The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-04-19

South Dakota is one of the states in
which the people think and talk in
millions mostly. Not that they are at
all more puffed up or vainglOrious than
the people of other states. But the
state is SO big--it is one-fourth larger
than all New England together-and
the operations of it's citizens are so
vast that no other word except mill
Ions" will express them. Hence my
assertion that it's people think and talk
In millions, mostly.
For instance: was talking with e..
E. Denison of Westport, who is some
what extensively engaged in farming
and dairying, and | asked him what
was the chief industry in South Dakota
wheat growing or stock raising. In
stock raising | include dairy farming.
Mr.. Denison was not slow to answer.
I'm an average year." he said, live
stock pays more cash into the state
than any other line of industry. In an
occasional year wheat pays more
money, but for a term Of years the av-
erage of live stock is several million
dollars greater.
"Of course, there are variations.
Last year, for instance, the wheat crop
of the state was marketed for a little
over S2S. OOO, 900, while the live stock
marketed for a little over S25. 600. 900.
But we have sold as high as $35 900, 900
worth Of live stock in n year. That
was before the great invasion Of
hOmeseekers began. and when the
range was almost without limit. The
range is being cut up now, and that is
bringing the cattle business within a
smaller compassionate is. there will
not be so many large herds. but a great
many more smaller ones. so that there
will not be any falling off in the ag-
gregate.
Should Excel in Live Stock.
"There are good reasons why South
Dakota should excel in live stock. Cat
tie, horses. hogs and sheep all thrive
On the nutritious native grasses, and
then look at our wonderful western
range for stock cattle. Here they can
craze all winter without hay, grain or
shelter. and in the spring they are
plump and in fine condition. Later
they can be taken down to the fertile
farms of the grain belt for finishing.
Here is a combination of interests and
opportunities not otherwise eQualed for
live stock money making.
But don't forget our dairy interests.
They are already we'll established and
are bound to grow yearly. We have
over $50 creameries in the state, and
the product of these last year was
valued at 81 1000. 900. We have 1926 900
mich COWS in the state and our ma
i've grasses give a peculiarly pleas
ant flavor and a solidarity of texture
70 our butter which places it at the
very top of the Eastern market. BY
The last federal census South Dakota
had so dairy COWS per capita of popu-
tatiOn. while Wisconsin, one of the
principal dairy states, had but SO.
Here's another fact of significance
about our dairy industry. We get
more per pound for our butter fat
than the farmers of Illinois do, despite
The fact that they are some hundreds
If miles nearer the Chicago markets.
[ have Il brother who lives in White
side county. Illinois. He tells me that
he is in luck when he gets % cents a
pound for butter fat. while % and 26
cents is not an unusual price here.
"Also bear in mind the fact that our
cows are not living on land that is
valued at 1925 or so an acre. but on
land that is valued at $25 or maybe
less. 1t also costs less to winter a
COW here than it does in Illinois, and
more COWS car be pastured IN the
same amount of land here than they
can in Illinois.
A Very Prosperous People.
From all of which | gathered the i'm
preston hat the people of South Da-
kota were an exceedingly prosperous
people and ventured to say as much.
THAT is hardly strong enough said
Mr.. Denison. 1--WE are not only eX-
ceedingly prosperous. but We are the
richest state per capita. in the Union.
We produce ore wealth annually per
capita than any other state. With
only ASS, 1856 people in South Dakota,
according 10 last year census. We yet
have over 35, 900, 5000 on deposit in
our banks. Our assessed valuation is
over a billion. We have an economi-
cally administered state government,
and our bonded debt will be eXtin-
guished this year"
Wheat and cattle will remain the
chief items of the states productions
for some years to come, in all proba-
bility, but corn has taken a c%onspicu-
Gus place. and its production is GER
tain to increase continually. Last year
the state raised over 81 600, 900 bushels,
and the average WELD was 31.S BUSH
els per acre. As a corn-producing
state, it is only natural that consider
able attention should be paid to hog
raising, and this industry is receiving
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