Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-04-08
Land: Past, Present and Future;
Demand Inevitably Must Inrease
BY ]. w. Parmley.

By J. W. Parmley.
In these times of more or less. financial depression, it may b,
The past, With it's achievements and mistakes, Is beyond recall
but its experiences may prove an invaluable guide as we march int
The years 81 a generation in the west have NOT been witbon
Standing ii the threshold Of a new era, we look forward will
the same ~ighahopes, but are not cropping blindly about for SON,
support that will prove to be a rope Of sand.
Problems have been solved that require no further solution
they have long5since passed the experimental period, and if the new
generation seizes the opportunity, South Dakota and the northwes
will enter upon a career Of permanent development such as THU
nation has never before seen; and the signs of the times indicate
that both young and old will measure up to that opportunity.
1t may, be5taken as automatic that the country that depends Of
one crop alone will soon or late go broke. Not the country, bu
1.-THE people whoSfolow the one idea. If this is not true, history is
From the day the first immigration agent started out to view
the promised land, to q. D. 1915, the record IS cear--not a single
Mohawk valley to the valley Of the Missouri and their sons vii
profit by that observation.
proves the rule. The man who worked three months a year rals
ing a crop Of wheat now and then, made big money, but finally he
went broke.
The man who diversified has prospered beyond expectations
South Dakota is going to be one Of the great dairy states Of the
has reviewed the past, studied present conditions, and has the vision
homes Of prosperous, contented farmers, enjoying the luxures Of
<ng + al because aha a% OIL ~ ~ s ! : ,me inten ld = ny t tmd,ao =
u all these years the cultivated crop has paid. One year with
another, corn has been the best paying, and with hogs, cattle, silos
alfalfa and . reasonble amount Of small grain, it will make all OF
this northern part of South Dakota one OF the Wealthlest sections
The high price for wheat and other small grain is a great temp
|tation to all ofus TO spread out, and put in every acre Of land pos
|sible. We do not doubt but that big money will be made this and
coming years in wheat raising. 1t does not seem possible to be Other
wise, with world shortages and world wars. But there are Other
things that will make even more money for farmers than ralslng
wheat. These are corn, cows, alfalfa, the cloyers, hogs, sheep and
EsIos.
More corn, more alfalfa and a so on every farm means pros
|perity, and the general trend is in these directions.
With depressed business conditions throughout the nation, the
tendency has been to hoard money.
Investments in land have been the exception, and as a result
~ the newer parts Of the west, it has either stood still Or gone baci
This sectio1fof South Dakota has not been the exception. Lane
lis cheaper than five years ago il Edmunds and adjoining counties
THE one reason for this is that Spectators bought too freely, anc
the large mortgages given have been more than they could pear
Their holdings were thrown on the market ct 9 sacrifice. Their
|raade. AS a natural result exceptionally cheap land was picked NJ
|bg some, and these in turn are willing to sell at a small profit,
but that from now on there will be a general advance, and viii
average crops and an increase in the live stock and dairy lndustr1es
lands will make an advance of SO to SIS per acre within the mex
six to twelve months. We cannot see it any other way:
The soil. the climate and the water are here, and they produs
e one, e ia thirty ye nls' G There has "a been beer no shortage of feed thous
Iands Of tons Of hay will be carried over. The loss OF stock has peel
seven cent cattle and hogs, % cent wool, $3.50 wheat, 80 cen
butter and eggs don't go hand in hand very long with $5O an acr
land The former must go downso Z the l latter ers WI IS, up an and ~ "
predicting cheaper living.
Here is 4 tip Get il. on the ground Hoe :, and tle g : 1na
section Of good land while it is within reach. The chances are tina
It will prove the best investment Of a lifetime. Remember no NOR
Land is beng made, and that our population as increasing tWent
II II shs reeent most excellent book, Highways Of Progress
flames II Hill most appropriately says .T
sssSyhsre are orr children to- fnd standing room, and the ten
lof nainieas 81 the future d place for wholesome industry. This I
al Immensely practical question y 8 immediate. F i, within sa fwen
lty years8s must house and employ, in some fashion, hfty million million
3of additional population, and by the middle OF this century, at.
time @aenst the child now born will be il the prime Of life there VI
be pproxiaatelytw two and g half times az many people g 2 unale
Estates as there are TODAY , a.
When men of The foresight Of NJ Hill 50 speak, is Il not TIN
fer he ress efs nsfa take notieef
counTYs PRocREs.lthe corn yield was increased nsssrresasNdl 3
sivE FARMERs. treaamenSs