The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-09
Miss Sykes South Dakota Home.

of government land 40 miles southeast
of Rapid City. This town is in Pen
rington county which adjoins Wyom-
j The region is still comparatively
wild. Tho cowboys. with chaps and
spurs, ride and throw cattle at the
roundups in the fall. In the winter
nights the hunger howl of the coy
/ otes and grey wolves is plainly heard.
Near the Wyoming line, are the Black
Hills and the famous bad lands, with
tortuous gullies and grotesquely shaped
cliffs. Nothing but buffalo grass grows
there.
However. to the east of this short
distance lies a land of promise" And
it is being settled through the induce
nents of the government. Those who
live on the land for IA months, ana
pay small fees. can have quarter sec
ton for $1.25 an acre. This opportunity
was taken advantage of by MISS
Sykes.
! Her grandfather. Nathan Lynch, who
held claim in that country had urged
her to come. She did So On March
10, after looking the country over. she
filed on a claim at Rapid City for
quarter section 40 miles southeast of
the town. The tract was her own
choice.
On the unbroken sod of the future
farm a small frame and tarred paper
house was erected. With a woman's
taste Miss Sykes fitted it up inside at
tractively, and made it homelike. In
the yard she planted Kansas sunf1ow-
ers. She also made her own vegetable
garden and superintended the blowing
of the untouched prairie
Sold Her Corn at Good Prices:
In this work her nearest neighbor
who lives not very far away took some
interest. Her grandfather also helped
little He lived eight miles distant
The nearest town. Creston. was tour
miles away. 1t consisted Of one general
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail-
way.
In spite of this environment. Miss
Sykes enjoyed life and prospered. She
avs her land yielded 35 bushels of corn
c the acre and at husking time sold
for So cents a buShel. In the spring II
was sold by the pound. Besides corn
he also raised oats and much garden
-ruck. In addition she attended TO her
Homework.
AS recreation. she describes horse
back rides over the unfenced country.
visits to the cattle rounds ups, pail
mer. In the winter evenings she tells
how she reads and sews to the sound
OF the bowling of the wolves.
Was Never Afraid.
This might have frightened many girls.
However, in speaking Of 1t Miss Sykes
SAID:
WAS I afraid? No, I never thought
of such a thing. OF course the wolves
made a dreadful noise at night, es- |
pecially the grey wolves. The cries re-
minded me of human notes of agony: |
This bowling was the first thing 1
noticed when I stayed in the country |
soon after my arrival.
ct reached Scenic about March 10, |
1908. My aunt, Miss Jennie Lynd, &C |
companied me, but returned home Ia |
ter. We went to Creston and looked |
at land near there. My grandfather
had picked out a quarter for me, but |
I saw a tract which suited me better
and decided to file on it. 1 did so at
Rapid City Friday, March IS. This
date caused much amusement Sew
eraI said that on account of the COM
bination of 18th and Friday my land
deal would turn out unlucky.
People Not Selling Land.
However. it didn't. My land
yielded thirty-five bushels of corn to
the acre. The grain sells for eighty |
five cents a bushel even at husking
time in that country, and in the |
spring it is almost beyond price. For |
land, after 1t has been proved up
$1,400 to $1,000 a quarter is offered,
but people are not anxious to sell.