The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-06-24
OLD RESERVATION
MILKING COWS
The Big Herds and the Cowboy
Have Disappeared


about 60 miles west of Chamberlain
and 30 south of Pierre, in Lyman
county, says the banks of that town
cashed very near $4,000 in cream
checks during the month of May;
also that one woman. Mrs j. A. Smith
marketed 1880 pounds of butter
from May /. 1914 to May l. 1915.
Such reports from that portion of
the state lying between the Missouri
river and the Black Hills indicate a
change Of methods which will be of
interest and benefit to all other Sec
tons of the state.
For many years after the settle
ment of counties east of the river,
and the Black Hills, that large sec.
ton between the river and the Hills
was an Indian reservation. without
railroads. Years later it was opened
to settlement. but continued unde-
veloped, the home of the cowboy and
big herds of cattle. For twenty-five
years that undeveloped section sepa-
rated the Black Hills from eastern
South Dakota. and by railroad con-
nectlon from the south the Black
Hills was practically added to the
state of Nebraska. Had the old res
eryation been opened and our rail-
roads pushed on to the Hills and the
west in the early days of settlement
here. there would now be a different
story to tell Of the Missouri river
cities and country surrounding. The
unwritten law of commerce. which
builds cities from the territory vest
of them, would have done the same
for the river cities. taken the Miss
ouri river counties off the frontier,
added the Black Hills to South Da-
kota, and encouraged the flow of
travel east and west through the
entire state which has been the
greatest factor in the settlement and
development of every western state.
For twenty-five years South Dako-
ia was retarded. handicapped, and
pocketed, by her railroads stopping
at the Missouri river, while North
Dakota and Canada, north of US, and
Nebraska. Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
south of us, all had through east and
west railroads.
1t is easy to recall and understand
the dreams of Pierre and her enthus-
iastic citizens of Is to 80 years ago.
because Of the growth of Missouri
river cities in states to the south.
But instead of getting the support
of natural territory to her west. she
existed for a quarter Of a century
with her western door practically
closed, and watched the growth of
cities like Lead. Deadwood and Rapid
City, which were to all intents and
purposes, added to the state of Ne
braska.
But a change has come. scarcely
realized by the citizens of South Da-
kota themselves. The building of
railroads beyond the Missouri river
has been followed by the man and
his family with the milk cow-which
is the first step in a well developed
and diversified agricultural country.
The exclusive wheat country fails
sooner or later. The exclusive steer
country is picturesque. but does not
build homes. towns, and cities. The
church, the schoolhouse. the good
roads in fact, civilization and high
priced land comes only with mixed
farming and stock raising-which in
turn necessitates growing alfalfa,
sweet clover, corn and all feed stuffs
and having something to consume
1t.
And this handicap and pocketina
of South Dakota, for lack of railro ac
connections for rs years, could pro.
duce but one result, viz: While
farm lands in states both north anC
south of us have caught the immi
grafton of through railroads anc
greatly increased in price, the farm
lands of a great portion Of South
Dakota can be bought today at
much cheaper price. For this handi
cap did not apply alone to the coun
try between the Missouri river ant
the Black Hills. but in a less degree
included the partly developed coun
try between the James and Missouri
river, which had only Sublime raj
road service during the same 2
yeas, with little travel. few immi
grants. and poor accommodations.
uho ;poporfont nOtpd n