Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-09-22
STATE HISTORIAN AND STATS.
TlCiAN ROBINSON NOTES
MUCH OF INTEREST
DANE HAS A BIG DOMAIN
Peter Aggergard Danish Immigrant
Operating in Clay Turner and
Yankton Counties Owns
244SO Broad Acres

Tdul GlOneer PreSS says:
There is an increased spread of
winter wheat and it is tremendouH
crop. | learned of one field which
turned fifty-two bushels per acre and
another large one which averaged for
ty-slx bushels on eighty acres. VIM
ter wheat promises to become a staple
crop in all of the southeast counties.
The local millers purchase all they
can get OF it and mix It with spring
| Wheat, the combination making q
high class product. Hay is better
crop than reports had indicated. In
all OF the region visited there is an
abundance of hay for home consump-
tlon, but not the usual amoant for
export.
| did not see an apple or a plum in
all that region, which has in recent
| years been satisfactory fruit coun-
try, producing very large quantities
for shipment. The freeze at the mid
die of April last destroyed all Of the
Fruit
passed through the domain Of
Peter Aggergard, a Danish farmer,
operating in Clay, Turner and Yank-
ton counties. Aggergard is an immi-
grant who came to Dakota without
means and without education, but
with natural business gifts and great
Industry and thrift. He compelled
prosperity to come his way and con-
stantly invested his gains in lands
surrounding his homestead until he
is now the owner of 1853 quarter sec
lions, having an average value OF $50
per acre.
| visited the state asylum for the
insane and was shown over the
premises by Superintendent Mead
There are now S5l inmates and
though four large fireproof buildings
have been erected in the past ten
years little progress has been made In
reducing the demand upon the old
fire trap known as THE Front" 1t
Is the superintendent hope to place
the entire plant fireproof.
DR.. Mead has made more than local
fame by his use of reinforced con-
crete. He has three immense build
lngs in which the complete structure
save the roof is concrete, and, he has
after considerable experimentation
succeeded in getting concrete roof
ing which is absolutely water tight.
This he is now placing upon 1.-The
barracks" very large structure In
process of erection for the accommod-
alton of chronic and disturbed men.
This roof is nodded in place, i'm
mense slabs with protected expan-
sion intervals which seems to be a
perfect success and with it only ce-
ment, sand and steel for reinforce
ment enter into the construction Of
the building.
The care and real comfort provid-
ed for the patients Of the institution
make it notable among like institu-
tons and that these conditions have
real therapeutic value Is amply de-
monstrated by the cure rate" Drop
ping in unexpectedly at the dinner
hour, | was served a regular meal at
the patients table, where every ap-
pontment was equal to those of
first class hotel and the wholesome
meal was served in the most appetite
ing way. The patients highly appre-
ciate their surroundings and except
in cases of total dementia they deport
themselves as ladies and gentlemen
do in such surroundings. The rela-
tives of inmate will derive satisfac-
ton from the knowledge that at the
asylum every patient is afforded ev-
cry comfort and every liberty COM
patible with his condition.
Recently this column in enumerat-
ing the states educational nstitu-
tions omitted to mention the new
Catholic college established at Cham
berlain under the patronage of Bish-
op O'Gorman. Last year the bishop
purchased from the government the
plant of the Chamberlain Indian
school, and established Columbus col
lege in it. Almost at once fire de-
stroyed the main building, but it has
ben rebuilt and the college has just
opened it's second year.
I have come upon a Dakota boom"
pamphlet put out under territor' al au-
thority in 1884, containing table Of
figures which suggest some enlight-
ening comparisons pertaining to the
development of the region in twenty
five years:
1894 1910