Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-01
Finds Land Open to Homestead Entry
William Kurth, Former Rock Islander Well Pleased With
New Home at EdSemont, s, d.

I vacant government land here that will
produce even more than $3.50 land In
Illinois. never heard of raising al
falfa successfully in Illinois. It. is be-
ing successfully and extensively raised
here in addition to that wheat goes as
high as so bushels per acre, corn IS
bushels, oats 60 bushels, etc.
Fruit raising has proven to be ex-
ceptionally profitable. Apples, pears.
prunes, plums, cherries and the
smaller fruits flourish here and are
of the finest flavor and fiber, and are
sought in preference to fruit grown
elsewhere.
We are at an altitude of 3,454 feet,
making the air clear and healthy.
The average rainfall for the last six
years has been 20.75. Enclosed you
will find a card to corroborate this
statement, the rain falling during the
growing months as the card will show.
AS for a market 1 believe this place
is unsurpassed, being contiguous 20
the Black Hills, where we have first
Edgemont, then Hot Springs, Dead
wood, Lead, where is the great Home
stake mine and a dozen or more
smaller towns all depending on this
community for produce and all are
reached by the Burlington road. Hay
is $40 per ton, potatoes 81 per 100
pounds, corn $1.S5 per 100 pounds, and
everything in proportion, so you can
see what an excellent market we
have.
Decided lands are selling at present
from SO to $40 per acre for unim
proved lands. There are a few i'm
proved farms for sale at SIS to SIS
per acre. l expect to see these $40
lands bring $25 before another year
rolls around. as the free land is being
rapidly taken up and the tide is COM
ing this way Part Of it will have to
roll on, while perhaps the other part
will stop here and buy decided lends.
That Of course will bring the price of
land up.
AS the land is being taken up the
rancher is moving out. Many OF them
have their ranches up for sale, Some
are bargains, too. Heretofore there
has been very little farming done here.
We just got here In time to see the
change take place-that is, from a
range to a farming country, as we get
circulars stating that they realize this
country is passing from a range to
farming country, therefore want us
stop and examine the line of farm
seeds they decided to handle. Nearly
every day brings some new home
steader; some just filing, others NOV
ing in. their time being nearly up, SO
take It from what / see every day l
have come to the conclusion that with
the passing of the free homesteads
I will see the passing Of cheap decided
lands also
I have 16O acres adjoining the Chey-
enne river and 100 acres of desert
just the other side of the river. This
desert land 1 expect to irrigate, as per
requirement. by damming up a dry |
draw and holding flood waters.
Right here is better chance for a
poor man than any place 1 ever saw |
in my travels while looking for land. |
We have water and timber galore. |
There are so many possibilities here |
one can hardly describe them all. |
This land, II fenced, will produce hay |
enough to bring over $4,000 of one
claim of 100 acres. Well, guess am |
taking up some of your valuable time.
but If you send the daily Argus by |
mail let me know, also the price. 1 |
want it, so start sending 1t at once. |
You may publish this If you want to.
as I have many friends who would
like to hear from me and to write |
ing all my friends well, remains yours
truly, WILLIAM c. ]. KURTH,
Edgemont, s. y.