The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-04-06

Stale Adds More Riches 10 the Nations Hoard Annually in
Proportion Population, Than Any Other in Union

South Dakota has been member OF
the American Union for sixteen years,
and yet to-day it's real resources, its
natural wonders, it's wealth, agricul-
tural and mineral, are known to a
surprisingly small number of persons.
In no section OF the country is more
progress being made than in South
Dakota, nor is there any other state in
the Union which is yearly adding as
much wealth to the nations store in
proportion to it's population.
In the matter of size alone, South
Dakota is an empire In area 1T stands
twelfth in the Union. All the New
England states with Delaware and
New Jersey thrown in might be COM
fortably set down within it's borders,
and there would still be a few thou
sand miles to spare. Great Britain,
France and Germany, with Portugal
thrown in for good measure, would not
quite fill it's confines. If it had the
same density of population as Massa-
chusetts it would contain 25,OOO,0O0
people, instead of the 100000 that it
does.
The wealth of South Dakota does
not consist in it's mines, although the
greatest gold mine in the world, the
Homestake, lies within it's borders, but
in it's wheat and corn, its droves OF
cattle and hogs, and in its dairy prod
ucts With only portion of it's vest
area under cultivation, the figures for
one years output of wealth were S129,-
100000
The Discovery of Gold.
This is a eretty fair record for
country that only a generation or so
ago was the stamping ground Of the
Indians. and into which the white man
ventured on peril Of his life. But these
white men when they did escape came
back to civilized life with glowing sto-
ries of the wonderful country that they
had seen, which whetted the desire of
the hardy and restless frontiersmen
to enter into it. Most Of these early
adventurers were trappers and fur
hunters, who ventured after the buffa-
10 and other smaller fur-bearing ami
mails which abOunded along the small
streams which form the Cheyenne riv-
er.
Then came the announcement that
gold abounded in the Black Hills,
which was definitely ascertained and
given to the world by Gen. Custer after
his exploring expedition in 1874. That
gold existed somewhere in the interior
had been known for many years previ-
GUS from the tales Of rowing Indians
who came to the white settlements.
But the country was then in the pos
session Of the powerful Sioux tribe,
with Sitting Bull at its head. and the
Black Hills, where this gold was to be
found. was guarded by them with SUI
perstitious reverence as the home OF
the Great Spirit. Prospector after
prospector assayed to reach this treas
ure house, but were relentlessly trailed
by the Indians and massacred.
At last the encounters between the
whites and the Indians became so fire.
quent, in spite of all the efforts of the
government to prevent encrOachment
on the Indians land, that the govern
ment bought the redskins out for 81
500 900 and threw the country open TO
settlement This was in 1877. The
first rush to the new country was of
course, that of the gold seekers, but
they were soon followed by the cattle,
men and the farmer who saw in the
boundless prairies and rich soil a sure
source of wealth.
Great Mineral District
The gold mining district of the Black
Hills is the third greatest geld produc-
ing district on the continent, and has
been pronounced to be the richest 100
miles square on the face Of the globe.
Between 1876 and 1905 the total pro
duction of gold in this district was
$4,000. 900, and still there is no cessa-
tion in the discovery of new and legiti-
mate properties.
AS the result Of the mining industry
two Of the most populous and prosper
Gus cities OF the state have been built
in the Black Hills, Deadwood and
Lead, which are only four miles apart,
although the latter Is $50 feet higher
than Deadwood.
At Lead, the chief attraction is the
great Homestake mine, discovered in
1876. The history Of the Homestake is
In the history Of gold mining. Capital
tied at $22OOO,OOO. the property has
paid monthly dividend ever since oc-
tober. 1873. making total Of over Sl7,-
900 900 in dividends to date. One hun
dred dollars invested when stock was
selling at 81 a share would be worth to
the investor to-day $4,000.
Real Wealth Is Agriculture.
But it is not it's mineral wealth that
makes South Dakota rich state-it is
its fertile soil. There is no part OF the
state which will not richly repay the
labors Of the farmer. AS cattle state
it has no superior, and this industry
brings in more money than any other.
The town OF Belle Fourche, twenty
eight miles north Of Deadwood is one
OF the most extensive cattle-shipping
points on the continent. The popula-