The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-26
BY GEORGE E. ROBERTS. Director of the Mint

~ USlNESS affairs are in an extremely satisfactory and prom
isng condition. The volume of business is GREATER
H A IN THE BOOM period Of 1899 to 1902, and
- conditions now are normal. The activity then was partly
in the nature of a reaction or release from a long period
OF suppression; now it is a GENERAL EXPANSION OF INDUS
TRY and trade founded upon an enormous increase of wealth and
an unprecedented annual production of commodities.
In every state and territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific the
demand for labor exceeds the supply. Notwithstanding our million
immigrants last year, capital is increasing in this country FASTER
THAN THE LABOR SUPPLY and in seeking investment creates
new demands and opportunities for labor and every kind Of talent.
The railways, the iron mills, the farmers, the building trades, the
mine operators, are all wanting MEN.
The country is developing everywhere and increasing its wealth
producing powers with dazzling rapidity. In the far west the area of
irrigated lands is being enlarged not only by the action of the govern
ment, but by private enterprise, and the farmers are learning how
to till irrigated land by using less water, thus extending the supply
over larger areas, at the same time producing larger crops. The fields
of wheat and sugar beets on Colorado farms this year will average
ample returns for labor and interest on $3.50 per acre.
But more important than the reclamation of desert lands by irri-
cation is the reclamation that is going on BY SCIENTIFIC AGRI-
CULTURE, by the Introduction and development of plants that will
-groM under arid conditions, such as the macaroni wheat brought by
the agricultural department from northern Africa, and by the methods
of "dry farming" which are being discovered. In the older farming
states a similar development is going on. The lands are increasing
in productiveness under more SCIENTIFIC tlage.
The crops this year are ali good, not in spots, BUT UNI.
FORMLY, and will put the farmers in very prosperous condition.
The i'll effects of too much land speculation Of a few years ago will
be practically obIterated by this crop. The lands in the Dakotas and
Canada, in which the speculation occurred, are paying for them
selves. Prices are advancing again, and the farmers and bankers of
the older states who were tied up in them are able to unload AT A
PROFIT. The prices of farm products are declining some under the
great supplies, but the farmer can stand It, and food will be cheaper
for the million. Flour is from a dollar to dollar and a half a barrel
cheaper now than at the highest prices Of the past year. A reduction
of a dollar a barrel on -four as the result of a bountful crop means a
gift by Providence of $1,000 600, 900 to the consumers Of the United
States. As a good deal has been said of late about higher costs Of
living, it is in order for the newspapers to take note Of such an
important reduction. A big corn crop makes CHEAPER MEATS,
although its effect is not so prompt.
IT WILL 90 ANY MAN GOOD TO GET OUT OCCASIONALLY
AND TAKE THE MEASURE OF THIS couNrRYs PROGRESS. NO.
WHERE IS IT STANDING STILL. EVERY INDUSTRY IS NOT MERE.
" EXPANDING. But BEING REoRaANizEp ON A MORE EFF.
GENT BASIS.