The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-14
MIL LIONS DEVOTED.
TO INSTRUCT YOUNG
VALUE OF LANDS SET ASIDE FOR
Ss!s PURPOSE. IS $45,0oo, 600.
Agricultural College Maintained At
Brookings, Which Stands Third in
the Union for Number Of Students
Great Work for Education Accom-
plished in South Dakota.


Special to The Journal s +, Il
Bookings, S. D., Dec 14.-People in
the older Eastern and Northern states
look with a great deal of pride upon the
educa tional advantages which they pos
sess in their public and private schools
academies, colleges and universities. but
probably no state can boast of any finer
provision for the necessary funds to sup
port the schools than South Dakota.
The United States gave a public grant
to the state Of two sections Of land in
every township, making in all nearly
100000 acres. The stipulation was
made that not a single acre should be
sold for less than $40 and the money
thus acquired should be employed as "a
high" school fund, the income going to
the different counties to defray the school
expenses At present about 275,0 900 acres
have been. sold and the average price
obtained has been t$1S an acre. On Jan.
/, 1905, the records showed that the per-
manent school fund had reached the sum
Of $4,670,326.81, which was drawing in
.terest at 5 or per cent Part of this
amount stood to the credit of the state
in deferred payments on lands sold from
the school reserve sections, but the rest
of it was invested in gilt edge loans on
real estate or in county or municipal
securities. . '.t5 g - Sc
Steady Increase in Values.
The. value of these school lands is
steadily advancing in the same proper
ton as other land owned by the state
say that prices in the near future will
average far more than $1S per acre.
Conservative estimates have placed the
amount of the permanent school fund,
when all the land is sold, at $45,OoO,O00.
This sum, invested at S per cent, would
yield an income of 81, 225,0O0 year, which
support falling on taxpayers to a mini
mum for many decades to come. This
is a matter of great Importance to the
citizens of South Dakota, for in almos,'
items in the annual expenses to be met
ton.
In addition to the endowment for the
common schools, there were special
grants of land made to several colleges
and universities, as we'll as various other
state institutions, the largest amount,
cultural college, located at Bookings
The Importance of this institution was
not overestimated, for year by year it's
in increasing. 1t stands third on the list
Of American agricultural colleges in the
number of pupils in attendance, and it,
offers very fine, broad, practical courses
Of Of studies, which train the students in
periments are made in the growing of
grains, using the largest variety of seeds.
in the cultivation of fruits, in dairying,
tests thus made are published many times
in the farm journals, so that they can,
be tried by the farmers in the different
SECTIONS IS to- ar Of the state Thus the college
future greatness of the state, by teach
ing the future farmers the. science OF
agriculture, but is constantly improving
the quality and increasing the variety Of
the cropSza each season comes and goes.
Results Of Fruit Growing. !:
One very striking example, of what this
the matter of fruit growing. It is not
SO very many years ago that it was con-
sidered impossible to raise fruit in South
Dakota, but since the Agricultural col
toward the development of this industry
not only has it become widespread, but
new ne 9,n; species sp Of apples; plums, pears
propagated, which have won high praise
at exhibitions of fruit in some of our
great fairs. ..t- i.
The federal government not only assists
this agricultural college by its cOntribu-
! tions of valuable seeds and pamphlets On
agricultural conditions all over the world
but gives the sum of 1000 annually for
| its support.
Brookings, the home of the State Agri-
cultural college,, is the county seat, and
is an active, thriving city of about $500
lnnaotant So.t It is located on the Chi
Ethe distributing center for the wholesale
and jobbing trade of the county, Bust
T ness is prosperous, each year showing an
lines and yet there are many fine op-
There is great 'e deai & local ca trade
With nearby = towns for the county Of
| populated in the state. There are num-
erous small towns and villages, which are
growing with surprising rapidity, and
there is a general air of prosperity per-
vadlng all farming districts as well.
Has Excellent Railway Facilities.
Bookings county is crossed by the Chi
cago, Rock Island & Pacific railway and
western railway. It's, eastern boundary is
Lincoln county, Minnesota, and the soil
s yaries 81 but slightly from that of The
from north to south, dividing it into two
almost equal portions. This great valley
is noted for its fertility, the excellence.
fulness of it's climate All through the
county there are scattered numbers of
beautiful lakes, some of which have al
ready become well known as summer.
resorts and have. numerous cozy cot.
tages built along their shores, which are
lined with natural timber.
Many Of the farmers of Brookings-
and cattle, as they find their LARGEST st
profits are made from mixed farming.
There are also some very fine stock
ranches where pure blooded Durhams
ana a J.. Herefords, are proudly displayed to
Dairying is carried on quite extensively
and with good profits, for the railroads
give excellent transportation accommo-.
cations for the. produce to the large
markets in nearby states.
/ The farmers of Brookings county ara
as contented a lot Of people as one
could expect to find anywhere. Very
few of them would be willing to sell their
land. FOR, as one of them very frankly
as any that I could find anywhere in
the state ~ & - = - y - -
Another man, living few miles from
Brooklngs, refused to consider an offer
OF $40 per acre for his farm. IT have a
my crops and the live stock enables ii na
to live well, send my children to school
and college, and yet save several thou
sand dollars year. I have nothing to
complain of, except that I was such a
| NE WORKING on. the old farm in my
naive state and paying almost all my
profits into the rent 2 :. = p. -
| Prices of Raw Lands.
There is some raw land still on the
ranging from SIS to SIS per acre ar pr Ims
proved land brings from $22 to $50, and
the prices are increasing steadily.
Revert1ng again to the subject of the
Scnool lands. 1t must not be assumed that
the only revenue the state derives from
them is the price for which they are
1 sold. Far from it. Most. Of the Lanai
that are owned by the state are bringing