The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-05-13
HALF OF COUNTY
FOR NEW FARMS
opportune Time TO Buy Unim.
proved Land

today none exceed those of central
South Dakota. In the heart of this
territory is Hand county, with one
half her lands waiting for the hand
and brain Of man to be made into
farms.
This raw" land is scattered about
in all parts of the county, with de-
veloped farms close bv. The man
who buys and improves one Of these
tracts of land is not on the frontier,
nor is he surrounded by claim shan
ties. He is in the midst of a toler-
ably well developed locality, with
schools. churches. telephones. mar
kets. and very well improved farms.
This raw land is largely held by
nonresident spectators. It is not
moving fast enough to suit many of
the owners. They are now purchas-
able at bargains-and here is the
why:
School land, unimproyed, sold in
fifteen counties of South Dakota this
spring at an average of $58.24 per
acre. The average price in Miner
county was $64. SO. For actual use
very few farmers of Hand county
would trade their farms, acre for
acre, for Miner county land. True.
the land of that county will sell for
more today than the land of Hand
county, but the difference is not in
the soil. or climate. or crops produc-
ed. Miner county, is az miles east of
Hand, and consequently that much
nearer the thicker settlements and
more generally developed localities.
Twenty years ago Miner county was
exactly in the class of Hand county.
The hot winds and poor wheat crops
of those days were similar in the two
counties. and brought similar results.
viz: dissatisfied and disconnected
people. hundreds moved awav, both
counties went ~populist, and land
could hardly be given away.
This was followed by slow develop
ment. changing of methods. accum-
uIation of resources by mixed farm.
ing, stock raising. dairying, etc.
So far the two counties nave had
almost the same experience, with
the exception that more farmers
have returned to Miner county, and
more farms wer developed Hand
county raw land is cheaper simply
because there IS more If it. Today
there is very close to one farm to
each GAO acres of land in this county.
A very conse ~vative estimate is that
wi farm population can be doubled,
with a developed farm to each half
section of land. And in many
countries 800 acres Of land would be
a principally.
Hand county's raw land is cheaper
today than it will ever be again.
The people now living here and &C.
cupying only one half the land, are
just beginning to reap the profits of
an established business with sufi-
cient capital or resources with which
to conduct that business. The pio-
neer of the frontier seldom makes
profits, because he has no capital or
resources 1t takes a generation of
patient toll to acquire " hat he lack
ed to begin with. But the man who
comes In now with sufficient capital
to buy land and do business on a
farm will 20 forward with the
second generation of development.
Hand county wants more settlers
on her farms at least double her
present number. She offers the
last opportunity to buy land at first
generation prices in a locality al.
ready in the stages of second genera.
ton development.
In 1915 farming is a business,
the best and most profitable bust
nees in America if capital and re-
sources be exactly compared.
/
Twelve years ago the Press told
ITS readers that Hand county land
was "a good buy. Starting at
two or three dollars an acre it rush.
ed up to $25 to $40 in the next few
years. A few slack years. however,
coupled with coming due mortgages,
have caused a desire of some land
holders to let go--even to the ex-
rent of sacrificing something. To-
day there are a number Of first class
bargains in sight in Hand county,
and the signs of the times look as il
these bargains are good buys in
1915.