The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-29
FOR THE FARMER OR TIE RAISER
OF CATTLE.
The wonderful Artesian Basin which
Underlies the Greater Part Of the
State Provides a Never-failing Source
Of Water Supply.
BY HERBERT vANpERHooF.

region.
The climate Of South Dakota is de-
lightful. Instead Of the bleak. cold fall
days Of the New England states. the tor
rid days Of the Middle states. or the
disagreeable, wetS fall weather Of the
Great Lakes district. you will find South
Dakota most delightful place even up
to Christmas, with a prolonged Indian
| summer, SO to speak. From March UNI
til after Christmas cattle can Craze upon
the fields of South Dakota with as much
immunity and enjoyment as they can
during the summer days. and cattle can
winter there outdoors without shelter
! A state with a good climate must
necessarily possess good lands for agri-
culture and with good lands there must
also be an abundance Of rain. East Of
! the Missouri river the lands Of South
Dakota present a deep black loan. with
porous clay subsoil. and. from what
the biologists tell us. this sort Of land
serves as a reservoir for moisture. and
the land in turn draws upon this water.
which is taken up In heavy deWs when
most needed.
| No Lack OF Water.
Up to the time O fthe great influx. OF
homesteaders to South Dakota some years
| ago, the question Of water In some parts
| Of the state was a most important one,
but this question has been admirably
solved. The rainfall throughout the en-
tire state is sufficient to mature the crops.
| something which cannot be said of all the
Western states. To bear out this state
ment I refer you to the annual report
of the United States weather bureau.
which shows that the annual rainfall OF the
state is from nineteen inches to thirty
five inches annually, and when It Is
granted fact on the part OF authorities
on. weather and kindred subjects that
with increased cultivation and population
there is an increase in the amount OF
rainfall it can be seen that as TAR as
rain Is concerned South Dakota Is well
favored.
/ During the past twenty years It has
been a question as to growing sure crops
in some sections Of the state. but 1t now
is practically assured that in the north
ern and western parts OF the state sure
CROPS can be cultivated. So well has the
land been supplied by nature In these
districts that fruit and corn crops can
be grown with success. and lands which
could once be purchased for from 81 to
Sc per acre you can't buy for $50 an acre
today. IN .a&
I remember, in passing through the
Missouri valley district Of Dakota some
two months ago, meeting q young giant
IIoosier. who had emigrated With MS
father to South Dakota in 1885, when he
was about 8 years old. Ten years after
reaching there the boys father died.
and the support Of family Of six de-
volved upon the young man There were
$40 acres of land to, take care Of. not In
the best of condition, but the lad, an
up date young fellow, set to work with
will, and where the farm had been
scarcely supporting the family during the
' life of the father, the boy. by his skill
) and labor, had the farm paying 10 per
cent dividend after the second year.
When the father took hold of the claim
the land was barren, worth about 81 per
acre, and very badly watered. The boy
bored, for artesian wells built little irrl-
cation canals through the farm; and to-
! day the land on the farm cannot be
bought for $65 per acre, while some OF
the finest corn and wheat crops Of the
state have been harvested on It. The
: land is fertile, some being set apart for
the grazing Of cattle.
What Has Been Done.
This is but sample of what South
i Dakota lands have done for man, and
4 what they will do for those who are
T DESTROYS of seeking well paying in
4 vestment.
Aside from the land, climatic and at
B mosphertc conditions OF South dakota
4 want to draw your attention to the rails
4 ing of cattle in South Dakota. In the
ars+ n,aca +ha railroad facilities of South
i -. p->'oo .1-o ~ -. 49,.
4 Dakota are exceHent Inc great rallroaas
I tap the state IN every dlrect1on, ana the
/ shipping facilities are therefore as gooe
Il a great deal better. In 1905 the value o
II nalro 70 American and foreign mark at,
was placed at the enormous sum OF $42
eS ne ro ni@, Iaads A4he e, az 3
tha brfeaia ae fanon1Is ' Aio' AAiosu
tnG ~ ~ 49,, 49, ~ :,
5ul, astue haol .ie ma. IN sa., q -
hiooSeiy' s9oo Ishie - has hano, =.
'nos 49, .,aos+ in+ero~ti,a, iines. ~ a.
,a1o, ~ nc dertsIar s+o+a o
,+s lannn.on5 IN this 40 ,.t;c,3,.. y, &c ~
pe otR iaata eeo TIC. M
t the SUI, +L.In a. 10y ehas, eatit+.
70 hisr os f,,g bnoaad stoe
aoa .aIss Sa'1t naots, 49, ~
a. ~ 49, ~ So ,, 10 49, 20.
n NJ nrzes in everv seet m Of ~
Union Al Vermillion s d there is on
9ilioil. p ~ 1880 LIE - ~.
4 nrm Wnlcn mas nero OF snorthol Ina
mas won many prizes ana Deen the enV
OF cattle men from many Otner states