The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1906-03-30
Nature Was Lavish When She
Handed Out Her FavOrs to
South Dakota
ALL SECTIONS OF STATE FAVORED
Rich in Minerals Beyond the
Average of H,r Sisters in
the Union

souri, river. The chief difference i
the two sections is in the compositio
Of the soil. East of the Missouri tn
soil is almost entirely a glacial clay
produced by the grinding and disinte
grafton Of granite. This clay drift j
overlaid by a heavy coat of vegetabl,
mould.
West Of the river the soil is chief,
soil eroded from the rocks of the west
ern mountains, which was borne dowI
to the eastward upon the floor Of the
primeval ocean. This soil is of two
general classes. A belt fifty miles
wide lying along the Missouri river is
a heavy, tenacious clay, exceedingly
productive under proper treatment,
but not so easily subdued as the gla.
cial soil east of the river. West of this
belt is found generally a black loamy
soil is Of the Lardmie'formation, warm
and quick and splendidly adapted to
agriculture.
Beginning along the east line of the
state we have the magnificent Sioux
Valley and the valley of the upper
Minnesota, rich, fertile, well settled.
picturesque. with fine farms, thrifty
towns. timber frinced streams and
sparkling lakeS-SiouS Falls. Water
town, ~Broosings, Flandreau and Can
ton are the principal cities of the
Sioux valley. but there are many other
thrifty places only less important than
those named. General mixed farming
is the general %avOcatiOn. In the south
ern counties wheat growing is no lon
ger considered profitable upon the
high priced lands, which are devoted
to corn, and coarse grains and mead
oWS. Live stock interests predomi.
nate, and dairying is general. The
region has been settled from twenty
live to forty years, as you progress
from the upper valley toward the
south. In every aspect and capacity
this region is like the adjacent por-
tions of Iowa and Minnesota. Land
there is worth from thirty to seventy
hVe dollars, in every respect as valu-
able and as productive as the best
lands OF Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.
There is absolutely no element of un-
certainty about the Sioux valley. Its
complete reliability has been perfect
ly demonstrated.
In the upper Minnesota conditions
similar to those in the Sioux valley
prevail. The altitude is not quite SO
great. Mllbank, Bigstone city and
Slsseton are the chief towns. 1t is
a delightful country, and the lands
Will prove themselves exceedingly
cheap to the man who has been farm
ing n hundred dollar land in Illinois
or Indiana.
Passing owe the low divide we come
into the broad, warm, south-faced
James valley. The alluvial bottom
of the preglacial Dakota lake, fifty
miles wide, and extending clear across
the state. More fertile soil cannot
be. 1t, too, has been settled for peri
DDS ranging from twenty-five to forty
i've years, and has entirely proven its
reliability.
Yankton, Mitchell, Huron, Redtleld
q Aberdeen are the leading towns
OF the valley. There are many other
important places. Railroads reach
every portion, and its market facili.
Ties are splendid. In the lower portion
corn growing predominates. Wheat
is the leader in the north. Live stock
and dairying are chief interests
throughout the valley. Thrifty farms
and excellent buildings are the rule.
The valley, especially in the upper
part, needs more people. Unsurpassed
lands are offered at from fifteen tc
seventy-tive dollars, according to loca.
ton, improvements, neighbors ano
such other qualifications as affect
land values.
Chamberlain and Pierre are the
leading places of the Missouri valley
which is yet little developed agricul
turally. 1t is a splendid section-only
requiring the courageous presence O
the pioneer, with his faith and indus
try to make of it the garden it is DIES
tined to become. Like the Jane!
valley, it is all in the ~artesian belt. A
large portion of the Missouri valley
is within the developed natural ga
region. Lands in this rdgion can b'
secured at from five to twenty dol
lars.
The broad section between the Mis-
souri, and the Black Hills has hithert,
been utilized for free cattle range, bu
the inflow of homesteaders is fas
changing that condition. Its agricul