way of business blocks and
4 residences. In the latter the farmers
have Wed with residents of the towns.
State Finances bonded debt Of
the state now amounts to $237,000,
/ and there is in the sinking fund avail