The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-21
New Railway Extensions Opening a
Vast Territory to Homesteaders-
Amazing Agricultural Wealth of
South Dakota. =.
BY HERBERT VANDERHooF.


fervor today, especially in our crowded
cities and in the older farming districts.
where. the soil has become impoverished,
making it difficult to secure yields suf-
f1cient to insure the barest livelihood
Conditions in the great West have
changed, and changed greatly, since the.
day that this old song was written, but
these changes have all been In the way
Of progress, and today Western lands are
more desirable, than ever before. This Is
especially true of South Dakota, where
thousands of acres Of rich soil await the
coming of the agriculturist. This state
is destined to become one Of the.
wealthiest in the United States, and the
men who seek homes there now will help
to make the fortunes of that great COM
monwealth as we'll as their own, and will
reap the great rewards which must neces-
sarily follow advancing prosperity $
+: To many people doubtless South Da-
kota seems a great distance away, al
most as If it were Eat the ends of the
EARTH" and even the most alluring pros
poets are dimmed by this sense Of re :.
moteness. But this Is a misconception
today, and should be relegated to the
past where it belongs The days of long,
tedious journeys on foot, or on horseback,
or in the cumbersome prairie schooners,
are gone, never to return, IN this coun-
try and the home seeker, when once ne
has decided on his destination, has only
to study a railroad guide to fnd just
when and where he can get a train which
will take him and all his household goods
swiftly and without hardship to within a
short distance Of his new home, If not,
as it were, to its very doors.
South Dakota has excellent railroad
facilities, as one can readily see by con-
sulting a good map, and new lines are
rapidly being planned and constructed.
thus constantly opening new territory TO
cities. From Chicago to Pierre, the cap
ital, Is journey Of nearly 500 miles. and
| can be accomplished IN about thirty
| hours. This city Is a very good example
| of the way development is progressing IN
| has grown from mere handful of houses
! to a city, with many fine, substantial
buildings, f1ourishing stores. we'll equipped
| public schools and large churches. The
increasing prosperity Of the community.
The city is located practically IN the
center Of the state, on the Missouri river
and is in the midst Of a rich country,
which is devoted to stock raising and
| farming, so that 1t must OF necessity Pc
| come a great distributing point. ship
ping grain and farm products, live stock
J and wool, to outside markets, and re
ceiving manufactured articles from the
great trading centers in other states. To
man who Wishes to establish business
| for himself, whether q jobber or along
other lines, Pierre offers very unusual
| opportunities.
| As If recognizing the future greatness
Of Pierre, as we'll as Of the state itself,
the government set aside a large tract
Of public land, which is to be sold anf
the proceeds expended in the erection OF
| the million dollar capitol building now
| under construction. 'r-
The rate at which the wealth Of South
| Dakota is increasing seems marvellous tc
| people from the older states. Statistics
| are very apt to be dry and uninterestins
in the extreme, but where a state is max
ing such rapid progress as South Dakota
they become one Of our best sources OF
information and comparison. The State
Historical society complies an annual re-
view of the progress, Of the state, which
contains many interesting and valuable
/, statistics According to their publica
tons, the new wealth produced in 1900
amounted, In round numbers, to 100000.
900, while the figures for 1905 stand al
natural products of the soil-grain, fod"
der and garden truck also the live stock
and minerals; but does not reckon the
manufactures. At the head of the list
We find wheat, with a showing Of 43, 10,
900 bushels, valued at $2S,021,5 500; next
comes the live stock, which adds 5000
900 more, and third Is corn, with yielC
of 51.e15,872 bushels, representing s15,.
484,761 What state would not be proud
Of such a record as this?
The Great Corn Crop.
The corn statistics are, perhaps, more
surprising, than any Of the other figure:
to people outside Of South Dakota. Some
years ago the far-sighteda agriculturist:
within the state prophesied that, In thu
very near future South Dakota would
be the greatest corn producing state II
all this great country of ours, but PEG
pie generally were very skeptlcal am an
thusiasm with no practical foundation
The showing for 1905 must certainl!
strengthen the position taken by thes
so-called enthusiasts, for South ,Dakot;
now stands the fourth state on the lis
in the number Of bushels of corn pc
CAPITA raised during last year, and tn
thirteenth state in the total number Q
bushels raised. Each year the corn pei
is RAPIDLY extending northward ana IN
yield per acre increasing, 1or seeming ariet Ge
Of seed corn for the climate OF the state
The average yield per acre In l9O5 wa
31.s, but the prospects are that Wnen tn IN.
! years crop Is gathered these hsulos " Il
be raised considerably. 1v =
Each year the corn growers OF IN
state have an exposition at the city o
Mitchell, in Dawson county. Here, IN
: great "corn palace" one OF the mos
unique displays of an agricultural produc
:, Is set forth with consummate SKILL mar
velous effects being obtained by the US
, | Of the many varieties, which differ "loel
: in their coloring-white corn. yellow corr
red corn; mottle and ''squaw" corn, a
lblend together and produce most artlstl
| com ination. This exposition mas pee
a great influence in building up the agTl
| cultural interests Of the state and speak
. volumes for the enterprise of the citizens
II The advantages which South Dakot
| offers to the home seeker can scarcel
| be euualed in any other section OF tn
| | country, and no more convincing proc
of this Is needed than that afforded Q
| the record Of the immigration during IN
/ last few years Never a day passes Win
/ out bringing hundreds OF new settlers INT
/ the state, and it is avery rare case VINE
one IS found to be dissatisfied with NJ
new home West OF the Missouri rive
: free homesteads are yet tip, be secured
and there is no doubt that these lang
! will prove Just as valuable as those
the eastern counties, where the price
Itnow range from $15 to $50 per acre.
It is not so many years ago When ian
. in the eastern section Of the state coul
. HE bought for IS ard $40 an acre, bu
+ that day has passed never to return
s E<Iya,-r wear has witnessed an appreciatlo