The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-04-18

In the great homestead movemnet
between 1880 and 1885, 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
is likely to be as radical as was that
to the north a quarter of century
before. Especially will this be so If
The great Belle Fourche irrigation
project Is 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 a sur
prise even to that part of the state
along the eastern line, as we'll as to
the country farther east. That move
ment is even greater this spring than
it has been for 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. 1t
consists Of twenty acres. and was DO
mated to the Indians of this reserva-
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 ornamentation Of the grounds al
ready have been taken. A large mon
ument which recently was ordered
will occupy a place in the pfrk as
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
tions will be very strong, and largely
become one of the most beautiful In
he state
While the figures of the filings on
homestead lands in the Rapid City Of
flee for last year are not at hand,
they, in 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 f,102,-
129 acres taken, covered by 6, $50 fl
ings. of which 3,613 were in the
Chamberlain Office and 1926 in 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 497.
Besides these a few declaratory state
ments have taken more of the land out
If the filing list.
Since the ice has melted in the
various lakes which are scattered
throughout South Dakota 1t has been
discovered that thousands upon thou
sands of fish in the smaller lakes Of
the state were killed by the excessive
cold the latter part Of January and
fore part Of February. The smaller
bodies Of water, it 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
ticular case Is that until the ice melt
ed and the dead fish were discovered
it was not known that there were any
Ash at all in the lake.
Inc business OF the Tlerre pOStOrnce
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 all
the business ahead, In sight for Pierre
the increase is more likely to be great
" than less.
The state land department is send
ing out lists Of the lands east of the
river which will be offered this year
to secure capitol building funds. They
are located in the counties of Hyde,
MCPHERSON, Edmunds, Faulk, Potter,
Hand and Sully. The appraisal board
will be out In short time fixing min
imum prices on the tracts, which will
We offered in May.