The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-04-20

which the people think and talk in
millions mostly. Not that they are at
all more pulled 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 its 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
r. 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, hut for 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 little
over $2S,000.000. while the live stock
marketed for little over S25 O00. 900
But we have sold as high as s35 600. 600
worth of live stock in one 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
smaller compassionate is. there will
not be so many large herds. but 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 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 100000. We have 325, 200
mil in, ha fnfn nd
tive grasses give peculiarly pleas
ant flavor and a solidarity of texture
to our butter which places it at the
very top of the Eastern market. BY
The last federal census South Dakota
had 60 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 1T
than the farmers of Illinois do. despite
the fact that they are some hundreds
Of 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 90 cents
pound for butter fat. while 20 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 s125 or so an acre. but on
land that is valued at S25 or maybe
less. 1t also costs less to winter a
cow here than it does in Illinois. and
more cows can be pastured on the
same amount of land here than they
can in Illinois.
A Very Prosperous People.
From all of which gathered the i'm
preston that 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 more wealth annually per
capita than any other state. With
only 4551S5 people in South Dakota,
according to last years census we yet
have over 35O00,S 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
hility but corn has taken q conspicu-
Gus place, and it's production is GER
tain to increase continually Last year
the state raised over 5l,000,000 bushels.
and the average yield was Bis bush
els per acre. As corn producing
state, it is only natural that consider
able attention should be paid to hog
raising. and this industry is receiving
a great impetus Hogs are healthier
in South Dakota than they are in
either Illinois or Iowa. as cholera is
unknown. The state is now shipping