The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-01-26
DEVELOPMENT RETARDED BY
LACK OF RAILROADS IN S. D.
Lack of Railroad Facilities Keep
State From Developing Faster, Says
Department of immigration.

Pierre, S. d., Jan. 1S.-Just why
the state of North Dakota has APP
parently gained on the sister state Of
South Dakota in settling newer por-
tions of the state is shown in a
bulletin just issued by the department
of immigration.
South Dakota has the advantage in
both soil and climate, being the best
adapted to corn, forage, and livestock
products, and the mixed farming
which has made the middle west the
garden spot of the world.
North Dakota Has Advantage
But North Dakota has one out
standing advantage-railroad facili-
ties. North Dakota has 5,316 miles of
railroads while South Dakota has only
4,24S. This difference of 1867 miles
in railroads must be seriously con-
sidered in settling the state, for it
gives North Dakota great advantage.
North Dakota also beats its southern
neighbor in population, with 646,872
to 636,547, difference of 10,325.
At first glance it would seem that
this extra thousand miles of railroad
would not be of such benefit to the
state of South Dakota, but when it is
seen what this would do for the state,
and how it would improve the trans
portation facilities in the western part
Of the state, the value will be seen.
The 1000 miles Of railway would make
it possible to settle practically all Of
the state by giving adequate trans
portatien and freight facilities.
Proposed Rail Routes
Here is what that 1867 miles Of
railway woud build in South Dakota:
Winner TO Buffalo Gap, $50 miles.
Winner to Fiihs' lad miles.
Philip to Newell, 140 miles.
Faith to Deadwoed, 120 miles.
Isabel to Camp Crook, $50 miles.
Leola to Eureka, 40 miles.
washington Springs to Pierre, via
Gam Valley, 80 miles.
Platte, Kimball, Gam Valley, 65
miles.
Branch lines west Of river, 72 miles.
Total built in South Dakota, 1867
miles.
Great Possibilities :a
When it is seen the immense posi-
bilities in the western part of the
state by the addition Of these rail
roads, it is easy to understand why
North Dakota surpasses South Dakota
in the settlement of lands. This will
probably continue to be true unless
new railroads are obtained, even if
the soil of South Dakota is richer than
that of the northern state.-SiOux
Falls Argus-Leader, Jan. Is, 1923.
1t is true that the lack of proper
transportation facilities is greatly
retarding the growth and development
of the great state of South Dakota
more than any other one thing, and
this is especially true of the west Of
the river country. During the era OF
the greatest development of the west
ern states our legislatures and the law
makers were wont to encourage the
building of railroads, but some years
ago it became quite the proper thing
| for politicians to lambast the rail
roads, and this method has been con.
tinued for number Of years, and the
railroads have been more or less reg
ulated and hampered and as a result
the addition Of railroad mileage d1r-
ing the past fifteen or twenty years
has been rather slow. We believe
that railroad building should be en-
couraged and every aid possible given
to induce railroad companies to ex-
tend their lines into new territories.
The railroads are without question
|our greatest empire builders, and our
legislatures could do wonderful
work in helping to develop our state,
aud adding to our population, our tax
,ble property, and our producing ca
oacity, by devoting little time and
money to the subject of railroad az
tension work. The extensions sug-
gested in the above article would be
a greater help to the entire state OF
South Dakota, and especially the
western half of the state, than would
} hydro-electric plant, state owned
cement factory, or the development OF
! state owned coal mine in ~ neigh
boring state. Perhaps some day our
politicians will see the light and de-
vote little time and energy to real
constructive work.
1850 =. tho utofhcY 0f