Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-11-21
tom sTEELE'S RANCH
IS MODEL EFFORT IN
EFFICIENT FARMING
Sioux City Mans Holding In
sully County One Of Dako-
ta's Show Places.

Pierre, S. D., Nov. 1S-Tom Steele Of
Sioux City. Ia. owner, and w. C..
Gowdy. manager of the large Steele
and Gowdy ranch in sully county.
contemplating number OF extensions
and improvements the coming wear
concerning them, took N. b. Hanson
deputy commissioners Of school and
public lands, out to the ranch to make
an examination Of the premises for the
state.
Mr.. Hanson makes this statement in
regard to the proposition:
While we are somewhat disposed to
view with envy the establishment Of
experiment and demonstration farms
In different parts of the state. and are
little Jealous of Aberdeen for secur
ing the model farm to be operated by
most OF Us seem to overlook the fact
that We have within an hours drive
OF this city one Of the best adapted
best equipped and best managed diver
sified farm and stock ranches to be
found anywhere In the state. This
ranch occupies approximately 20, 900
acres of what was formerly the FIT.
sully military reservation. About half
OF 1t Is rough grazing land In the
Missouri river breaks OF the balance.
about 1000 acres is choice bottom land.
ana the balance fertile plateau above
the breaks. The bottom lands have
an alfalfa field Of II acres which three
years ago was patch Of worthless
buffalo berry brush and wild rose
bushes. This year it produced over 100
tons of choice alfalfa hay In compli-
ance with his promise to show us the
largest stack OF hay we ever saw. Mr..
Gowdy called our attention to a stack
fan tot Inc
and at least as much more was in,
smaller stacks in the same hay lot.
and this il only one Of the two winter
camps which they maintain in the
shelter OF the dense heavy timber along
the Missouri river.
Their principal ranch buildings.
which are located on the two sections
purchased from the state four years
ego, consist Of q large modern and well
furnished house. lighted and heated
With natural gas from three-inch
large horse barn and cattle she'd a
granary, corn crib, garage and well
equipped blacksmith shop; a dipping
tank. branding chute, scales and num-
erous corrals. sectional fences and
cross fences.
Among their farm implements are
Q 40-horse power tractor with 10 plows
also two drills, seven disc harrows,
headers, binders, mowers, racks, hay
leaders, hay hunks, and all other arti-
,cles needed to run an up-to-date farm
AZ Mr.. Steele tersely says, they have
enough to make good SALE
ITO bear out their contention that a
ranch can be successfully operated in
this section, Mr.. Gowdy cites the fact
that this year. the second one Of the
two dryest known, in this central Sec
ton Of the state they sold 700 head of
S-year-old steers at an average Of $50
per head, or an aggregate OF $56. 900.
They now have on hand. and expect to
winter over 300 head OF cattle and 60,
head of horses.
While no grain was raised during
the last two years. on the 500 acres
which have been under cultivation,
they are still feeding corn which they
raised in 1910" s
The day of big ranches in South Da-
kota has almost passed. but few stu
remain and this Is one Of the largest,
appointed ranches In North or South
Dakota.
PLAN OF MISS SCHULTZ FOR
SELF GOVERNING SCHOOL
Goldfield. 8. D., Nov. 1s.-The set
Erminfe Schultz, teacher in the eighth
grade OF the public schools, has In
augurated novel plan for maintaining
order In her school room. She calls It
is working wonders in the Improvement
of the department Of her pupils.
The plan followed by Miss Schultz
was to select eight 4of the social and
athletic leaders in her grade and orr
ganize them into an executive COM
manship. A list OF school room Of
lenses. numbering about 26 was COM
piled and suitable punishments pre-
sscribed. The punishment was made to
at the crime. as the old song in the
Mikado runs. For instance. boy or
girl who whispers and IL detected. has
to copy poem Of four verses four or
ave times each. "A second offense means
copying the form twice and q third /
whisper involves committing the form
to memory and reciting It before the
entire class. j
q For chewing. gum, eating candy or
surepticiously taking d bite Of an ap-
pie, the punishment Indicted is treat
TO the whole grade out Of school hours
OF whatever grade OF gum or edibles
the culprit has been guilty OF enjoying
In the school room. To Lounge or have
the feet in the aisle. the penalty 10 Is
minutes retention after school and an
added IL minutes for each offense COM
mitted on the same day.
Tardtness impertinence, untidiness
and kindred faults all ind their place
and punishment In the self governed
school room.
Principal Irons has approved Of Miss
Schultz plan and the attention Of the
board Of education will be called to its
successful results.
PRACTICAL. N MOVEMENT
FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT
Rapid City. 8. 81, Nov. 1S, MISS |
:tlers Of the township described as |
township Z north: range - est 3. II.