Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-07-19
A RICH COUNTRY
Interesting Letter bya Traveller
Through the Fertile Lands
Of South Dakota.
Growing Crops Show Agri-
cultural Possibilities Of the
Western Range.

river and later eastward through the
state During my stay west of the Mis- |
souri, became greatly interes cd i'll the
work of the farmers, especially those |
men who have very recently migrated
into the state and who were working
some of the virgin lands that abound in
the western section. Hitherto the wave
of immigration had heen to the eastern
section of the state, almost entirely, but
during the past two years the people of
the United States have come to real
ization of the fact that west of the Mis-
souri, are some of the greatest farm
lands in the world
AS drove along the banks of the
Missouri | came to small farm house,
which from the appearance of Its con-
struction told me that the farmer was
a newcomer, or that the house could not
have been more than two years old.
Back of that house, looking from the
fres hly titled soil. The picture was one
seen only in the fertile counties of the
great state of South Dakota, picture
that man does not soon forget.
stopped in front of this house, and
tying my horse to a tree, walked into
the fields where the farmer and his men
we're at work and greeted them They
showed me the hospitality for which
South Dakotans are noted Alighting
from the seat ne occupied behind a
team of fine looking horses the farmer
offered me the place of honor.
"Well, how's the crop comlng?" 1
asked.
''See for yourself" replied the farmer,
pointing to the fields.
"Looks mighty tine," said.
| "Promises to be better than last year."
said the man..
"Been out here long?" l asked.
"About two and halt years. was the
answer,
"How've you done?'' | asked.
"Well, | must say wonderful well.
! Long before l came to this section of
the country had heard good many
stories of the wonderful soil OF South
| Dakota, but in the state came from,
Kentucky, why, we used to laugh at
these stories, believing that there wasn't
anything like our Kentucky blue grass
region.
"But since I've been here I've changed
my mind. The soil of this state is won
derfu. Last year had my first crop
of wheat to harvest, and | got thirty
bushels Of wheat to the acre, and have
got the money to show for it in the
way of a bank account l came here
with mighty few dollars, two healthy
sons a daughter and good wife, We
looked for hardships, but we've had
com for: and happiness. This is what
I've found in South Dakota
"Look at that field of wheat; forty
acres OF it. Look over that field of
young corn; look yonder at that field
Of oats, and over there at my vegetable
patch. Don't you think all that looks
good to man who owned few acres
OF land few years ago and tried to
raise enough tobacco on it to support
a family on? If it don't to you, neigh
Dor, it does to me. My wife, boys and
daughter wouldn't live any place else.
4 We're happy and getting rich here, and
if my crops are as good this year as last,
LII buy more land"
My conversation with this man caused
me to look more closely into the oppor-
tnnities open to the immigrant in the
/ state of South Dakota, and mile down
the road met another farmer busily
engaged at work, but not too busy to
greet me and tell me exactly the same
story heard mile back. Everywhere
4 peace, happiness, contentment and pros
perity greeted me. Acre after acre of
land, titled and soWed with wheat, corn
and oats, and stocked with fine cattle.
4 What Impressed me more than any
thing outside of wheat growing were
the thousands OF acres of corn. AS
4 you cross the states Of Ohio, Illinois,
! Indiana, and Missouri you see millions
: of acres of corn. In the state OF South
Dakota alone there is grown more corn
than in the combined states OF New
England and the middle Atlantic sec
ton of the country.
4 OF course there must be some reason
for this enormous groth, and it is this:
The soil of South Dakota is as fertile
as the best land in the United States.
Years ago, before the foot of white man
trod the soil of this state, when the red
man and the buffalo roved at will, the
buffalo Waxed fat and strong on the
grasses of the prairies of South Dakota,
for they are nutricious and sweet. The
porous clay subsoil of South Dakota re-
tains the moisture in quantities suf1i-
Z cient to feed the crust of the earth and
thereby gives to vegetation that moist