The Minneapolis journal., 1906-07-13
BOUNTY OF NATURE
IN SOUTH DAKOTA
HOW TIE NEW SETTLERS THRIVE
...-.. ON THE FARMS.
Corn and Wheat Are the Two Greatest
Crops, but the Cattle Raising Indus
try Is Also Vast and Growing One.
BY HERBERT vANDERHooF.

BY HERBERT vANDERHooF,
During the month of June had occa-
sion ITO pass through that part Of South
Dakota west of the Missouri river and
later eastward through the state. During
my stay west of the Missouri I became
greatly interested in 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 Sec
| ton. Hitherto the wave Of immigration
had been to the eastern section of the
state, almost entirely, but during the past
two years the people of the United States
have come to a realization of the fact
that west of the Missouri are some Of the
greatest farm lands in the world.
AS drove along the banks of the Mis-
souri, ( came to a small farmhouse, which
from the appearance Of it's construction
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 road, saw acres
Of waving wheat and freshly titled soil.
The picture was one seen only In the
fertile counties Of the great state Of South
Dakota, picture that a man does not
soon forget. @'.
| I stopped in front Of this house. and
tying my horse to tree, walked into
the fields where the farmer and his men
were at work and greeted them. They
showed me the hospitality for which
South Dakotans are noted. Alighting
from the seat he occupied behind a team
of fine looking horses, the farmer offered
me the place of honor.
''Well, hows the crop coming?"
asked.
"see for yourself" replied the farmer,
pointing to the fields.
Looks mighty fine said.
PROMISES to be better than last year."
said the man.
| Been out here long?" I asked.
about two and half years." was
the answer.
/ "How've you done?' asked.
"Well, I must say wonderful we'll. Long
before I came to this section Of the
country had heard a good many stories
Of the wonderful soil Of South Dakota.
but in the state came from. Kentucky,
why, We used to laugh at these stor1es'
believing that there wasn't anything like
our Kentucky blue grass region.
Prosperity on the Farms.
But since I've been here I've changed
my mind. The soil Of this state Is Won
derful. Last year I had my first crop
| of wheat to harvest, and I got thirty
bushels of wheat to the acre. and have
got the money to show for it in the way
Of bank account came hdneth1 mere sons WIN
daughter and a good wife. we lookeu
for hardships, but we've had comfort comfort
and happiness. This is what I've 1ouho
Look at that field Of wheat; forty
acres of it. Look over that field OF young
corn;s look yonder at that field Of oats
Don't you think all that looks good to
| a man who owned a few acres of land
a few years ago and tried to raise
enough tobacco on to support family
to me. My wife, boys and dauSh
wouldn't live any place else. We're hap
py and getting rich here, and if my crops
are - as = e good this year as last III buy
MY conversation with this ma. caused
me to look more closely into th~ oppor-
tnnties IS open, tS the in the
the road met another farmer busily
engaged at work, but not too busy to
greet me and tell me exactly the same
| BLOTy QedIO d 1Illl6 UdCh Livery WueIo
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.
| A Great Corn Country.
| What impressed me more than any
thing outside of wheat growing were the
cross the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana
and Missouri you see millions Of acres
Of corn. In the state Of South Dakota
the the combined States Of New England
and the middle Atlantic section OF the
country.
The soil Of South Dakota is as fertile
Years ago, before the foot Of white man
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 nutritious ~ ana aoIH Sweet Ths
retains the moisture in quantities suffi-
Client to feed the crust Of the earth and
| thereby gives to vegetation that moisture
Of crops. Then there is rainfall sufficient
to help along the growth OF the crops
Yield for One Year.
To show the reader what the state can
for 1905. as complied tt BY the State Hiso
| tOT1Cal society Ol 6OuIu odhOtdS
comprising the number of bushels of grain
grown in the state: Wheat 44,0000 900
bushels; corn, 53,o0o,ooO bushels: oats,
A, 900, 900 bushels; barley, $4,000, 900 bush.
els; spelt, 100000 bushels; flax and rye,
1000, 900 bushels; potatoes, garden truck
and fruits, financial value, $5,0o0,ooo. This
table in itself serves to illustrate the
great fertility Of the soil Of South Da-
kota. ...,...#
Another great industry Of the state is
cattle raising. Back east you hear stories
Of the great cattle ranges of the west.
but the cattle ranges OF South Dakota
are the finest in America. Thousands
Of acres Of land are roved over by the
sleek, fat cattle and sheep that feed the
country The grasses Of South Dakota
are especially adapted to the feeding Of
cattle, for they are nutritious and sweet.
According to the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, there are some $50
varieties Of grasses found in South Da-
kota, ranging in length from six inches
to eight feet. AS the soil Of the state is
abundantly watered, the climate delight
full, these grasses are never destroyed
save by fire, but the influx Of immigra-
\ tion. into the state has practically PRIV
vented this calamity for all time. Cattle
can feast upon these grasses almost the
whole year round, and even after snow
falls thew nose their way down to the