Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1910-12-29
OF
PROGRESS
State Historian Doane Robinson
Gives Facts Regarding South
Dakota's Progress.
RETAINS SUPREMACY
In Per Capita Production Over All Other
States in the Union-.-Had Unusual
Weather During 1910.

Doane Robins9D of the state depart
ment of history, has issued his tenth
annual review of the progress of South
Dakota. He says:
perhaps the most striking feature
of the year 1910 in South Dakota was
the rather unusual weather conditions.
The year opened with moderately cold
weather with considerable snow and
these conditions continued until the
latter part of February, when the
snow disappeared and glorious sum.
merry weather came on aud continued
for more than fifty days. Most Of the
seeding was done; ground prepared for
planting corn; many gardens we're
planted, grass started and the trees
bnrst into full leaf more than a
month before the usual season. and
fruit trees we're loaded with bloom
when, on the 1lth Of April, hard
storm came with hard freezing. quite
destroying fruit aud foliage, but not Of.
fecting crops. The season continued
cratic, many attributing the unusual
conditions to the influence of Hallev,s
comet which was visable during the
spring"
"The rainfall during the growing
months was much below the average
and came generally in local showers
In way that would afford an abund.
ance to one neighborhood while sd.
Jaoent territory suffered from drouth.
The utmost apprehension was felt for
the welfare of the crops, and 1t was
before the harvest, thought that only
partial crop would be secured, and
while this proved true in many locali.
ties, as whole the state produced a
fair return, though, of course. not up
to the average of series OF years."
"The erratic weather conditions and
drouth areas gave splendid opportuni-
ties for testing the efficacy of dry
farming methods and without excep.
tion, where these scientific methods
we're pursued early enough to find q
sufficient supply of moisture In the
soil, the methods conserved this mois.
tnre and made good CROP"
"Prices have varied good deal since
last year, wheat upon the average
about the same, corn and oats much
lower and flax. hay and potatoes much
higher. as are dairy products and eggs.
"The fruit crop of all sorts is pretty
nearly failure, due to the hard freeze
10 April. Potatoes are very short
crop this year everywhere in the state
in some portions being quite a failure.
ut is likely that the total production
of dairy products is less than for sew.
eral years, though 1t is difficult to ob.
tain reliable figures. The prices, how
ever, have advanced and the revenue
therefrom has somewhat increased.
The egg crop is bigger than ever before
and returns more cash.
~ use the estimate of the National
Association of Wool Manufacturers
upon the wool crop of the state. Their
figures are somewhat larger than the
number of sheep reported in the as
sessment would seem to justify, but
the wool is reported to be actually
shipped from here. The explanation
is that perhaps good many sheep on
the ranges escape the assessor"
"The hay crop is perhaps one-third
below the average III volume, but the
value is not materially effected. In
comparing the hay estimates of this
department with those of the agri-
cultural department of the govern
ment, remember the government does
not take account Of our very valuable
crop OF wild hay"
LEGISLATORS MEET.