The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-04-19

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| In the great homestead moysmnes
between 1880 ard 1855, the prairies Of
the northern part of the territory now
Included In South Dakota, was so
great that the center OF population
which had been practically stationary
| In the southeastern part of the state
for years, when the 1885 census was
taken had moved about fifty miles to-
ward the north and west. Since that
time the center has fingered about the
northwest corner of Miner county.
When the next census is taken In 1910
the movement west from that location
ls likely to be as radical as was that
| to the north a quarter OF century
before. Especially will this be 50 IL
the great Belle Fourche irrigation
project IL far enough along before that
date TO allow filings under the irriga-
ton act That tract alone will bring
thousands of people to the state. That.
coupled with the homestead move
ment west of the river, will be sur
prise even to that part Of the state
along the eastern line. as well as to
the country farther east. That move
ment is even greater this spring than
it has been fer the past two years.
| Perhaps the most unique park in
/ the state or northwest has just been
laid out at a point a short distance
northeast of the Yankton agency. It
consists of twenty acres. and was do
mated to the Indians of this reserya-
ton by the government for park pur-
poses The Yankton tribe of Sioux
Indians is composed of eight different
branches or bands, and each Of them
has been assigned a portion OF the
park, which has been surveyed into
| eight equal parts. Through the park
| is a large central avenue, running the
entire length Of the park. Steps for
the characterization OF the grounds al
ready have been taken. A large mon-
| ument which recently was ordered
will occupy a place in the park as a
memorial to the ancient chiefs of the
| Yankton Sioux Tribe. Competition be-
tween the eight different bands to
have their particular section of the
park surpass In beauty the other sec
lions will be very strong. and largely
because of this the park is certain to
become one of the most beautiful In
/ the state.
| While the figures Of the filings on
| homestead lands in the Rapid City Of
i flee for last year are not at hand.
i they, I'm connection with the figures
! from Pierre and Chamberlain. would
probably show that 100000 acres of
/ the government domain were filed up
on for the year 1906. The figures OF
Pierre and Chamberlain show 1.102.-
| 129 acres taken, covered by 9, 639 nj
| ings, of which 3,613 were In the
Chamberlain office and 2,92e I'm the
Pierre Office. This area has all been
taken In the western half of the state.
which will show heavy increase Of
population by such settlement The
figures for the Pierre Office show not
quite so many filings for the first
quarter this year as for the same pc
riod last year, but the January filings
were held down by the severe weather.
| which prevented the homesteaders
coming. The first quarter OF 1906
showed 62S filings, and those for the
first quarter Of 1907 only reached 4e7.
Besides these few declaratory state
ments have taken more Of the land ost
of the filing list.
| Since the ice has melted in the
various lakes which are scattered
throughout South Dakota II has been
discovered that thousands upon thou
sands of fish in the smaller lakes Of
the safe were killed by the excessive
cold The latter part of January and
fore part of February. The smaller
bodies of water. 1t appears from recent
developments, froze clear to the bot
tom, thus putting an end to the lives
of the fish. AS an illustration. persons
who recently have visited Crow lake.
a small body of water in Aurora coun-
ty. report that vast quantities of dead
fish now are to be seen along the
shores There are said to be actually
carloads of the dead fish along the
banks. A curious feature in this par
tfcular case Is that until the ice melt
ed and the dead fish were discovered
It was not known that there were any
fish at all in the lake.
The business of the Pierre postoffice
has grown nearly $4,000 the past year,
bringing the receipts up to $4,000.
With the same rate Of increase of the
past few months holding for the rest
of the year the total for the next year
will be close to $4,000. and with ali
the business ahead. In sight for Pierre
the increase is more likely to be great
err than less.
The state land department is send.
ing out lists of the lands east of the
river which viii be offered this year
10 secure capitol building funds The,
are located in the counties of Hyde
Mcpherson. Edmunds Faux, Potter
Hand and Svlly. The appraisal board
viii be out In short time fixing min.
imum prices on the tracts. which viii
be offered in May.
Articles of incorporation have beer
filed for the First State bank OF Sinai