Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-03-21

LAND IS CHANGING HANDS.
This has been true for the last several
years during the prosperous times and is
sure to continue for some time to come. 1t
is especially true because all of the choice
government lands subject to the homestead
filings have been taken up, proofs made and
are now in possession of actual homestead
ers or investors. Everybody admits the
value of a good farm now more than ever
before-an owner of 100 acres of uninCum-
bered farm land, in a good county and state
is absolutely independent. The question is
now where to secure one. We say now,
because these lands are rapidly increasing
in value and now is the time to secure a
good quarter. We ask all who are looking
for land, either for a home or an investment
to carefully read this circular.
THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
During the past nine years has produced
more wealth per capita than any other state
in the union, and because of this marvellous
prosperity has attracted the attention of the
entire nation. Yet despite the great pros
perity, the fertility of the soil, the advan-
tages of climate, etc, lands, all things con-
sidered are still very cheap. We want to
tell you something about this great COM
monwealth.
THE EARLY SETTLERS.
The pioneer settlers were confronted
with new conditions. Many of them who
came to Dakota as homesteaders were fac
tory operatives and tradesmen, wholly
inexperienced in agriculture. That many
should fail and give up in encouragement
was inevitable. And there were periods
calculated to try the hearts of the most
experienced. Fire, flood, drought seem to
be the portion of the pioneers of every sec
ton and South Dakota was no exception to
the general rule. But once tried out, nature
turns to the pioneer a smiling countenance
and showers the faithful ones with many
favors, she has given to them the blessings
of great happiness and prosperity. She has
taught them the trick of the soil. Inch by
inch she has yielded to them for fruitful
agriculture until all of her Astounding. prai-
ries blossom with rich harvests or nourish-
ing pastures where uncounted herds fat
ten on the luscious native grasses. In other
words forty years of experience and occupa-
ton have taught the South Dakotan how to
avail himself of the natural conditions and
adapt his methods to the best ends, and in
this age, where material results are the
measure of all values, South Dakota passes
the extreme test for she yields more wealth
per capita than any other commonwealth.
THE PROSPERITY OF 1906.
The past year was a fruitful one in every
way producing an evenly balanced crop of
everything planted. w eherewithh hand you
some statistics taken from the report of the
state statistician.
Wheat has ever been considered one
of the principal crops of the state and the
soil has always given an abundant yield and
of an excellent quality. The number of
acres of White wheat sown last year was
2,645, 264, which produced a crop of 81, $685.
$50 bushels, or an average of about fourteen
and a quarter bushels to the acre. The new
wheat-durum or macaroni-has been put
in quite extensively by our farmers, last
year they had So. 341 acres which yielded
1,94O,2 28 bushels, an average of slightly
over twenty bushels. The total wheat crop
was 80, 494, 1O5 bushels.
Corn. "A few years since it was thought
that corn could not be grown in the state,
recent years have shown it to be one of the
most prolific crops adopted to South Dakota
soil, and the quality is sound and good, as
il evidenced by the fact that many Iowans
came here for their seed grain last year and
are back for more this year-showing they