Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-01-11
NEEDS Of PEOPLE IN
WESTERN AkOTAWHO
PETITION FOR RELIEF

Situation as Set Forth By Sec
rotary Of Homesteaders'
Association.
Goldfield, s. D.. Jan. 4.-The Home
steaders' association. of Goldfield,
through the secretary. are sending petit
tions over the entire western part of
be circulated and then forwarded to
Representative Eben w. Martin, Wash
ington, D. c., with a view to having
the government vOt an appropriation
for feed and seed for the settlers In
the drought stricken territory of their
state. 1t has been reported that petit
ttOns AVE been sent to Gov. II. 5. YES
sey asking for state aid and the petit
TONERS we're referred to their respec-
tive counties, as there seemed to be no
law which applied to cases of this kind.
The county could supply the seed and
in turn have h cost taxed against the
land, but this would apply to only those
who had q patent for their land. AS
the homesteaders needed assistance as
we'll as the ones who had acquired title
to their land, 1t was decided to petit
ton the government for aid, n also
write Governor Wesley regarding con-
ditions in the drought district that he
IIllSIlI Iahc 6OLIlS dCtNO1 W. tlC
if he saw At.
A copy of the letter to the governor
follows:
Goldfeld. s. D., Dec. 20, 1s11.-Gov.
r. s. Wesley, Pierre, S. D.-Dear Sir:
AS secretary of the Homesteaders' as
ISOLATION, of Goldfeld, l have been or
dered to write you regarding conditions
here, which are, l believe. pretty much
the same as over the west half of the
state.
For the a of 1910 the crops were
almost q total failure, owing to the
drought and during the season of 1911
there was a drought so severe that
ever a small amount of hay. 1t was
reported that you were over this coun-
try some time in The fall of 1911, by
automobile. If such is the case, you
should know how 1T is. Many of the
people have been out here on these
er. They have put forth every effort
to maintain a home in the country, to
improve their farms II thus create
new wealth for the state of South Da-
kota. Now these new settlers face
the easo of 1912 without food or seed,
as there is none in the country. 1t
should not require a great strain on
the Imagination to realize the enormous
expense necessary to maintain these
homes for this length of time without
receiving any benefit from the Guilt
walton of farms. The high cost of liv-
ing has been enormous because of haV-
ing to freight in from the. railroads all
foodstuffs and provisions for this
length OF time and the necessary extra
expenses attached thereto.
This is a vast territory which can be
developed into q rich and producing
country. These settlers have demon
strated their willingness to develop IT..
thus increasing the annual wealth of
the tate. Now is the state willing to
cooperate with them? If so, let the
state furnish feed and seed for the
coming season. These people do not
wish charity, but look upon this as a
matter of justice N a duty the state
owes these hardy pioneers, as a slight
recompense for their time, expense and
hardships they have endured in
their attempt to reclaim his vast
prairie.
1t is reported that you have referred
various petitioners to their county
commissioners for aid. This method. in
stead of being a benefit, would be a
detrimcnt. as it would increase the
homesteader's Indebtedness and en-
hancc the probabilities of his losing his
homestead.
lit is urged that you take this mat
ter up at once. with Il view to aiding
all settlers in the drought stricken
territory.
May we hear from you regarding this
matter at you earliest convenience?
Respectfully yours,
Hugh n. Hanson.
Secretary Homesteaders' Association.