The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-02-02
TO Be PROUD Of
A Structure for Stock That is il
Every Way Adequate to the
Needs of stockmen.

Every state in the union has state
buildings galore upon which thou
sands OF dollars have been expended.
but there is not a state in the union
! which can approach South Dakota IN
its tribute PAID to the stock inter-
ests and the building that was dedi-
Gated Tuesday afternoon stands as a
monument to this great industry. 1t
is a not particularly expensive affair,
and only cost the state the sun Of
S., 900, but it means a great deal to
the stock growers Of the state. 1t
indicates 10 them that the business
in which they are engaged is regard
ed as an industry that is entitled to
the fostering care Of the state. Agri-
cultural colleges have been erected
for the education of the farmers
son, buildings have been erected to
inform the youth of the state on the
lines directed toward good citizen
ship, but the stock interests have
been permitted to drag along in a
shiftless manner without any regard
to a premium being paid on y good
COW. 1t was only as an individual
s.ockman could see occasionally the
necessity and the profit in raising a
good steer, but the idea is fast be-
coming %inculcated that it costs no
more 20 raise a good steer than 1T does
a poor one, aside from what it costs
to lay tie foundation for a pure bred
herd of cattle.
The South Dakota stockmen now
possess a building that will !e the
meeting place year after year for
them to gather, exchange ideas in raj.
ing better stock and selling the pro-
duct OF their ranches. The building
is small to start with, but it will
have to be enlarged with the greater
development OF their interests. The
structure, which stands on a fine
piece OF property, is located about six
blocks east Of Main street, within
easy access Of the business portion Of
the city. 1t is 144 feet long and 50
feet wide which is for the stock
alone. Joined to the barn is the pa
Wilton, where the stock sales are
held, which is octagonal in shape and
is 60 feet wide from one point tc an
other, making the entire buildlre
22O4 feet long. The pavilion is
equipped with amphitheatre seats
that have a capacity Of 800 people,
and a place has been stationed or for
the auctioneers aud the representa-
tives OF the press. An Office room
has been made for the transaction of
private business. The pavilion is
heated with steam and it can be
made very comfortable should the
weather turn extremely cold, as
has been the case in the past two
years when the sales have been held.
The building was erected by Messrs.
Cross and Slade under the direction
OF a building committee consisting
of Z. f. Wickhem, Of Alexandria,
Prof. ]. W. Wilson, of BrookinRs, L.
A. Larson. of Vermlllion, Frank
Cronk, of Tulare, and q. f. Ray
mond, of this city. These gentle
men devoted their time without re-
endorsement from the state, with
the exception CT their actual ex-
penses in coming to Mitchell the
few times they assembled here. 1t
can he said to the credit of these
gentlemen that every dollar, practi-
cally, was spent for the construction
of the building, and when they fin
ished the job there was just 40 cents
left ia the treasury, when usually
the case is one or two %appropria-
tions must follow to complete a
building.
ct the hour of dedication there
VAS an immense crowd of men pies
Hent and they were enthusiastic over