The National tribune., 1908-09-24

the Bad Lands, while Harney's Peak
rises 1926 feet. The climate is one of
great extremes, tho more endurable
probably than such extremes in the
eastern and more humid climate. The
cold of Winter and the heat of Summer
are moderated by the dryness of the
atmosphere, which renders the climate
bracing and pleasant. The Winter is
often tempered by the warm Chi
| nooks," soft, warm wind wave that
sweeps over from the ocean. But there
are sometimes most dreadful blzzards,
| severe northern gales laden with fine
snow. These are called the white
DEATH" and only the foolhardy ever
brave the conditions that give sure
warning. The snowfall is much less
than that of New York or New Eng
land. and the average rainfall of the
State since statistics have been kept is
about 5 inches in the section that is
to be opened up.
The population of South Dakota is
largely foreign, being Russians, Norwe-
gians, Germans and Swedes. At the
| time of the last census there were a
| little over five people to the square
mile in South Dakota. so there is not
| much danger of crowding for the next
| century, anyway.
At the General Land Office It Is stated
| that more interest is being taken in the
Rosebud lands than in any other that
have been opened since Oklahoma's
great rush. over 1000 inquiries a day
| have come to the Land Office, but the
only information obtainable there is
| the general information concerning
| how, when and where lands may be
taken up. 1t is not the province of the
| General Land Office to give informa-
| ton as to soils. climate, water, forests
and matters of that chaI acter. The
Land Office only safeguards the people
| i, 10 hn nr1d = lc nCf rr10n fnd
that fully $4,000 people will be in Dali
| las and Gregory, the two towns desig-
mated by the Government as the places
where land offices for registration will
be opened. The drawing will take place
at Dallas two days after registration
| closes.
Extensive preparations are being
made to provide for the crowds that
will visit the two towns during the
| opening The Northwestern line is
building thousands of feet of sidings
and platforms, additional electric street
| lights of large size are being installed,
restaurants, boarding houses, hotels
and tents are being erected, and special
preparations made for pure water
supply
Veterans who have passed the 6Oth
milestone in life ought to think very
carefully on trying for homestead in
this rough and rugged country. The
land is fair, it is true, probably as fine
agricultural land as lies outdoors, for
very little of it has ever been disturbed
by the plow, but the other conditions
are not what they should be for men
who have taken on years. Water is
scarce, and must be secured by driven
or dug wells, and the depth to which
these must be sunk makes them ex-
| tremely costly. Railroads are far away,
comparatively speaking, and supplies
lnf Il Et,fv no tltr
for a year or two. The rigors of the
climate will be severe on aging men.
While there may be several years that
are mild in Winter and temperate in
Summer. it might be that the coming
| Winter will be severe, and the white
Death" is a thing to be dreaded. 1t
sweeps all animate life before it-that
| inSidious silvering snow which drives
its giittering diamond points home to
| the very heart.