The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-08-10

for me to buy half section the next
year.
"There has not been year since
that I have not bought a little moro
land We have never had bad crop
failure, and we have all made money.
The land here seems to be ineXhausu-
BILE. I have never used any fertilizer,
apd, while do not go In SO heavy for
wheat as / used to, l still have plant
ed every year my original half sec
tion to wheat, and have never failed
on a CROP
"How much did you pay for. your
land?" l asked
''The first piece bought for Sc an
acre. But land values have kept on
me S3O"
What are you asking for your
farm?" was my next query.
'I'm not asking anything for It,"
was his quick rejoinder. "Its not for
sale at $10O an acre. Why should
sell? I don't know how could better
myself I am making money every
year-more, than really need have
fine house, my children are healthy
and happy, and in the winter my wife
and I generally take trip somewhere
and rub up against the world. Last
winter we took trip to Europe, but
didn't see any farmers over there
who lived the life and made the
money that we do here In South Da-
kota. Next winter we have planned a
trip to Cuba"
This farmer Is only one Of type
that prevails throughout South Da-
kota. The state has remarkably
small percentage Of the foreign ele-
| ment, the greater portion of It's pOpu-
lation consisting Of people from the
Eastern and central Western states
He took me into his house to show
1t to me. 1t was lighted by electricity,
and his groundr and farm buildings
were lighted by the same agency. He
grinds his feed for his cattle by elec-
tricity, runs his churns by electricity.
and his wife on wash days runs her
| washing machine by the same power.
Power from Artesian Wells.
1--WE don't believe in working our
| selves to DEATH" he remarked cheer
| fully. "You see, we are In the great
| artesian belt, and all this light and
power is furnished from my artesian
well. The water comes up with such
| force that I have harnessed q six
horse power turbine to 1t. This runs
my dynamo and does all the other
work. In case Of fire 1t gives me pro-
lection, as the natural force Of the
water will carry 1t over my house and
barns. All I have to do Is to connect
my hose"
This artesian belt is one Of the won
| ders of the state. In every town. and
city throughout this section pipes
are laid through the streets or roads
| and fire plugs placed at easy intervals.
III case of fire alarm, the local hose
company is run to the scene and the
hose attached to the nearest plug.
AS rule the elevators are the high
est buildings In all these towns, but
the water will carry far over the top
of the highest structure that l saw.
For drinking purposes 1t is excellent.
I With the merest suspicion Of saltness
about 1t, but cattle take to 1t with
avidity.
The secret OF South Dakotas sus-
tanned fertility is In Its subsoil. I'm.
derlying the deep, black loan. which
in many sections is five feet deep, Is
| deep subsoil Of great depth of yellow
| clay. This clay Is very porous and
absorbs tremendous quantity of
| water. In the growing season the
roots of the crops need this water,
and it is drawn up to them by capil-
larry attraction. This supplements
! the rainfall, which during the season
is generally ample.-Vanderhoof In
Minneapolis Journal.