The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
By Hon. R. S. vessey, Governor, and
A. E. Chamberlain, Superintendent


A. =. Chamberlain, Superintendent
Farmers Institutes.
In this age when the mad race fol
wealth so largely engages the atten'
ton of the American people; when
such large proportion of our people
for the past half a century have been
flocking to the cities; when the free
lands of Uncle Sam have been almost
entirely occupied; when labor is high
priced and the necessaries of life
equally expensive; when so many OF
our people are looking for place in
which to make homes, the question
of where to locate to the best advan'
tage from the standpoints of accumu,
lation of property, healthful climate,
religious organizations, educational
facilities, and conveniences Of trans
portation have become important
questions. South Dakota occpies a
UNIQUE position in the column OF
states from each and all of these
standpoints.
PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY.
For the past eleven years the peo-
pie of South Dakota have each year
without an exception produced more
wealth per capita than the people OF
any other state in the union. Some
idea of her rapid development along
these lines and the uniform increase
in products may be gained from
the following figures, all taken from
the government reports except as tc
the crop of 1909 which is estimated
according to the best of our judgment
from observation of conditions all
over the state. South Dakota pro.
duced bushels of corn as follows:
In 1900, 80, 41s, 900 bu. worth So, ,Oo(
In 1903, Al, 232, 900 /" 14,556,00(
In 1906, 62,Sl2,0o0 Z" 1S,2l5,0o(
In 1908, 57,o77ooo +" 2S,S3S,oo
This year the state has by ia,
the creates corn crop it has evel
grown and the yield will reach close
to 10000, 600 bushels. The acreage is
larger. the stand better and the yielC
per ache will be preater than ever be
fore in our history.
Of wheat, the state produced:
1900, 2o,149,OO bu. worth ST., 6s6,oo0
1903, Al, 232, 900 (" 29,296,ooo
1906, Al 1850 g 25,592,ooo
1908, 1882, 900 I" 34,833,ooo
The crop of wheat this year vii
aggregate somewhat larger than thai
of last year, we should say in thu
neighborhood of 100000 bushels
worth about s3S,0O0,0o0.
OF oats, we produced:
1900, 12,653,00 bu. worth s 3,026, 900
1903, 59,426,OO0 /" 16,O45, 900
1906, 4e,41o,ooo /" ll,6o3, 900
1908, 81, 395, 900 F" 12,S72,O0
1907 and 1908 were not good season
for oats in this state. Extreme no
weather during the period when tn
crop was filling cut the yield severely
The crop of 1909 will, we SHOULD
saw. amount to in the neighborhoo
OF 100000, 600. Hot weather this yea
affected the oats somewhat detriment
ally, but not as seriously as durin
the past two years.
OF barley we produced:
1900, 1872, 1000 bu. worth s 10000
1903, 1O,6O6,0Oo g 1916, 900
1906, %, $1,000 1881 900
1908, q, 1920 /" 11,55s,Ooo
The barley yield of 1909 will not b
quite as high as in 1908 owing to Sc,
eral reasons, principally excessiv
moisture at the critical period in til
life of the plant.
OF potatoes, we produced:
1900, 100000 bu. worth sl,451, 0o(
1908, 2,S36,OOo I" 1858, O0(
1906, 3,542,ooo !" 1885, ol
1908, 4,o5O,0o0 /" 2,o66,oN
The potato crop of 1909 will |
somewhat larger than of 1908.
There is particularly good oppo
tunity in this state for the extensi,
cultivation and growing of potatoe
Every year the state is secured by bu
ers from the southern markets f
potatoes for southern seed. Farme
growing distinct varieties Of potato
in this state can sell them for a hig
price per bushel for southern Sc
purposes than can the farmers of t
central states procure for their poi
toes for any purpose. There is
better field for grower of potato
than South Dakota.
OF fax, we produced:
1900, 2,452, 600 bu. worth s2,442,o OK
1903, 1906, 900 I" g 3,124, O'
S 1900, 3,979,0cO /" 3,e70,O'
1908, $685. 900 !" +" 10000