The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-06
WHERE I ak in
MILLIONS "GOES
HOW SOUTH DAKOTA ADDS
To NATIONS WEALTH.
In Wheat, Corn, Cattle and Dairy
Products It's Output Is Some.
thing Tremendous, While Banks
of State Overflow With Cash.
BY HERBERT yANpERHooF.

South Dakota is one of the states in |
which the people think and talk in mill |
lions, mostly. Not that they are at all
more pulled up or vaingiorious than the
people Of other states. But the state is
so big-it is one-fourth larger than all
New England together-and the opera
lions of it's citizens are so vast that no
other word except millions will express
them. Hence my assertion that it's peo-
pc think and talk in millions, mostly.
For instance: was talking with E. E.
Denison Of .sWestport, who is somewhat
extensively engaged in farming and dairy
ing, and I asked him what was the chief
industry in South Dakota5-wheat grow
ing or stock raising. In stock raising
include dairy farming. Mr. Denison was
not slow to answer.
TN an average year. he said, Give
stock pays more cash into the state than
any other line of industry. In an occa-
sional year wheat pays more money,
but for a term Of years the average Of
live stock is several million dollars
greater. 1885,. l-,
'Of course there are variations. Last
year, for instance, the wheat crop of the
state was marketed for a little over
| $2S, 100000, while the live stock marketed
for little over $25,0OO, 900. But we have
sold as high as $s5 900, 90 worth of live
stock in one year. That was before the
great invasion of homeseekers began,
and when the range was almost without
limit. The range is being cut up now,
within a smaller compass that is, there
will not be- so many large herds, but a
great many more smaller ones, SO that
there will not be any falling off In the
aggregate. .',.@> -. A. +"
Should Excel In Live Stock. ~.
There are good reasons why South
the nutritious native grasses, and, then
look at our wonderful western range for
stock cattle Here they can Craze all
in the spring they are plump and in fine
condition. Later they can be taken down
/ to the fertile farms of the grain belt for
equaled for live stock money making
But don't forget our dairy interests
are bound to grow yearly. We have over
$50 creameries in the state, and the prod
uct of these last year was valued at
a $7,O0O,OO We have $4,000 mich cows
a peculiarly pleasant flavor and soli
darity Of texture to our butter which
places it at the very. top Of the eastern
Dakota had 81 dairy cows per capita 81
! population, while Wisconsin, one of the
principal dairy states: had but ;ss: - -
eur dsS OF we get moPs
| per pounds for our butter fat than tie
a farmers Of Illinois do, despite the fact
NEAR rht the Chicago marKets i nave s
brother who lives in Whiteside county.
Illinois, He tells me that he is in luck
fat, while IS and Is cents is not an UNI
usual price here. T... =. i:
ALSO bear in mind the fact that our cows
I are not living on land that is valued at SIPS
or so an acre, but on land that is valued
at SIS or maybe less. It also costs less
to winter cow here than it does an
Illinois, and more cows can be- pastured
on the same amount OF land here than
they can in Illinois. ~ .'h...,, T.
A Very Prosperous People.
From all Of which l gathered the i'm
were an exceedingly prosperous people,
and ventured to say as much.
That is hardly :Ho strong ro enough said
state, per capita, in the union. We produce
more wealth annually per capita than any
other state With only 49, 1856 people n
census, we yet have over s35, 100000 on
deposit in our banks. Our assessed valu-
alton is a little over $219, 100000, but our
an economically administered state gov
eminent, and our bonded debt will be ex-
| tinguished this year."
Wheat and cattle will remain the chief
| items Of the states productions for some
| years to come in all probability but corr
+ has taken a conspicuous place and its
production is certain to increase contlnu.
/ 81, 900, 900 bushels, and the average: yielc
T was 31.S bushels per acre. AS corn-pro'
ducing state it is only natural that con n
raising, and this Industry is receiving 9
great impetus. Hogs are healthier .ir
South Dakota than they are in either
The state is now shipping about $4,000, oot
worth Of hogs annually to the great pack
ing centers.
III ! An Ideal Cattle Country. %
There is hardly a section Of the state
which is not adapted to agriculture, out
side, Of the small mining district. Fo
\ cattle raising the conditions are almos
ideal. The state is not SO far north tina
II the winters are severe, and hence cattl
can roam all winter without shelter AM
without sustaining any damage Tn
creeks which furnish an abundance o
living water Then, west of the Siou:
valley, the state overlies a, wonderful
to be inexhaustible. Over 5000 Of the arte
sian wells have been sunk, and as the
are all under high pressure they furnisl
poses. An inch and quarter well Wi
furnish an abundance of water for. a sec
1 ton of land. while they also furnis
plenty Of pure water for the cities and
I protection against fire. Surface wells Q
l good water can be secured anywhere a
from fifteen to fifty feet.
West Of the Missouri free homestead
may yet be obtained, and the railway ex
tensions that are now building into thi
section are opening up some, magnifcen
country. This attracts many OF the home
seekers who are now rushing into tn
state-land for nothing is a powerful lure
But there, is another class Of homeseek
ers who have money to pay for thel
lands, and as a rule these prefer to bl1
and settle where the conditions have bee
= proved, and the productivity Of the go
= thoroughly tested; These men are payin
= anywhere from SO to $25 an acre fc
) their land but It must be understood tha
) this is the kind Of land that in Illinois
Iowa or Indiana. or in any of the states
the middle west would readily bring SIC
or more an acre; It viii bring that
Z South Dakota before a great many yeal
have passed. Land that win pay for /,
{ self in one seasons crops is certain to sc
for much higher prices before the ne,
five years.