Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-03-14

| "ueA TIE luea was very prevalent in
| the older Eastern states that the prai-
ries Of Dakota were not adapted to
permanent, successful farming, and
that no amount of improvement would
ever make them profitable to the till
er of the soil
The devastating prairie fires seemed
| always to swoop down upon the ven
| turesome homeseeker who should at
tempt to wrest livelihood from the
| SOIL, and sreedily devour all that hard
labor had accomplished In the win
ter the wind blew an icy blast and in
the summer it's hot breath parched
| the soil and ruined the crops The
rainfall was frequently scanty and al
ways uncertain, pure drinking water
was often not obtainable, the soil,
though apparently rich, had not the
sustaining qualities of that of tim
Der country, hardships faced the set
tier at every turn and if ever he did
! succeed in raising a good crop he was
so far from the markets that he could
not dispose of it favorably.
Such discouraging picture as this
could have few attractions for the
farmers of the East, and settlers did
not come in large numbers into the
territory, which is now the state of
South Dakota, until 1SSO-1SS3, al
though several of the eastern counties
had fair population and few strip
ling cities before that time
Railroads Bring Settlers.
The coming of the railroads In the
'70s, during the time of the rush of
| goldseekers to the Black Hills, inau-
gurated a great homestead boom over
the entire eastern section, and set
| tiers came in large numbers.
Then followed the inevitable period
| OF disaster, because these homestead
ers did not understand the nature of
the soil and the climatic conditions.
Many of them were without means as
well as without experience, and were
obliged to run in debt for their farm
Ing machinery, seed, horses, cattle,
and the necessities of the household.
The majority placed their sole rel-
| ance upon wheat, and when the crop
failed, as 1t did on many occasions,
1t meant the loss Of their entire in
| come.
Hundreds gave up in despair and
sought homes elsewhere for it verify
| seemed as If all the tales of the I'M
! kindly elements in the prairie country.
| which had been circulated in the
| earlier days, were entirely true. Those
| who remained gradually learned
| through bitter experience that it was
best to divide their farming interests
and plant other grains as well as
| wheat and give attention to the rails
ing of cattle, sheep and hogs to treir
poultry products, and to dairying. Bet
| ter farming machinery was manufac-
tured, and great care was taken to
| improve farming methods. The re-
| suits can be seen in the marvellous
prosperity of the past ten years or so.
Diversity of Interests.
Even yet there is room for vast
Improvement, as it is very probable
that even the best farmers do not
get the fullest returns from the soil
| that it is capable of yielding, for
| Gouth Dakota soil is marvelcusly fer
tile. In the portion of the state
east of the Missouri river the soil is
| almost entirely glaciated, and has
proved itself to be well adapted to
the cultivation Of wheat, corn, oats.
| barley and flax. Mixed farming is
generally practiced throughout this
| region, although there are also large
ranches devoted to the raising of live
! equipped dairy farms.
A good example of the diversity of
agricultural interests and the general
prosperity to be found In South Da-
kota cities and towns is to be seen
in Moody county. 1t lies on the east
ern side of the state, in the region
which received the first settlers. His
tory records that in the spring Of 1857
hardy pioneers found their way into
the valley Of the Sioux river and es-
tablished themselves in little settle
ments between the Medary, :, Brook
ings county, near the northern boun-
dairy Of Moody county, and the site
of Sioux Falls to-day.
The population grew slowly until the
homestead boom of 1SS0-1SS3, and
| then large numbers of settlers came
into the county.
The Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
| crossed the county from east to west
and also built along the Sioux river
from Sioux Falls Junction south so
that gives the county excellent rail-
road facilities, thus enabling the farm
ers to market their produce readily.
Population Growing.
According to the census Of 1900 the
population of Moody county numbered
1926. but during the six intervening
years there have been many who
have taken advantage of the excellent
| opportunities which it offered to those
who desired to purchase fine farming
land at very reasonable prices. There