The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1906-04-06

ed the new settlers was ignorance Oh
the methods of agriculture best adapt
ed to the natural condition existing
in Dakota. They brought their east
ern methods with them, and they were
not well adapted to u conditions.
Only the hard school of experience
could teach the way. Too, most or
the homesteaders were wholly with
out means. 81 had just fifty cents
left when l had paid for my filing and
got my claim shanty,' is a favorite
formula in the experience meetings of
the old settlers. With men SO situa-
ted there was but one thing to do.
Secure the means for a living in the
easiest way possible. The thing feas-
ible was to get as much soil broken up
as possible and SOW it to wheat. In
consequence, wheat growing became
almost the only industry. Home
steaders contracted debts for seed
grain, tools and teams. Because they
bought on credit they paid uncon-
scionable prices. When wheat failed
their only resource was gone. Thous-
ands gave up the fight in despair.
Those who stayed protitted by hard
experience. They realized that ex-
elusive wheat culture was a frail reed
to lean upon, and as fast as possible
they began to diversity. Those who
did so intelligently found the hard
problem solved. Never was failure
distributed over all Of their interests.
The little bunch of COWS grew into a
dairy herd. The chickens we're pro-
life; the garden a safe reliance, and
experimental Dakota agriculture was
displaced by certainly successful
methods.
1t was not until the middle %nineties
that the t%rying-out process was COM
pleted, and covuettish nature turned
a smiling countenance upon the state.
But once satisfied that she had select
ed the men who could not be fright
ened, She has not once withdrawn her
favor.
Ten years OF slch plenty has rarely
been vouchsafed to any people as have
been given to South Dakotans Begin
ming with 1895. Season has followed
season in which all of their labors
have prospered to them. The hard
experiences of the early days taught
the settlers conservatism and they con-
tinue to live plainly within their
means, but enjoying great comfort.
They are relatively few in number and
possess great ]undeveloped resources.
Therefore they invite people Of their
own class, wherever they may be, to
come and participate in the favor
which a smiling providence bestows
upon the Sunshine state.
The new farm homes which have
been erected in South Dakota in the
past twelve months would aggregate
millions of dollars in value. There is
a great satisfaction to all of us who
have watched the development of the
state from the beginning, to see the
comfort aud abundance with which
the old homesteaders are surrounding
themselves as the years advance.
The people of South Dakota have
more than t%hirty-tive million dollars of
reserve funds deposited in the banks
of the state. Nearly twenty million
dollars of this amount is the property
of farmers and ranchmen. A short
time ago the writer was shown a de-
mand note made by one Of the largest
business concerns in New York city
for the sum Of ten thousand dollars,
which had been negotiated here.
There is something of retritution
in the situation, when New York
comes to South Dakota to borrow
money.
In every village and city of the state
South Dakotans are demonstrating
their faith by the erection Of substan-
tial business block of brick and stone,
by permanent public improvements,
schools, churches, waterworks, sewer
age, pavements and all of the access
series which make life satisfactory.
Education in South Dakota is in the
most healthy and encouraging condi-
tion. Our schools are upon the high
est plane; our teachers the most pro-
gressive and the patrons inclined to
provide every advanced facility for
learning.-Ex.