The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-12-23
PROGRESS OF sourh DAKOTA IN
1910 t,%

PROGRESS OF SOUTH DAKOTA IN
1910.
The state Department of History"
at Pierre, has given out its tenth
annual review of the states progress,
compiled by Doane Robinson, who is
in charge of the department. Follow
ing are some of the principal facts
set forth:
Perhaps the most striking feature
of the year 1910 in South Dakota
has been rather unusual weather
conditions. The year opened with
moderately cold weather with con-
siderable snow and these conditions
continued until the latter part of
February, when the snow disappear
ed and glorious summary weather
came on and continued for more
than fifty days. Most of the seeding
was done; ground prepared for corn
planting; many gardens were plant
ed; grass started, and the trees burst
into full leaf more than a month
before the usual season, and fruit
trees were loaded with bloom when
on the 18th Of April hard storm
came with hard freezing quite de-
stroying the fruit and foliage of
trees, but not otherwise affecting
crops. The season continued cratic.
many attributing the unusual con-
ditions to the influence of Halley's
comet which was visible during the
spring. The rainfall during the
growing months was much below
the average and came generally in
local showers in way that would af-
ford an abundance to one neighbor-
hood while adjacent territory suf
fered from drouth. The utmost ap-
prehension was felt for the welfare
of the crops and it was before the
harvest thought that only partial
crop could be secured, and while this
proved true in many localities, as
whole the state produced a fair re-
turn, though of course not up to the
average of a series of years.
The cratic weather conditions
and drouth areas gave splendid OPP
portunities for testing the efficacies
of dry farming methods and without
exception, where these scientific
methods were pursued early enough
to find sufficient supply of mois-
ture in the soil, the methods conserv-
ed this moisture and made good
crops.
Prices.
Prices have varied good deal
since last year. wheat upon the av-
erage about the same, corn and oats
very much lower, and flax, hay and
potatoes much higher, as are dairy
products and eggs.
Fruit and Potatoes.
The fruit crop Of all sorts is pref
ty near a failure, due to the hard
freeze in April. Potatoes are very
short crop this year everywhere in
the state, in some portions being
quite a failure.
Dairy Products.
1t is likely that the total produce
ton of dairy products is less than for
several years, though it is difficult
to obtain thoroughly reliable figures.
These prices however have advanced
and the revenue therefrom is some
what increased. The egg crop is
bigger than ever before and returns
more cash.
Wool.
/ use the estimates of the National
| association of wool manufacturers
upon the wool crop of the state The
figures are somewhat larger than the
number of sheep reported in the
assessment would seem to justify,
but the wool is reported to be act
ually shipped from here. The ex-
PLANTATION is that perhaps a good
/, many sheep on the ranges escape the
assessor.
Minerals.
i The lockout in the Homestake