Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-02-09
POPULATION INCREASED
South Dakota as an Agricultural State,
and Some of Her Great
Opportunities.

South Dakota as an Agricultural State,
and Some of Her Great
| Opportunities.
No state in the middle west made
more gratifying showing in the 1910
federal census than did South Dako-
ta. For the figures showed an in
crease from 401 $40 in 1900, to no less
than $685. 1888 in 1910. This is gain
of 45.4 per cent, or nearly half. This
growth was due to the discovery that
more money could be made in South
Dakota than in any of the other sur.
rounding states. South Dakota has
never been advertised so we'll as
North Dakota or Nebraska, for until
recently there was no transcontinent-
al railroad passing through South
Dakota. Only those saw the state
who came for that purpose. This
fact has in way operated to the ad-
vantage of those who came, for it has
kept down the price of land far below
the figure it would have reached if it
had been seen by as many travellers
going through as was North Dakota
and Nebraska.
The most wonderful artesian basin
in the world is from the valley of the
Jim to the Missouri and west, profit
able to the farmers for stock and
dotting the landscapes with rivulets,
streams and little lakes by the thous-
and, and furnishing our towns and
cities with an abundant water supply.
The pressure is so strong that it fur
nlshes power to the farmer for the
grinding of feed, and for churning as
we'll as for fire protection. There are
between 5000 and 1000 of them,
ranging in depth from 200 to 1000
feet, with pressure varying from a
few pounds to 200 pounds per square
inch. They cost from $4OO in the
Jim Valley TO 81 Geo IL. the Missouri:
Valley, on account of greater depth.
They fill the low places with water,
affording an evaporation which has
already made perceptible modifica-
tion in the climate. They accelerate
forestry and in a hundred WAYS add
to the advantages and comfort of life
on the prairies. Surface wells of good
water can be secured anywhere at
from Is to so feet.
Building stone of the finest value
is quarred in great quantities in
Mlnnehaha county, on the eastern
part of the state, and in the Black
Hills, in the western.
/ South Dakota is the only state east
of the Rocky Mountaions that has the
material of producing the famous
Portland cement deposits extending
from 9ankton to Pierre along the
Missouri river
South Dakota ranks third among
the states in the output Of gold,
ranging from eight to twelve million
dollars. The famous Hnmestake
mine, the greatest gold producer in
the world is located in the Black
Hills.
Deposits of Ignite coal Of immense
dimensions are found in the north
western part of the state. This lig-
mite coal. when briquetted can be
sold anywhere in the state for $500
per ton, and it produces one twelfth
more heat to the pound than does
anthracite. This deposit of coal
promises to furnish the fuel for the
homes of South Dakota for genera
tions and at a saving of s4,oo0,oO0
year as compared with anthracite.
Oklahoma's legislature is advised
by it's governor not to base its merits
on the number of laws passed. He
says in his message: "The modern
tendency is to grind out laws without
regard to needs or results, as if the
merits of legislative body were to
! be determined by the number of laws
, passed" One is almost lead to be-
believe, after reading this quotation.
that the attention of the governor of
Oklahoma has been directed, at some
time or other, to the meanderings of
a South Dakota legislature. Philip
J Review.
I