Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-06-11
THE OPPORTUNITIES
IN SOUTH DAKOTA


who desires free farm home, or the
farmer of greater means who seeks i'm
proved or unimproved land, to the bust
ness man seeking new business loca-
ton, to the investor who desires a safe
and valuable investment, South Dako-
ia offers unexcelled opportunities. The
resources of the state are varied, ard
several years of great prosperity have
brought increased capital and popula.
ton, and multiplied splendid oppor
tnnlties for investment and further
growth in the future
Thousands of settlers have already
locked into this newly opened district
and made homestead settlements.
There is land here for many thousands
more, and abundant opportunities for
establishing business in the new towns
that are springing up.
The development of agricultural in
terests have been remarkably swift since
the opening of the new railway con.
nections. The crops for the past year
have been excellent and the price of
land is advancing rapidly, making in.
vestments in government or private
lands, at the present time, quite profit
/ able. Business men will find here
abundant opportunities for new open
lngs in the new towns which have been
recently opened at stations along the
line of the new railway.
This new line, one hundred and sixty.
five miles long, opens up new region
that contains many hundreds of square
miles of grazing land of the highest
character, and places it liz immediate
connection with the outside world.
This will doubtless lead to rapid
development of the region and will give
Pierre, the state capital, Fort Pierre
across the river, and the country west
OF it, an impetus beyond anything that
has ever been done for the region. 1t
will connect Lead, Deadwood and the
mining district of the Black Hills,
Belle Fourche to the north and Hot
Springs at the south, with Pierre, Man
kato, ST Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth;
it will bring into closer touch than ever
before the Lake Superior Iron and Cop
per country and the hardwood forests
of Wisconsin and Northern Michig an
with the range country west of the
Missouri river, and more closely than
ever the eastern and western halves Of
the state of South Dakota.
1t is fact conceded by the best
authorities that this open prairie coun-
try west OF the Missouri river has a
greater rainfall, richer soil, milder win
tiers, more pleasant summers and ma
tural resources of greater extent than
are available in portions OF Europe in
which 1O0,000,00O people dwell, and
where farm lands are worth from $500
to $500 per acre
More than one hundred years ago the
Sioux Indians were driven from their
native home in Minnesota and discover
ed in this region that includes the val
leys of the Cheyenne and Teton rivers
west OF the Missouri, various herds of
buffalo repaired from winter pasture.
There was but little snow in the winter
and a large supply of cured prairie
grasses made excellent winter feeding
upon which the herds always came out
fat and we'll conditioned in the spring
This knowledge led the Sioux to en-
gage in q long drawn out war with the
Rees, the earlier possessors of the land
resulting in triumph for the Sioux, who
lived here in comfort and abundance
until the land was ceded by the United
States government in 1890 and the In.
dian tribes were removed to distant
reservations.
This entire portion Of the state. iy.
ing west Of the Missouri river, is rich
in grasses, chiefly the famous buffalo
grasses and wheat grass, which make
nutritious pasturage, and have for
years sustained great herds of cattle.
Inc grasses cure somewhat like
grain in the fall and are of such ma
ture that but little feeding is necessary
Pierre is supplied with natural gas
and an excellent supply of artesian
well water. There is an immense
amount Of Portland cement material
and clay for brick near at hand.
There are frst-class schools good
hotels, churches, banks, newspapers
and some OF the most extensive whole
sale and retail stores in the state. A
city water works system and natural
gas system,
Have Slight Clue.
The authorities of Stanley county are
att a NH rs