The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-01-28
|MM|GRANTSTO
SOUTH DAKOTA
DEPARTMENT REPORTS MANY
FOREIGNERS INTERESTED IN
COMING HERE.

Pierre, Jan. 2S.-Frequent letters
from citizens of European countries
TO the South Dakota department of
immigration bear witness TO the
fact that many residents of foreign
lands would like TO make their
homes in the Sunshine state. accord
ing 10 Irwin D. Aldrich, commits
sioner of immigration These let
ters that are received from Europe
all come from farmers. men who
would like to engage in agricultural
pursuits and build homes for them
selves in America
Many of them have considerable
money To invest in American land
and are coming here solely beca use
they believe their children will have
more opportunity On this side OF the
Atlantic than on the other
Holland is responsible for most
OF these inquiries, possibly due 10 the
fact that that country has establish
ed a department of state to look
after their emigrants, and see that
IEASa al "E1l CClllCh bnSh AtW
homes. Scandinavians also send
numerous inquiries as TO conditions
in South Dakota.
1t is part of the work of the de-
partment of immigration TO encour-
age these people TO come TO South
Dakota and TO locate them ON good
farms, thus giving them a chance to
become American citizens.
The national movement TO curtail
immigration for period of years TO
insure the country against any pos
sible over supply of labor, may af-
feet South Dakota, but probably on
ly in small way, according TO Mr.
Aldrich.
Very few of the people entering
the United States even have any idea
of taking up agricultural work,
which of course the backbone OF in
dustries in South Dakota. Officials
at Ellis Island find il hard to per-
suade new comers TO the country 10
come TO the agricultural states, as
they prefer TO remain in the large
clll6S OF the east.
OF course this applies TO large
percentage of immigrants, for few
of them come here for the expressed
purpose of going into the farming
business.
1t is now believed that the great
est influx of immigrants TO South
Dakota. will in the next few years
come from some of the eastern states
where the rentals of agricultural
land are becoming prohibitive. Many
inquiries are being received from
those who farm high priced land,
and who wish to come TO South Da-
kota where it is easier TO get
start. This movement is being aid
ed by an advertising campaign In
the eastern states carried on by the
South Dakota department.
Officials of the South Dakota de-
| partment are able to point TO the
figures of the state tax commission
to show that opportunity to get
ahead in this state is better than In
many others. 1t is estimated that
| only about 30 or 25 per cent or the
land in South Dakota that is avail
able for cultivation has ever been
| plowed.
The farms that are farmed oy
the owners number 45,247, as
against 3O,536 farmed by renters.
And i'm connection with these ng-
ures it might be stated that the
| farms operated by renters are IN
| many cases worked by the son or a
friend of the owner. after he mas
| retired.
Total corn acreage, according co
figures announced by III. O. Her
brandson, state statistician, is -
$4,000 for South Dakota. This Is
an increase of $4,000 acres over
1919. Winter wheat with 56,Ooo
acres and spring wheat with 2,S3o,'
900 acres, both shower decreases as
compared with last year. Oats, bar
ley. flaxseed, and hay all showed
large increases.
1T should be of vital interest,
saws the report, Ito note that South
Dakota has this year produced
crop (all leading grains) totaiint
only bout 34,O00,000 bushels more
than the 1919 total. The state pro
duced a materially larger hay crop
/ approximately 100000 tons larger
than fhe nreyious wear"