The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-04
GREAT BOOM IN
So, DAKOTA LANDS
MANY PURCHASES ARE BEING
F.>.. MADE.
Richness Of the Country Has Returned
Fortunes to Those Wise Enough to
Locate There-Wealth of the Citi-
zens-People Of the East Much In
terested, ~ #s.E -
BY HERBERT vANpERHooF,

- ,
BY HERBERT vANDERHooF.
Eastern people who are revisiting South
! Dakota this spring after an absence Of
| from three to five years are invariably
prosperous advancement-an advance
ment which it Is practically impossible
| to report accurately in anything short
| of figures, and these are never interest
| ing except to expert statisticians.
q used to think myself pretty we'll
Informed concerning the resources of the
| state" said a resident of WATERFOWL,
but the country Is developing so fast
l did few years ago. OF course. we all
know about the rapid influx of new set
tiers, and the bringing into productive
state of hundreds Of thousands Of acres
doubt surprising to visitors, has become
an old story to South Dakota people,
and we no longer gaze open mouthed at
the developments in this direction. What
unmistakable signs of prosperity. 1t is
only few years ago that farmers and
ranchmen in this section were content
with their rough fare. and made no
comforts of life. Their homes were most
| ly shacks and the sodhouse was in COM
mon use. Live stock had the most prim-
tive kind Of shelter, and was generally
just cattle. Schools and churches We're
scarce. and society was unknown. 1t
fact, the settlers didn't act as, if they
had much confidence in the stability OF
the land. They. were reaping big crops
Of wheat, and raising big herds Of cattle.
but they made no attempt to improve
their homes or their farms, save in
| few rare instances. - .'.'. y
Land Of Beautiful Homes.
Took about you today and note the
change. Travel all over South Dahota,
and wherever you go you will find peace
and plenty. land flowing with milk and
hOOeV' If will hermit n 0rOn in
a Biblical expression. Shacils and dug
outs and sodhouses have given place to
fine. we'll built homes, some of them
really artistic in design. but all comfort
able. and in many instances equipped
with such modern devices as heating fur
naces. bathrooms. running water and
gas. The value of floral ornamentation,
the beauty Of we'll kept lawns, the bene-
fits of stately shade trees, are all ap-
preciated, and we find them wherever
we turn.
Nor is this all. The farms themselves
are improved. They are, as rule. we'll
fenced. and kept under good cultivation.
Rotation of crops is followed intelligently
and with very appreciate result IN
abundant and live stock is we'll housed.
Moreover. there has been a remarkable
Improvement in the character of the
| stock. Farmers and ranchmen under
stand that it costs no more to raise good
cattle than poor, and the profits are
much larger and surer. 1t has all had
a most healthy effect AS one land own
er begins improvements Of this natul {
tagious and a good natured rivalry
sets in.
Il can take you into thousands of
| homes in: South Dakota where the girls
where you will find lace curtains the
| windows. good rugs or carpets on the
| floors. pictures on the walls and wei
! stocked bookcases. The kitchens have
modern cooking conveniences, and. wash
ing machines are considered a necessity
| The boys have their fine horses and first
class buggies and gold watches I'm GLAD
| OF it. Things ), I'VE were different when
| glad to see the change, 1t is a strong
| object lesson on the solid and materia
/ prosperity we are enjoying.
i Picture is True One.
II In no wise Is this old settlers sketch
overdrawn. 1t is a true picture of con
4 ditions as they exist in South Dakota
il at the present time. do not wish to be
Il understood as asserting that it applies
II to every farm or ranch--such claim
Il would be preposterous applied UNIVERSAL!
Il here or to any other state in the Union
Il Wherever one goes he will find certain
Il thriftless individuals too lazy or in
II competent to take advantage of the re
II sources nature spreads before them. Blu
II this undesirable class is scarce in Sout1
II Dakota. 1t takes vim and pluck AM
II e,lersy to win success in new country
II and the pioneers who came here in tn
| years between 1871 and 1890 had all thes
II qualities And these same traits pre-
dominate in the men who are today ex
II tending, and improving the work so we
II begun by the pioneer. In this may b
found a fair explanation of the prosperit
which is so self-evident. Pluck, brain
and muscle, and, above all, bulldo
confidence in the future of the state hav
II won a battle for civilization, and hun
dreds OF thousands Of people are rea pin
the rewards
II 1t is almost Incredible but an historj
fact. just the same, that so far as civ
II lilzed settlement is concerned the cour
Il try now known as South Dakota is les
than forty years old. 1t was not unit
| after the admission of the territory,
| 1861, and really not till the close of tn
some spirits made homes here. In 1905
Il there was big rush of homesteaders. E
Il S whleh time Inc the real civilization process
II pegan, TINS being in time advanced b
the creation of new state in 1889.
II State Free From Debt.
| There are something like 100000 PIP,
Il prosperous people Lying in South De
pendence may be had in the assessed va
| uatlon of property for taxing purpose
which IS placed at s21s. 647674. or abo,
one-fifth of the real value South DE-
H as the state government is economical
II administered the rate of taxation is ve1
low The limit fixed by the state cor
II Stltutlon is 2 mills on the dollar. Perha1
Il one of the most significant features in
II monetary way may be seen in the bar
II deposits which amount to S35 900 90
every dollar Of which belongs to what v
II love to call ''the common people'-tI
II deposits of farmers. ranchmen, trades
Il men and manufacturers. If there is ar
II ground for complaint it may be possib
II found in the fact that the people are ,
prosperous they don't have to borro
II money, and a consequence the banl
have to go outside the state if they wis
II to make loans.
II Just think of 1.-THE value of real ar
personal property in the state is 81 J.
per head for all inhabitants-men W,
men and children. Keep this in mind
H making plans for change
III Land Values Advance Fast,
II AS a matter of course, land values a.
II advancing fast. It could not we'll
\ otherwise in country SO favored Sti
. IN the large majority of Instances pric
. are reasonable when one stops to COZ
%2 slider the conditions If a newcom
8 seeks improved lands. with modern buflt
& 1ngs. convenient to railways, churche
~ schools and stores, he must expect
2A pay more than for farms at a distan,
M and on which the improveme are v
|Ed to be made. People are beginning to III
"a derstand that it is. difficult to fir
Ss@ more inviting avenues for