Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1921-01-08
SOME BIG PROBLEMS
South Dakota Lawmakers Will Have
Sizeable Problems TO Solve at
the Present Session.

Commenting on the meeting of South
Dakota lawmakers at Pierre this week
the Sioux City Journal says: South Da
kota has some problems to solve in
which the people of Sioux CITY and
northN estern Iowa are much Interested
Among these is the development OF
water power on the Missouri river.
That enterprise, if undertaken, would
benefit cities Of the state as much il
would those inside. If the harnessing
Of the river makes cheaper electric cur
rent possible, it is a matter in which all
cities which could use the Missouri
river produced current are interested.
The Journal has said before, and repeats
now, that for selfish reasons it favors
the construction Of the state dam on the
Mule Head site 1t would bring the
place Of manufacture closer TO this city
than would the location at any other
point on the river and reduce the cost OF
Transmission. But while the Mule Head
site is favored, the cities of Iowa inter
ested in the project would make no
fight against any other site the legislat
ure might select. But from purely
business point it is not meddling to
suggest action by the coming legislat-
ure. The construction Of the dam and
the instaIment Of the power machinery
will require long period. The times
are not propitious for undertaking such
enterprises, but waiting until they are
means delay Of the project for years.
Development OFT the river power is ont
Of the things that will help restore con-
ditions In this country.
South Dakota has other embryonic
undertakings that if developed would
make her natural resources valuable,
but which require legislative study and
consideration. The Journal is no advo.
cate of state owned enterprises But
sometimes conditions Justify the state in
the development of its natural resources
so that they are neither dissipated nor
Some of these matters
will come before the next legislature
They should be considered in the light
of business rather than politics Under
its primary election law South Dakota
must spend almost the entire time carry
ing into operation the provisions of that
statute. There is no reason for com
plant outside the state, if the people
directly concerned are satisfied But in
the development of the resources of a
state as rich and virgin as South Dakota |
is, business Judgment in both the legis-
Iative and executive departments should
prevail, and the indications are that
they will.
Preliminary steps have been taken to
state cement factory which |
would enable the people of the state and
probably some outside the state to break |
The grip of the cement trust on the
building industry and save the people |
arge sums by giving them cheaper ce-
nent for buildings. In a state where
silos and other concrete structures are
so essential to the developing prosperity
Of the people, that plan deserves the
most careful consideration oflegislatures
and governors.
South Dakota needs a prehensiye
building plan that will give its
people better suburban transportation
Any agricultural community which must
market its crops over mud roads pays a
heavy tribute to public improvidence.
Iowa is just at the beginning Of such an
Improvement. South Dakota can add
untold value to her present resources
by undertaking the construction of a
system of highways that will remove
the obstacles now existing. Commenc-
ing now she could extend her program
over longer period than possible in
states like Iowa and Illinois, where the
work Of many years must be crowded
into few because of the failure to make
time by the forelock. This work is
under way. The point is that it should
be accelerated rather than retarded.
Minor matters which the legislature
will probably consider is the separation
of boys and girls in the state reforma
tory; the erection of reformatory for
young criminals now sent to the state
penitentiary; the amendment of the
mothers pension law allowing larger
and greater freedom to coun.
ty authorities in levying taxes for the
of these pensions
With governor and legislature iu
accord on public affairs and with the
spirit of enterprise for which South Da-
kota is noted, real constructive and
should receive big
impetus from the session of the legis
lature which convened last Tuesday.