The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-04-13

are also few that possess general in
terest for every American. One of
these is that it is the most American
state in the Union. According to the
state census of 1905 there are 1855, lS5
people in the state. and of these ninety
per cent are American born. Here is
another of the facts of which the state
is proud.
There are SO. $50 homes in the state.
and o1,2SS of these are owned by the
occupants, while 37,4s3 are without
any incumbrance.
These figures indicate high state
of prosperity. and justly SO. There is
not another state in the Union to-day
that is contributing so much wealth
per capita to the national board as is
South Dakota. During 1905 the value
of the agricultural products of the
state, in which is included live stock,
was $116.GSG.261 Chief in the items
that go to make up this vast total was
wheat. While there are other states
that raised more wheat there is none
that raised so much according to popu-
latlon. South Dakota produced 43, no.
600 bushels, valued at SIS, 021 500. while
the second crop in value was corn.
With 5l,6l6,SI2 bushels and value of
$lo, 4S47G1. OF oats there We're 2,C0O,-
600 bushels, barley 10000. 600 bushels,
speltz 100000. flax and rye worth
nearly $4,000 900, dairy products worth
S1,O00,0O0, and hay worth $14 100000
The live stock of the state was valued
at $4,000 900 alone.
Yet South Dakota hasn't begun to be
settled. Its area of 10000 square miles
mas only an average of six persons to
the square mile. and this population is
mostly concentrated in the eastern
portion of the state. 1t Is splendidly
watered by numerous streams and
lakes, and the mildness of the climate
makes it ideal for both crops and cat
tie.
South Dakota is the land of sun,
shine. 1t has more days of sunshine
during the year than either Florida or
California has, and it possesses an
equableness of temperature that few
states can boast of. Zero weather is
seldom known, while in summer the
average temperature as compiled by
the United States weather bureau for
term OF years. was only trihe over
seventy-two degrees for the month of
July, the hottest of the year.
Extension of the Railways.
Within the past two years there has
been steady stream of homeseekers
invading the state and either taking up
homeSteads on the free lands or else
buying lands in the older settled coun-
ties in the eastern part of the state
The worlds fair at ST Louis did much
to bring the states claim to recogni-
tlon before the American people, and
the exhibit of the states resources
made there turned the attention of
farmers in the eastern and middle
western states toward it, SO great has
been the influx Of settlers that the
railways have been Obliged to extend
their lines in order to care for the
commerce that is being developed. AS
a result there are more miles of line
to be built there this year than in anv
cther state except one and every mile
OF this new construction will find an
immense tonnage awaiting it.
One of the counties that is attract
Ing many of the new settlers is Hand,
which is located about midway be-
tween the north and south of the state
and little east of the center. The
soil is black loan. with a clay SUBJ
SOIL and retains moisture, giving it to
plant life with wonderful efficiency. 1t
is land that produces great crops of
corn, wheat. oats, millet. barley, pota-
toes and all vegetables. while fruit of
all kinds yields abundantly.
stopped at handsome farmhouse
while riding through this country and
had dinner with its owner. This man
has farm of three quarter sections.
and his home has all the comforts and
convenlences that one looks for in
older settled localities. He came here
from Indiana five years ago, and was
curious to know the reasons that in
duced him to move He told me.
First Of all" he said. lit was the
cheap land had farm down in In
diana on which ] was making a good
living, but | wasn't making much
neadway besides. Yet ] had big
FAMILY growing up. and | wanted to
nave something to give the children
Tor start when their time came. |
investigated this section pretty thor
oughly before moved ! found that
l could buy land here--land in every
way superior to what | had in Indiana
FOR about SIC acre. sold my In
diana land and came up here and
bought
Glow have You made out? I asked.
Move Was Good One.
BEST move | ever made" was his
response. From my first years crop
and with only a portion of my land
under cultivation, cleared enough to
pay for my land. ! tell YOU man
can't lose money here. If you simply