The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-05
MADE RICH BY
WHEAT And CATTLE
SOUTH DAKoTA's BID FOR THE
: HOMESEEKER.
Brown County One Of the Banner Sec
tions of a Phenomenally Prosperous
and Attractive State.

Dakota Is making cannot fail to attract
the attention Of people all through the
older states, and. especially In those SEQ
tons where the value Of land, even Of
decidedly poor quality, has risen to fig
ures which make it almost impossible
for man Of moderate means to purchase
a farm of fair size and make it yield a
sufficient income to pay the taxes, sup
port the family and have any amount
left over to lay by for rainy day.
If men who are struggling under such a
burden, wasting the best years Of their
lives trying to make two ends meet,
could realize the great advantages which
South Dakota offers to settlers they
would hasten to sell their farms and in
vest their money in this state, where land
of the most marvellous fertility can be
obtained at figures which seem absurdly
low.
Even in the eastern counties of South
Dakota, which were settled earlier than
those beyond the Missouri river land is
still to be purchased at very reasonable
prices. In Brown county, for example,
there remains yet some excellent unim-
proved land which can be bought as low
as $40 or S12 an acre, and from SIS Or $40
UP to $40 or $50 per acre improved land
is obtainable. This county lies just south
of the center of the state in the rich
valley of the James river. which divides
it into two almost equal parts. 1t con-
tains about 100000 acres of land, and
the soil is very fertile, excellent for grow
ing wheat, corn and other small grains,
fruits and vegetables.
Rapid Growth of Population.
Since the last census, which showed a
population OF 1874, there has been
great influx of settlers, so the next CEN
sus will show a much larger enrolment.
There are two lines of railroads trav-
ersing the country, which give it ample
transportation facilities and give it di-
rect connection with the Minneapolis and
st. Paul markets. These railways are a
great convenience to the farmers in ship
ping their produce and receiving their
own supplies. There are many prosper
Gus railroad towns and cities in the coun-
ty, the principal one Of which is Aber-
deem. All these towns are thriving, and
their growth is not matter of Specula-
ton, for located in such fertile region,
they will be able to avail themselves Of
all the advantages to be derived from
direct communication with the world
about them and will soon become thriving
communities.
These towns offer unrivaled oppor-
tunities for an enterprising merchant,
business or professional man, and the
only wonder is that more from the crowd
ed cities do not seize such chance to
build up a future for themselves when
it can be done SO quickly and with such
imperative ease as it canSin South Da-
kota. l. -. Il
: Aberdeen is an excellent3example Of
one of these fast-growing cities. It is
now a railroad center and has a large
amount of business. It's banks are in a
$flourishing condition, which: speaks well
for. the general prosperity. ;sfH has sub
,sta11tial buildings in the business sec
ton and attractive residences It can
boast of fine library and a college af-
fording excellent educational advantages.
Men who came there when the town was
small have seen it grow into a city and
as it's wealth has increased their own pri-
vate fortune has accumulated, but there
are still fine openings for those who pre-
fer a city life to life in the country, for
Aberdeen is destined to become one of
the largest trading centers in the state.
Fine Educational Advantages.
There is no need for any prospective
settler in Brown county to have any anx-
iety as to the educational advantages for
his children whether he would choose a
home in one. of the Cities towns or viii
lagos, or in the country, because the
county supports a splendid common
school system. There are considerably
over 100 country schools, with an ample
corps Of teachers assigned to them.
There are many village and city schools
under the care Of graded teachers.
In the past year Brown county shipped
many thousands of car loads of wheat
alone, and the yield Of corn, OATS barley
and other grains was exceedingly fine.
The stock raising interests are large,
the shipments in 1905 being way up in
the hundreds Of car loads of cattle hogs
and sheep.
Poultry raising and truck farming have
been carried on to some extent, and have
been so successful that each year more
farmers are attracted to these industries,
so that the prospects are that they will
become very important additions to the
sources Of wealth in the county. Fruit
raising has also been found to be very
promising, for the soil in many sections
seems to be we'll adapted to the raising
especially Of small fruits, such as apples,
pears, plums and cherries. =
In the Artesian Belt. r.
But the most wonderful thing about this
section of South Dakota is the artesian
water supply. Fire protection is almost
unneeded through the towns, and Aber-
deem is an instance. Such a thing as a
fire engine is unnecessary. The towns are
all piped, with fire plugs on every cor
sary to call out the local hose company
The stream from the nozzle can: strip. the
shingles off a roof :i III
These artesian wells have exerted a
marked influence on modifying the coun-
try. They have formed little lakes from
the overflow and the crop return which
has followed has quietly-but almost I'M
erceptibly-changed country which was
at one time deemed worthless into one !
OF the richest producing lands of It the |
world 4S-Ss1E
The water supply in the county is abuIi-
dant, for the James river is fed by many |
small streams, and in addition to these |
sources OF supply there are hundreds of |
artesian wells, ranging IN size from one /
to six inches in diameter and With an