Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-10
SOUTH DAKOTA A RICH STATE

w AAotL .iVA4Vf tnt pduh uSpOS!tS OF
South Dakota now exceed 100 million
dollars and show an increase of prac-
ticaIly seyen million dollars since a
year ago. AS South Dakota is a com
parativeiy new state and has not yet
developed many manufacturing in,
dustries, the deposits in the banks
must necessarily very largely repre-.
sent deposits made by farmers. Seven
million dollars is a most wonderful
increase for single year and certain
ly speaks well for The thrift and in
dustry of the farmers of the state.
While South Dakota is one of the
youngest of the sisterhood of states,
no state has been more fortunate in
the class of people who settled there
The immigrants to South Dakota who
took up the farms and made homes
there and who have been instrument
al in the growth and development of
the state came very largely from
Iowa, Minnesota and other corn belt
states where farming methods were
largely the same that would be re-
quired in the development of the new
state. They were, as a rule, courag-
eous and ambitious people and went
to that state with determined pur-
pose to succeed in what they under
took. They had been accustomed to
the keeping of live stock on the farm
in the old home and haYe learned by
experience that successful agricul-
ture could not be permanently main
tanned without livestock. OF course,
it was neces sary when going to the
new country to first open up the
farms, subdue the land, build houses,
and in many other respects prepare
the way before engaging in livestock
raising to any large extent, but grad
ually marked change in the meth
DDS of farming has taken place. Al
most exclusive grain farming has
given way TO a combination of grain
and livestock farming. This evou-
ton has added greatly to the pros
perity and wealth of the state.
1t is doubtful if any state in the
Union has bought more purebred
stock or has been more active in the
Improvement of its livestock during
the past ten years than South Dakota.
She is rapidly taking high rank
among the great livestock producing
states, 1t is we'll that this is so, for
no state, everything considered, is
better adapted for the raising and
growing of livestock of all kinds.
Her soil and climatic conditions are
most favorable for breeding and feed
ing purposes. The land is well drain
ed and the air dry and invigorating,
and as q result feed lots are usually
dry under foot, particularly in the
winter time, and all kinds of stock
are apt to be healthy, rugged and
thrifty, and consequently make good
profits for the grower and feeder.
No section of country is better adapt
ed to the production of good cattle
and the best class of horses, as we'll
as other kinds of stock. Some of the
very best horses that go to the east
ern markets come from South Dako-
ia and this is we'll known to eastern
buyers. Horses, as rule, that come
from this state are sound and healthy,
have good bone and do we'll IN the
hands of the eastern feeder; in fact,
"Dakotas," as they are called, are
eagerly sought after and command
premium in the markets further east.
During the last few years South
Dakota has given much attention to
dairylug, which no doubt in consid-
crate measure accounts for her rapid
increase in bank deposits. The far
mers of this state, as already men,
toned, are of the up-to- date, progress
sive class and are quick to adopt any
new ideas or new methods Of farming
that are calculated to bring better
results and greater profits.
No section of the country grows
better crops of alfalfa than South
Dakota. She is also rapidly becom-
ing one of the great corn producing
states. Her farmers have learned
that with plenty of alfalfa hay and
corn silage dairy cows will make
money faster than any other kind of
livestock. AS result a great many
South Dakota farmers are wisely
giving the dairy COW front rank in
their farming plans for the future.
Another thing that we regard as
most helpful to the agricultural in
terests of South Dakota is the atti-
tude of the bankers there. Many of
the bankers of the state have taken a
very active interest in farming and
stock raising and have done great
deal to encourage better farming
methods and in the securing of more
and better livestock. They, like the
farmers, are of the wide-awake and