The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-16
THE MINNEAPOLIS JoURNAi.
FARM HOMES ARE
HEATED WITH GAS
COAL BARoNs BEATEN BY SOUTH
DAKOTA NATURAL GAS.

Homes Lighted and Heated and steam
Generated for Farm Purposes by
Natures Fuel Delivered in Pipes
sully County, South Dakota, Rich in
| Natural Gas.
Special to The journal.
| Gettysburg, s. D., Nov. 1e-South Da-
kota has many attractions to offer to the
nomeseekers, but perhaps there is nothing
more wonderful than the natural gas
which is to be found in apparently limit
less quantities in the country adjacent to
the Missouri river In the vicinity Of
Faerre, the state capital In sinking ar
tesian wells to- have an ample supply Of
water for farm and stock purposes it was
discovered that in many instances the
never-ceasing stream Of water was not
the only result obtained but there was
also large amount Of natural gas, which
could be utilized to great ADVANTAGE for
many things in the cities and on the
FARMS = OF course it was necessary to
make many experiments before the full
DEMENT'S could be obtained in the use of
this great natural resource, but in this
case patience and perseverance, according
to the old adage, conquered all obstacles.
| and today we see this gas being extern
slvely used to generate electricity and
steam, to light and heat not only the
homes of the farmers, but whole cities
| and towns.
Perhaps one of the best examples of
what can be accomplished on a large
scale with this natural gas from artesian
| sources Is to be seen in Pierre, which Is
thus supplied with its gas for heating
and lighting, but in Sully county, which
IS only twelve miles north Of the capital,
there are some of the best chances to
learn what can actually be done with this
natural gas in small towns, and especially
upon the farms.
! Many ArtesIan Wells Drilled.
| During the last two or three years
! numbers of artesian wells have been sunk,
| Tor the double purpose of obtaining water
| and gas supply, and in almost every,
instance very heavy flow of the latter
| has been secured, in many cases ample to
| light and heat city. 1t is not difficult,
| even for one who is not very familiar
with the uses Of natural gas, to imagine
the innumerable possibilities which are
| thus opened to the farmers who have
such an abundant supply close to their
hand to be turned to whatever use is
most desirable for their needs. One farm
err enthusiastically declared: my farm
is worth nearly double the amount that it
was two years ago before I put in the
improvements which got from my ar
tesian we'll and the natural gas fow."
Doubtless there are many other men
who could give the same report, and as
various devices for utilizing the gas are
perfected greater benefits will be OBJ
tanned. AS the towns in Sully county de-
velop into Cities as they will do in a
very few years, if the tide of immigra-
tion continues in the same volume that
it has been coming in during the last
four or five years, this abundant supply
of natural gas will be a great factor in
building up manufacturing and mercan-
tile enterprises, when the expenses for
fuel for lighting, heating, or generating
purposes form a large item to be most
carefully considered. rr'',.'
/ Many Other Advantages. T.
The natural gas and abundant artesian
water supply are not the only attraction
which Sully county holds out to those
who are &c coming to South Dakota for
county is the Missouri river, and it pos
sesses the great fertility which marks all
the land of this great valley. "There is
no. richer soil in all the state of South
-
| in Sully county, is the invariaole reply
to questions concerning the character Of
the SOIL when you interrogate the farmers
from one township to another. The gen.
eral surface is quite level we'll adapted
to the raising Of wheat, corn, and other
grains, also fruits and vegetables. The
prosperous farms, the comfortable homes.
the orchards and vegetable gardens, the
sheep, all speak most eloquently of the
advantages Of Sully county; and when
one considers the price at which land can
still be bought in the various townships
there is no longer any surprise at the
number Of settlers who have come into
this section during the past year. : .
The land is far better than that which
can be bought in the older agricultural
states for three or five times the amount
per acre which is asked for it here, and
most advantageous terms are offered
for payment. To those who are paying
high rents in the older farming communi-
land affords ought to come as a real boon,
for in five or six years this same amount
Of rent, if applied upon the purchase
price Of farm Of many broad acres here,
| ranty deed.
| DIversfficatIon Of Crops. .
It is no uncommon thing to hear Of men
raising crops which more than pay the
cost of the land in the first two or three
Years: It is only necessary to go through
the country to become convinced that land
there is a good investment. - sz.,ssys, 5T.s
Diversified farming is quite generally
practiced, and with the most satisfactory.
results. Wheat yields often twenty five
to forty bushels to the acre, and corn
fifty to sixty bushels. Other small grains
yield equally we'll. Small fruits are grown
very successfully, but perhaps the apple,
| orchards are the most noticeable Of ALL
The trees, loaded with their bright red
and rich green fruit, are sight well
worth a trip through the country in the
fall days. : I
Stock raising is very profitable, and al
most every farmer can show with justi-:
fable pride his cattle, sheep, and hogs.
Poultry raising will undoubtedly soon be
one of the important industries of the
country, for those who have experimental
| with it have met with very great success
Dairying is another industry which will
naturally develop into source of wealth
| for this section, as all the conditions are
| favorable for it. -, ,.s~.a IS -t.-.-.
| AS matter Of fact, dairying has al
ready developed into considerable indus
try in this country. Wherever you can
go you will see their herds of cattle roam
ing. Many of these herds are of the full
est blooded stock. The farmers Of South
Dakota are going in for fine blooded
stock, and many of them can show the
best grades that are exhibited at the an
nual show in Chicago. AS matter of
fact, one Of them, a negro, took the first
prize last year for the best carload Of fat
hogs. = -