The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-06-20
SOUTH DAKOTA PROSPERITY
Bankers Express optimistic Views
or the States Finances
SOUTH DAKOTA TOP Of THE LIST
AS Regards the Production OF Wealth
Per Capita

At the meeting Of the State Bank.
ers association held in Huron last
week the president in his address
said:
The products of our state have
brought for their return much wealth
10 our citizens. In 1906, We produced
gold. $69S6,900 the state ranking
third III the production of gold
wheat, 49, i94 ,l05 bushels at estimat-
ed averaged price IS cents per bush
el. S29520,57S the state ranking
fourth corn 77,414,451 bushels, at
estimated average 81 cents per bush
ell. S27095.022, the state ranking
eleventh; ,S7I 900 head of cattle at
an estimated average of S27 per head
s5O.517000, the state ranking sixth;
I: S06,704 head of sheep at an estimated
average of So per head ,03:,520, the
state ranking sixteenth; 100000 hors-
es at an estimated average price of
$l75. $7l,750.000; S36,S24 hogs at an
eSUuldIeu average PEI uSdu VI 9lO,
$4,lS4,120, and an estimated produc
ton of barley, fax, speltz, hay pota
toes. butter and eggs, wool and hides,
stone and other minerals, etc, of S66,-
100000.
Mr. DOane Robinson, state histor
ian. furnished me with the above
figures, which | believe are of interest
to you, and also gave me the follow
ing basis for the interesting figures
which follow, We all being aware that
his figures are given on an extremely
conservative basis: Population of
South Dakota. 465, 900; new wealth in
1906, (products only S145,S12 ,S34,2
The crowning feature of the fore
going statements, gentlemen, is the
fact that this fair young state Of
South Dakota, one of the youngest
members of the sisterhood of states
stands at the top of the list in the
production of wealth per capita, and
has carried this banner for the last
nine consecutive years. S31358 is
the new wealth per capita of this
state for 1906 for each man, woman
and child, and of this amount they
keep $10750 in the banks of South
Dakota. For 1895 the same figures
were S27S per capita new wealth and
$50 per capita in banks. 1t seems but
a few years ago We We're an infant
rocking in the cradle with parental
protection over us. How We enjoy
with pardonable pride the distinction
of leading the states of the Union in
the art Of making and saving wealth
Also it is interesting to note that our
wealth is incre2sr faster than our
population
we are al. opt,mis-a iii South Da.
kota, for We never complain. 1t was
when your heart and hopes were high
that you conceived the moves
which made it possible to establish
your residence on Easy street, to
enjoy with your families the achieve
ments of your own efforts. Here Is
to your health, may you live long to
enjoy your prosperity. The optimist
sees the doughnut and appreciates
the fact that it is within reach; the
pesSimist sees the hole only The
pessimist is a sore-head who abideS
In his darkened environment, sees
nothing but a skeleton in all things
Let us excel in our calling. The
country welcomes the better banker
The man behind the counter today
better prepared to cope with any
emergency of the. time than the ban
ker of quarter or half century ago.
The character of the banker re-
nects the character of the community
In which he lives. He must realize
4 that he is continuously on the firing
n line in the commercial world, ana
N at the same time bear in mind that
he is entrusted with the funds of the
people, because they have undoubtec
confidence in his bank He must
stand firm at all times, give his best
Il advice and counsel to all who seek IT,
Il and be first to heed the INDUCTION by
preaching and practice. He VINO lo'-
eth danger may perish therein. y