Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-01-21
THE MIDDLE WEST.
SOUTH DAKOTA is "A CLOSE SEC
OND IN THE PRODUCTION
OF CEREALS.

lss lOWSt 1tuAt tiic DdhObftS Axe kfi6 !IlOS'
prosperous in the entire country
North Dakota leads in the annual in
come OF each farm worker with a
total OF S755.62, owing to the llnusu-
ally large farms of that state. Iowa
is second with an annual income OF
$811.11 for each farm worker, and
South Dakota a close third with
$8O5 80. Nebraska farm workers earn
an annual income of $554.7S each.
The average number of acres worked
by one man in North Dakota is 12l
in South Dakota 1875, in Nebraska 9S
+ acres, and in Iowa only so acres.
Thus, considering the number of
acres worked, the Iowa farms are
the most productive in the United
States.
Dakotas Lead in Horses.
North and South Dakota lead in the
average number Of horses to each
farm laborer, averaging six each
while Iowa has four and Nebraska
five. Iowa outranks all except the
eastern states in number of milch
cows and value of poultry on each
farm, averaging seven each of the
former, and poultry worth a30.50
South Dakota farms have an average
of six mich COWS each, North Dako-
to four and Nebraska five. The value
f.f v,N,y1tru nh fo
states average as follows: South Da-
kota, $40; North Dakota, sl3; Ne
braska, $21.8O.
Southern Farmer Back Number.
These statistics demonstrating the
success of the middle western farmers
are being cited to the farmers of the
south by the farmers cooperative
demonstration workers of the agri-
culture department to inspire them to
more effective methods For instance,
1t is pointed out to the Alabama farm
laborer who owns on an average only
three-hfths of mule and earns only
$148.98 q year from the ff-
teen acres he works that the Iowa
farm laborer has four horses and
earns an average of s6l1.l1 q year
from the eighty acres he tills
This farmers cooperative demon
stration work under the direction of
the department of Agricultural already
is putting into practice some of the
,,1auu fnr ;rpnrouar,apE ~ fo n.y., ,,o,,
ditions, especially in the south, that
the president 3 country life commits
sion probably will propose. AS or
gani2ed under the bureau of plant
industry the farmers demonstration
working forces consist of one direc-
tor with assistants, ten state agents
and 1873 district and local agents
The local agents are required to be
practical farmers and receive thor
ongh instruction in their duties from
the state and district agents.
Knapp Outlines His Plans.
OF the plans for this farm demon
stration work Special Agent S. a.
Knapp, who is III charge of it, says:
The aim of the farmers co-opera
tive demonstration work is to place a
practical object lesson before the
farm masses, illustrating the best
and most profitable methods of pro-
ducing the standard farm crops and
to secure such active participation in
the demonstrations as to prove that
the average farmer can produce bet
ter results.
This is truly national work, and
wherever put in operation with suf-
ficient Intensity to influence public
opinion tiluso results la i, pi,,ii
followed; Increased yield per acre,
the purchase Of more and better
horses or mules, great increase in the
use Of better implements, general in
terest in seed selection and the use
best seed. home and school improve
nents, more months of schooling,
better highways, increase of a healthy
social life in the country, intense in
iterest i'll agriculture
The country life commission, now
in Washington to prepare it's report
for the president, has ascertained that
the greatest demand among the farm
5ers of the country is for better rural
schools and better highways. SuchE
improvements. it is urged, will goa
long way toward uplifting country
In America.
{ Senator Danforth has Il bin abro-
eating the common law rule Of ripar-
ian rights. that is the rule by which
this owner Of land abbutting upon
lake or other water takes title to the
center OF the lake in case the water
recedes, This strikes us ais a pretty /
difficult thing to legislate upon and
likely to cause endless litigation in
case II becomes d law and is sustained.
It il difficult to ascertain when rip
arian Eight becomes q vested right.