Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-10-24


SOU TIL ri k'OTA
sase yglsich HIS ! Promising Future
tsreal Deyslopnlcnss are Taking
Place There
The editor Of the Sank Center Demo
\ crat, who was In Pierre during the fret
days of October, draws the following
pen- picture Of Pierre and South Dako-
ia upon return to his home:
III company with several Baraboo
gentlemen the Democrat man made q
trip TO South Dakota last week, our oh
jectiye point being Pierre, S. D., where
\ the land drawing is taking place. All
registered, and since then we have been
dreaming OF our future prospects as a
& land owner, ranchman and tiller OF the
soil. Our only Fears at present are
4 that we may awaken too soon and
\ again realize that such life is not for
ns, and that we are to continAe to tread
the same old tracks which we have trod
\ III the past and grind out the usual
grist for the readers of the rural news.
paper, taking our pay when it suits the
patron (alld sometimes it doesn't suit at
ALI instead Of hauling hesproducts Of
the ranch and farm to market and dis
playing the q. 0. %. label when turning
over the products to the purchaser.
But dear reader, we shall now en-.
sdeaYOr to come y bit closer to the sub
ject we have In mind and speak briefly
of that much maligned land, South Da.
skota. We say briefly because it world
4 take more space than we can spare to
sven tell all about the comparatively
small portion which we covered on this,
trip. Moreover, we might be charged
witt, having motive, hence we shall
speak 0f our observations without at
tempting to boost our neighboring
state.
Having heard SO many unfavorable
reports about the Dak0tas and having
seen but 9 very small portion of the
states by passing through on the rail
road, We at first were somewhat sus-
4 pici0ns OF everybody who had a good;
word to say for the Dakotas, but since
seeing Is believing we feel that we
know more about South Dakota, or at
leasta portion of il, than we could ever
have learned by simply hearing opin.
Ions Of Others opinions which in the
main were formed when South Dakota
& was passing through its most trying
period, when weather and other condi-
lions appeared to be against those who
were first on the ground and attempted
development. Naturally, many became
discouraged and wendell their way back
to the old home, but those who did not
4 lose faith. and streve to combat with
the elements seem to have come out on
top and today are enjoying the fruits of
their labors and the reward which
susually comes ito the pioneer settlers
lust as reward came to the pioneers Of
4 the good old state of Wisconsin AS
\ we looked over portions OF the prairie
I as far as The eye could carry without
spying 4 tree, parts OF the land dotted
With stacks Of grain and hay, corntieldsf
from which the crop had not yet beesa
taken, hundreds, yes til Ausands of cattle,
sheep and horses, we felt thatmen with
nerve, muscle and Drawn were located
there and that they were taking ad a
vantage OF the opportunities offered.
And how much easter it is for them to
bring about such results On these fer
tile lands than it was for the pioneers
of these parts to produce such products
when they settled there, because here.
they fret had to heW their way through.
the woods and almost break their backs
ID grnbbing stumps. before they pro
scnred the necessary land for cultivation
and there In the far west rich soil is all
ready for cultivation. The expressions,
Csooa Land I and =. ard 81 Goodness
ften heard but we never knew
where they originated, and since our
trip TO South Dakota we are nclined tc5
believe that the expressions were first
heard in that region, At first they can
be used there most propriately for We:
never before3saw 50 much good land in
the same area
s Our next halt was IL Blunt, 4 typical
! Western illage asoatt SEQ dltl0 iillhab biz
tants. There are The usual number Of
business houses, 9 bank, q newspaper
81 He Iuht q e. q very creditable
B pllblicat ION and two grain elevators.
The fact that = village OF that size has
two elevators caused as to spend some
time there In TOOL inr over lands, and