The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-04-15
HAIL LAW A SUCCESS
HAS SAVED SOUTH DAKOTA
FARMERS MANY THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.

act During 1919. the infant year of
state hail insurance in South Dakota,
many thousands OF dollars were saved
the farmers through its use. The
state adjusted and paid losses for the
season to the amount Of S3S2,403, the
losses being scattered over every
county in the state with the exception
Of Union and Clay. Records from the
hail insurance department disclose
the fact that 1921 farmers were in
suEed in the state hail fund and that
3.960,667 acres were protected, or
about one-fourth of the insurable crop
OF the state. The cost of administer
ing the law was only 22,s0S.
The sale OF an unusual number of
small tractors in the Pierre locality
fortells the breaking of a lot of new
ground. and consequent increased flax
acreage. The corn acreage is to be
considerably Increased this year, the
farmers report, and there will be a
big fax increase also. The ground
o last season will this year be
used for corn. A goodly number of
new tenants and owners have this
spring come upon some of the farms
OF this portion which have for several
years been idle-and land in the cen
trail portion is fast getting to prices of
eastern land OF the tate.
An increase OF rs per cent in the
salaries Of teachers in Watertown's
schools has been voted by the board
Of education. Under the new scale
teachers in the grade schools will re-
eeiye a minimum wage OF $1,000 and a
maximum of $500, with an additional
$50 for possession OF a Palmer pen
manship certificate and an add .onal
$3.50 for teachers holding first grade
certificates and principals of schools.
In he high school heads of depart
ments will receive S2,100 a year and
Instructors will be paid $1,000.
Or. s. M. Darling. fuel engineer of
the United States bureau of mines, is
making q tour of the Ignite fields OF
the development OF the extensive
fields. According to Mr.. Darling it is
the plan of the government to build at
II of the larger mining centers in
the state a c~arbonizing and
briquetting plant where demonstra-
lions will be given a. to the feasibil-
ity of commercializing Ignite coal
through this method.
On the returns thus far received on
the March 90 primary election. Wood
has 2s.40l. Johnson 1855. Lowden
1923. Governor Norbeck leads Han
ely by about 5000, and McMaster leads
Richards over 10000. With two.thirds
OF the counties of the state reporting
Johnson still holds second place. but
the counties which gave him their
vote are practically all In and the
balance will NO doubt give Lowden
second place.
Demands for farm labor have been
swapping he county farm bureau Of.
ncs in Sioux Falls during the last few
days. With the coming of warm
weather spring work is being started
and additional help Is needed on many
OF the farms. A maximum wage Of
SIS q month for farm labor has been
set by the board Of directors of the
farm bureau. This will include board.
room and washing.
Land west of the Missouri river at
$l66 an acre Is no longer a dream.
This Is the price brought by a strip
OF raw prairie land ia Lyman county
brought at an auction of state school
land. The rae in question Is near
Presho. The state sold 1915 acres OF
land at an average Of $68.10 an acre.
Last year tracts Of raw Land brought
only as high Is $35 an acre.
A hundred or more farmers of
Brown county have signed up for the
necessary money to have a complete
survey made Of the bed OF the James
river through the county. with the OBJ.
ject of taking some action to have the
channel Strengthened so as to reclaim
about loo. 900 acres Of fertile farm
land.
The voters OF Brookings, ut a spe-
cial election adopted the commission
form of municipal government as a
substitute for the present aldermanic
system. The voters also decided for
three commissioners.
Nearly half a million dollars will be
spent In ~graveling the Yellowstone
Trail through South Dakota this sum.
mer. according to estimates made by
rail officials.
One OF the leading organizations OF It's
kind in the state is the farmers. club.
composed OF many of the leading farm.
ers OF the Lake Preston territory.
At q meeting of business men. pro-
fessional men and others It was de.
cided to revive the DeSmet CONNER.
cial club.
A stock company has been organized
for the purpose of providing Bowdle
with a new 500. 900 hotel building.
Mobridge lodge OF Masons will build
q $4,000 Masonic temple this summer.
Mitchell may have an employment
Office during the coming summer for
the placing Of farm laborers, as a re-
suit Of an offer received by the cham.
Der of m from the state i'm.