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' fflf^^jpi ' y w ' -" '' '^^rss^s ^ j ^ s ^ ^ y j ^ $ w yi^^fe!^,wft^py M w y g ' w ^ p ^ ^ y y ^^AyPWHi -,. ' -f- ! ~.J i - , i . i THE ISfflJO^AEOLlg JOXJENAU. ^r.. BATUEDATTEJ.Viamffa APEIE Tf c K902J -M,' v iS-E . pw^ftS^'J1 V?(*f ^FILLIN G SOUTH DAKOTA'S SPLENDID FUTURE i i i i ii r " - I " ' - - - - * * ' . Soil, Climate and People to Make a Great State Are There, Says.Gov ernor Chas. N. Herreid. The Cattle Man Has Made and So Has the Man With the Plow. Money 'SsFEPJIH REtlNSi* LAND ON THE BOOM Gregory County Not Riding on the Back Seat. SALES AT $25 TO $85 AH ACRE V a l u e s A r e H i g h N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e N e w n e s s of A l l t h e R e g i o n . Governor Charles N. Herreid says that good crops and good prices have swept mortgages from farms and given South Dakota great prosperity. He puts i t this way: Probably no state in the union has experi enced a more vigorous and healthy develop ment during the last two years than South Dakota. We have the soil, the climate and the people which respond with marvelous en ergy to the conditions which .will mark an era in the history of the great northwest. Good crops and good prices have swept the mortgages from the farms, and the residents whose faith in the young state remained un shaken have been buying more land at ad vancing prices. This has given us a class of farmers with experience, with large hold ings of the choicest lands, out of debt, pros perous 'and happy. When the north half of the state was set tled, about twenty years ago, every settler could take three claimsa homestead, a pre emption and a tree claimof 160 acres each. Thousands of "claims" were taken by men and women -who had no idea of becoming farmersteachers, lawyers, doctors, clergy men, clerks, traveling men, speculators and adventurersall eager to get free lands. These were duly "proved up," and thousands of these tracts became known as "non-resident" or "unoccupied" lands. These are now for sale and are being bought by the thousands who are pouring into the state from Iowa, Illinois and other states. South Dakota real estate has douibled in value in the last three years, and that it will again double in value in the next three years, as far as the north ihalf of the state Is concerned, is a fact con ceded by all who are familiar with prevailing conditions. P e o p l e R i c h a n d I n d e p e n d e n t . Discussing the boom npw commencing in the Missouri slope country east of Pierre, Thomas H. Ayres, president of the Gas Belt Land and Abstract company of Pierre, says: For the last ten year3 this region has been given over to stock-growing, and the people have grown rich and independent in the cattle (business. They have had an immense range on which to run stock and have grown care less concerning agricultural pursuits. So long as they could take it easy and make money without work, there was no reason to exert themselves In "the fields. Agriculture went into a temporary decline. During this time, however, some men have' stuck to the plow, and these men have not only been success ful, hut have taught the lesson of industry which eventually becomes necessary in every country. Good' crops have been Taised by those who have fannied right, and good crops can 'be raised by those who will follow their example. There has never been a time dur ing the last ten years when farmers who tilled the ground properly did not raico enough fodder for cattle. Corn, millet, brome grass, sorghum and other foods have been a success. F a r m i n g H a s P a i d . T i e men who have succeeded beet are those who have farmed a little and stuck to the milk pail. Dairying has paid immensely, and our richest men are those who have never deserted the millk stool. The man with the larlet is soon to be succeeded by the man with the milk pail. I predict that -within the next three years dairying will succeed cattle-raising except where large capital takes hold of the land at its present low price and fits up great ranches especially for cattle raising. The business of cattle-raising has not heen followed as it should be, the people preferring to buy stock cattle in other states but the time has arrived when it is going to pay to raise good cattle. When this country is fenced up and the grass is protected, this section will be the richest part of the state per capita. What is more, it will eventually be a good corn country, as the 'Missouri river region is everywhere. In ten years from now the whole area now embraced in Hyde, Hughes and Sully counties will be punched full of artesian well holes. There will be ten times as many people and double the amount of stock. A' poor man or a young man can get a start here. This is the last refuge in the northwest for such men. It is also the finest field for investment in the state, for prices have not fceen Inflated. But land values are rapidly on the increase, and I shall be greatly surprised if a good quarter section of raw land can be bought in either of these counties for less than $10 per acre by this time next year. Special to The Journal. ' '- Bonesteel. S. D., April 5.Gregory county Is experiencing one of the great est real estate booms ever known la the history of th e state. Land that went begging for buyers at $20 a n acre last year is now being sold a t from $25 to $35 an acre, and the prospects ar e good for a continued advance for a year to come at least. The county Is full of land buy ers from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and states farther east. The county is prac tically new, having first been settled in 1891, and while $35 a n acre for western land may seem rather high to some peo ple, it must be remembered that Gregory county ha s never yet had a failure of crops, and that last year, while the greater portion of the country tvas drought-stricken, Gregory county pro duced a bountiful harvest, corn yielding on a n average of 35 bushels an acre, and wheat 13 bushels. The. soil is inferior to none, being a dark rich sandy loam with a clay sub soil, and with the same conditions pre vailing produces as good crops as the states of Iowa and Illinois. Some small grain ha s been sown and the soil was never in better condition to germinate the seed. x Several transfers of real estate have been made the past ten days a t prices ranging from $25 to $35 an acre. The Gregory County Real Estate association, a firm located at Bonesteel, sold three farms last week a t a n average price of $28 an acre. Rain ha s fallen here and the ground is saturated to a depth of five feet. Every acre of cultivable land will be put in crop this season and with favorable con ditions Gregory county wlil have th e greatest harvest in the history of the state. - - " . - ' SO.DAKOTA: LAND OFOPPORTUNITY * r HO Testimonials From Those Who Have '' ' Proved the Richness of That Productive State. * I FACTS ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA | By Prof. R. F. Kerr of the State Agricutural College. SPEAKS F(jR STATE Governor Herreid Tells of Opportu nities in the West. YOUNG HEN OF EAST WELCOMED History Repeats Itself In th e Immi gration Rush Felt in South Dakota. Still There I s Room For Thousands to Find Homes and Pros- ' 5 perity There. t $ i s e $ $ South Dakota has earned for herself a prominent place in the northwestern \ galaxy of states in the last few years. She has passed the transition period $ and the agricultural outlook for the coming year is very flattering indeed. We $ have just come to the realization of th e fact that our lands are fitted for a S greater variety of crops and uses than the early settlers were aware of $ when first arrived. The men with the one crop idea are moving farther $ towards the frontier or have gone out of business. Newer ideas have pre - vailed and we are now receiving a new infusion of energetic men, with capital 8 enough to till their farms properly and to turn their attention to stock-raising $ possibilities. Every interest is possible here that is found in common with S the other farming regions of this latitude and th e state gladly welcomes pros- $ peotlve settlers who ar e practical enough to know how to make the most of ? the oportunities that are to be encountered. $ F a r m lands have almost doubled in value in th e last two or three year3, $ but they ar e not overvalued yet and there are splendid chances to get hold of G good farms a t reasonable figures and on good terms. Many men who came to the territory comparatively poor are now able to retire to adjoining towns and villages and live upon incomes from property they have acquired since they came. Like opportunities are just as numerous to-day and the knowing ones seem to appreciate these facts. W H E A T AND CORN Wheat ha s been the principal crop until within a few years in the eastern part of ithe state, but more attention is being paid to corn of late years. In fact i t ha s been the surest anff most profitable crop as far northwest as in Walworth and Campbell counties, and land prices ar e stiffening in many of the hitherto neglected districts. W e have become a cornshipping state, and will be. If we ar e not already, known as the corn and hog-raising state. Corn is a profitable crop nearly everywhere east of the Missouri river. Wheat is surest in the Sioux Valley. The dairy interests are equally good in all (the eastern part of th e state, except where farmers think that other pursuits ar e more remunerative. West of the river, of course, ar e to be found large cattle ranches, but there is considerable grazing on the Mis- souri slope and in the James River valley. In other parts of the state cattle and sheep are being expensively fed for th e eastern markets. We are de- stined to he a great hog-raising state for the reason that we are free from, that porcine scourgecholera. - - * T H E SOU, .... "'' - - - - ' ' - " ' " Dakota soil, being a drift formation, is noted for its elements of fertility and vthere is sufficient rainfall in most of th e tillable portion of state to answer all purposes. We average as well in sureness of crops as in most of our sister states. Where the rainfall is not so certain there are means for irrigating the soil and experience has taught how to use the water to the best advantage. Wetting down th e fields every two or three years is found to be sufficient to secure good crops. With fertile soil, plenty of sunshine, and a fairly good rainfall, the people ar e beginning to adapt themselves to their surroundings and It is claimed that, "for the fourth successive year, South Dakota is unquestionably in the first place for the per capita production of new wealth." F R U I T S OK E X P E R I E N C E It took time and experience to learn just what methods and crops were best adapted to the conditions of our new land, and, having demonstrated all of these things quite satisfactorily, the new settler will have a better opr portunity to make a good living and secure a competency for his old age than did (the pioneer who had to work out his destiny without any help from others' experiences and experiments. There was a large immigration last year and every indication points to a greater this year. There is room for them and a welcome. /" New York,., April 5.The Daily News published the following interview with Governor C. N. Herreid of South Dakota: The west is the east transplanted. Between the two sections there are only such differ ences as there may be 'between brothers and sisters, parents and children. Success Is the same everyhere. It is entirely a question of personality and character. The man who is successful in the west would be just as much so in the east. It is the unlimited variety of opportunity which the land beyond, the Mis sissippi offers to ambition and efforts that brings about a large number of so-called suc cesses in life. A man of energy has not one field, but a half dozen open .to him. If he is not a successful rancher, he may become a merchant or miner. There are openings for men of intelligence in all lines. Selection of a business or profession is governed solely by personal adaptability or liking. In a cramped, overcrowded city men must, perforce, unless they are possessed of un usual energy or influence, move in broken tracks. After a time the irksomeness of doing something for which he has no love wears upon a man. Doubtless in the end it kills hope and deadens ambition. The equipment of a man cut out for success is not. then, a matter of latitude and longitude, but of oppor tunity. This the west offers to all. All the western states have been settled by young men, for it is these naturally who find less pain and discomfort in breaking home ties. The loss of such men from the ranks of the east is a decided gai for the west. Youth 1s at tall times the bone and sinew of a country. Theodore Roosevelt out on his Dakota cattle ranch illustrates the type I meanthe young man of fearlessness, integ rity, ambition, energyconquering everything from a cow pony to a grizzly. The qualities which lent distinction to his personality and commanded the respect of bis cowboys and the others around him, whom he yet never patronized, are the very qualities which have made him the eastern man of destiny and ele vated him to his high position. It is odd how steadily life moves westward. Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the central western states, were most of them first set tled by men freBh from the east. The Dako tas, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska are to day peopled by the sons and daughters of those sturdy pioneers. In turn their .children will without doubt move further westward until the land is full or the jmnping-off place is reached. * South Dakota is not yet over-populated. Much of the land" has been in the hands of non-resident speculators, 'who bought claims from first settlers. That land is now on the market, and South Dakota is experiencing the same rush of immigration she dftd in 1881-82. We welcome them all, whether from east or west, north or south, knowing that the man who has the energy to move is pretty apt to be a desirable citizen. FARMING IN SO. DAKOTA TOOK HIS ADVICE. Ohio State Journal. BindunSay, haw does it come that you never mention that money you borrowed from me? , HardupBecause I heard you say you bewoman, lieved every man ought to forget his past,., f PROGRESS. Chicago Tribune. r "This Is the church where you hold your services, I suppose." "We used to call it a church, but we have outgrown all that It is a Temple of Progress h e Thouaht now." - , * * - t - ^ ^ t i lavage but lneirta&"iun^'at* her" - . ft&b^ & * . * - j. ', ,. t ' ABUNDANT PROVOCATION. ']\^-'[ Chicago Tribune. The imported Jersey cow, usually so gentle, made a savage dash at the visiting young who was on the other side of the fence. "It's "that red ribbon you've got on you," apologized the farmer. "I guess you'd bet ter take it off." "On the contrary," said the young woman, "I shall keep it (on and wear it as my red badge of cowrage." And then the imported Jersey made another Roscoe. S. D.. April 5, 1902.I came to South Dakota in 1883 from Kankakee, 111., where I was section foreman for the Bigman Pour railroad and getting $65 per month: I saw no possibility of getting a farm of my own in that country o r probability of laying up any money for old age, so de cided to come west. I located in Edmunds county on a quarter section, which later happened to be within a mile of Roscoe, the Junction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. I had very little means with which to commence farming, but had* two horses, two cows and three pigs. One of my horses died, and the next spring I took the last $8 I had and bought two bushels of-wheat and two bushels of oats. From that I raised a fair crop. I threshed 105 bushels of wheat and 75 bushels of oats. I had all th e potatoes we needed and an abundance of garden stuff. By working out and going slow, keeping out of debt as much a s possible, I have got along well. I now have 640 acr.es of land, clear, with good buildings thoreon an d an abundance of water, nine head of horses, sixty-six head of cattle and a host of chickens, ducks, geese and other fowls. I have never placed any price on my -property, and do not care whether it is worth $1,000 or $10,000 I can make a good living on it for myself and family, and i t is growing in value every day. Had I re - mained in the east the probabilities ar e I would be broken down in health, old before my time, and nothing saved for a rainy day. My son, just past 21, has 160 acres of land, and is starting "out for himself with cattle and horses.and good prospects for success. Yours truly, '.,- _.'.,-. Julius Schipke. Opportunity dwells in South Dakota. It s farmers have accumulated wealth. '.-. It s business men know the meaning of pros perity and all classes ar e certain | h a t the state furnishes a chance for thousands more to reach the realm of the well to-do. - Nothing argues so well- as results Nothing succeeds like success. Men who have gone to South Dakota without a dollar have won competence. Homeseek ers have found its soil a source of wealth and investors who had a decent measure of faith in the state have realized healthy returns. Some who have gone into th e state have lost heart and left because the expected fortune did not accumulate litseif and that within a year. Others more industrious and persistent, who have worked ,on the right lines, have the re - sults of their faith and labor deposited in the banks. Generally speaking, South Dakota is to-day one of th e most pros perous and promising states in the union. Its wealth per capita is greater than any other state in the union. E v i d e n c e f r o m S p i n k C o u n t y . . D. N. Hunt of the D. N. Hunt Land company of Redfleld, S. D., has seen many farmers accumulate fortunes in South Dakota. He says: ' I came into Spink county, South Dakota, twenty-three years ago, when the townsite of the city of Redfleld was the grazing ground of the antelope. I have watched all the'ups and downs of this Bectiop, from the time the first claim shanty was* built, to the time when itSnow M p ^ 8 on o f th e . riches t an d most productive7,sections of the'northwest. 1 have seen men who caine here, with means, leave between two days but at the same time I have seen his nearest neighbor, with but hi& two hands and! a OTetermined will gradually accumulate wealth, until he now owns all the land originally possessed by his former neighbor while his buildings..- and improvements would put to shame many an eastern farm. We have nad some failures, but what country does hot? Experience has taught me that it is fully as safe and reliable a grain and stock raising country as are any of the middle and western states. The aver age yield and quality of* our grains areiun surpassed. Many of our farmers are noware getting the top notch prices of the Chicago market for beef finished on home raised corn. We have the best.of society, and, with our colleges and high schools, educational advan tages cannot be excelled. Our railroad fa cilities are first-class, placing us in direct communication with the best markets. Lands are gradually appreciating in value, prices are firm and owners are not anxious to sell. My faith in the future of the state has grown from year to year, until it is now unbounded, and I believe, that for the capitalist who is seeking a remunerative investment, or for the former neighbor, while his buildings and self and family, and glye his children the best of educational advantages, our ownaro county of Spink offers the best of induce ments. M o v e m e n t I s N a t n r a l . The firm of Wightman, Babcock & Labrie of Redfleld, S.' D., composed of S. E. Wightman of Watertown, S. D. H. A. Babcock and A. F . Labrie of Redfleld and J. E. Labrie, Jr., of Doland, S. D., all members of the firms, have been resi d e n t s of the state for twenty years or more, and have, practical knowledge of farming as well as much experience in the land business. These qualifications, together with ample resources, have en abled them to handle lands to th e advattr tage of themselves and patrons. This firm operates mainly in three dis tricts: The valley of the James river in South Dakota, a section that will compare favorably in com-raising with any sec tions Of the so-ealled corn belt the up per valley of th e big Sioux river with its hundreds of fine lakes and springs, an ideal country for diversified farming, full of thriving cities and villages the valley of th e Blue Blanket, the country for ranches, where lands are to be had at low prices. There is plenty of good water and the buffalo grass exists in such abun dance that cattle can be gotten ready for the market without any corn-feeding whatever. The principal office Is at Redfleld, S. D., with branch offices a t Doland, Gettysburg, Watertown and Aberdeen. Mr. Wight says: owns and controls more land than any company in the state. I t has, 600 agents through the eastern states, and eight of fices in South Dakota. It.advertises in over two hundred of the leading newspapers of the United .States and. distributes advertising matter in nearly every -state in th e anion. C A. Kelley is general manager of the agency at Huron, S. D. Of the South Dakota the Kelley agency says: The climate is healthful and the soil is the richest on earth and admirably adapted to the raising of wheat, oats,' cfirn, barley, rye, etc. in fact, anything that can be successfully raised in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin while for the raising of cattle", sheep, hogs, poultry, etc., its conditions can-hardly be. im proved. No state in the union is ricner, and few as rich" in herbage as South Dakota. No other state is making such rapid development In live stock and dairy interests it is here that nature's pasture keeps stock in perfect condition almost the year around. Nowhere can pork of equal quality bo jproduced as cheap as on a South Dakota farm. Farmers are prosperous here, accumulating wealth by diversified farming. Now is the time to invest and get a good home or a piece of property that will be a valuable and profitable invest ment for you. The time has come when every man with a family should, own a home, every farmer his own land but to do this where prices are high is next to impossible, i n con sidering the- small sum the tenant farmer saves, only to disappear with a single crop failure but in all cases the rent must be paid, end nearly, airways cash in advance4t matters not what the harvest may be, the landlord is secure. Landlords know no failures, nor what It is to move from place to place jnear after year, losing time and money thereby. Yes, it is the tenant farmer who suffers, and the only remedy is, own your own property. S t i r r i n g r T i m e s Aliead." J. G. Lund, of Lund's land agency, Can by, Minn., says: . Judging from present indications, the year 190? is going to witness the largest activity in real estate ever known. A great tide of home seekers is preparing to enter these western states, driven here by the high prices of lands further east, and the impossibility of handling same by men of small means. The year 1901 was a great year, but in my estimation 1902 will far exceed it. The people who are setting in this country mostly American citizens from Iowta, Ill inois, Wisconsin, Nebraska. Indiana and the other eastern states. There are many Ger mans, Bohemians, Norwegians and other na tionalities, wiio im&ke some of our best and most thrifty citizens. The class of people who come Into this country, as a rule, is good, possessed of considerable means, thrifty, in dustrious and intelligent. We are not experi encing, what is generally known as a boom, but homeseekers are steadily arriving in more largely increasing numbers as the productive capabilities of the country, combined with reasonable prices, become more widely known. Consequently we are not troubled with enthu siastic but Impractical farmers. Our.farmers here to stay, satisfied with the country and its possibilities, and, what Is best of all, making money. Another result is that land is laced at its true value, which is not the Case when a "boom" is in progress. . Our lands steadily increase in value. 3outh Dakota in the past, has had1 (much ad verse criticism, much of which was not true. As the true conditions in this growing state become known, and its prosperity becomes established," it will take a foremost place. South Dakota is a growing state in wealth, in productive capacity and general agricultural conditions, and the day is conning when it will be one of the richest states in the .union and one of the best. One of the things which makes South Da kota so desirable a place for the homeseetoer is its adaptability to diversifled flanmlng. It has a great nauge of crops, produces elegant corn and wheat, has excellent climatic condi tions. What more can a farmer ask? South Dakota is rapidly developing all its latent resources, and already produces more wealth per capita than any other state, which speaks volumes for its wealth-producing pow er when all its forces are fully utilized. With fine churches and the best of schools excel lent railroad facilities, giving easy access to the world's great markets, and all her other advantages, she 1B well fitted to cope with the problems that face this country, and offers him a home of which no man need xbe ashamed. Eastern South Dakota, in which bur agency operates, contains some of the very finest and choicest lands to be had in the whole state, and the conditions are of the very best. - because it is settling up with good, thrifty farmers, mostly Germans from Illinois, Iowa and Eastern Minnesota. There has been a great change in South Dakota in the last three years, while then it was almost impos sible to get people to settle in South Dakota, to-day we are getting more people for South Dakota than any other state. It offers cheap land that is well adapted, for general- farm- ing andHhe people of Iowa iahdf'Minnesota 'are just beginning to learn the advantages that South-Dakota off era. -" ^ Ki' Coming: f r o n v I l l i n o i s . ||ft&: F. E . Gerlach, of Elkton, says that Illinois is sending many homeseekers into South Dakota. They ar e a thrifty class of people. Mr. Gerlach corrects a n east ern impression of South Dakota climate in the following statement: Most people in the east imagine this to be a cold and inhospitable climate nothing is further from the truth. The writer has trav eled all over the western and southern states, from Chicago west and south, and cam say that this country pas as mild winter weather as Wisconsin, Iowa, eastern Minnesota and northern and central Illinois. During the winter of 1897, just past, there were few days that it was necessary to wear on overcoat on the (street. The thermometer diid not go below zero at any time during the month of January, and scarcely a day but what we had thawing weather. Of course, in this northern latitude, heavy snowfallB must be expected a t times, however, and this country is no exception to the rule but when stock can feed nearly all winter on the open prai rie, it certainly cannot Ibe called a very se vere climate. The United States signal ,serv ive bureau will tell you that the time of last frost in the spring and earliest frost in the fall at Brookings, S. D., is, oni'_on an average for five years, the same as at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, No R e a c t i o n P r o b a b l e . [ M. G. Carlisle, vice president and gen eral manager of th e Brookings, S. D., Land and Trust company, say: The movement in northwestern lands which cpmimenced about four years ago has nowGREAT reached such a state as to make Ttnany con servative men inquire as to how long it will continue, and as to whether it is not specu lative, and that, consequently, a reaction must soon set in which will-prove harmful if not disastrous. I think that a careful in vestigation of this country,and the conditions prevailing, and a study of the past history of "South Dakota, will convince any think ing man that, -while reaction may'set in on certain lines, the eastern part of South Dakota will suffer no damage, nor will the lands here depreciate in value. The advanced stage of cultivation and improvements and the crop history of this region is such that we need fear no calamity. There is not part of the northwest which has suffered less from climatic conditions than South Dakota in the eastern and south ern part.' Unfortunately, in the early days of immigration thousands of people rushed 'into, the .state and crowded to the westward, occupying the vast region between the Jim and Missouri rivers, homesteading the same and breaking up the country with a view to farming it. Having little.means to withstand the misfortunes, and experiencing a few years of iadverse conditions, they were forced to leave the country. These men naturally felt that the country bad" treated them badly, and for imany yeans have inveighed against Da kota without discriminating as to -the locali ty. But South Dakota ihas proved its value to the poor man and investor in recent years. Our company has sold thousands and thou sands of acres of land during its operations, and no client of ours ever failed to make a profit on his investment. We make this state ment boldly., and, invite investigation. We have no doubt that, maiiny other land dealers can make the same statement.. ', 'V "3* -- called a boom in South Dakota lands nor , V.^ ^ any prospect of it. I attribute the increased /}?*, activity and large immigration entirely to \ v*' the fact that people have at length overcome ^ ^ their unfounded preudice against South Da- ^ -J kota and that prosperous times generally '^-J have furnished the meanB so that people can '*"" personally investigate. The value of an aero 'vf of^land must be flxe,d ultimately at just, what 5ji- the, products from that land will pay net an nually on the-investment. As long as South. Dakotayfands p a y from 25 per cent to 100 per cent on'the cost price each and every year the value is certainly too low. In fifteen years ownership of improved farms in South Dakota in no single year has the1 product paid me less than 25 per cent net on my invest ment and many years more than 100 per cent. The bad name for South Dakota lands was almost entirely caused by the fact that law yers, doctors, preachers, clerks, teachers and other people unskilled in farming and with no desire to become farmers came in here in an early day and took lands under the laws of the United States, left them the moment they could make proof, frequently mortgaged them for all they could obtain, or rented them and gave the farm no personal super vision or oversight, end then because their investment had only paid them three or four times as much as they could earn in their 0Wn: line of business they soured on the country and abused it every time they had an opportunity. Values have practically doubled in the test two years, but the beautiful prairie land in the western portion of the state can still be secured a t a merely nominal price. There is room for hundreds of thousands of practical young fanners in this state, and any young anon who is at all conversant with farming and has even a limited amount of capital, can earn sufficient from Dakota soil to be able to retire from active work and live at his ease after the very few years of honest effort in South Dakota. Nowhere on earth does the soil yield more net profit to the farmers than will South Dakota lands at present prices. h$ BIG P R O F I T S MADE! L e e S t o v e r T e l l s of a n e x p e r i e n c e Tlmt A t t r a c t s . A Journal representative from Lee Sto ver, register of th e United States land office a t Watertown, S. D., and senior member of th e Stover Real Estate Ex - change, whose home office is a t Water town, S. D., obtained th e following state ment: I do not consider that there is what can be CREAMERY STATES The creamery ha s come to South Da kota to stay. It s butter is known through the marts of th e east a s the equal of th e best. At the annual meeting of the National Buttermakers' association held at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the last week of" February, 1896, nearly every state in the union was represented. The best cream eries in- the United States were com petitors for the high honors there award ed. Judges the most experienced were chosen t o pass on th e quality of th e dairy exhibit. The result of this great com petitive exposition was that the great dairy states of the east had to relinquish the long held andi highly prized honors to the northwest. \ Minnesota stood over all. She had thir teen exhibits of butter in competition, and her highest mark was reachedtoythe Batavia creamery, 97,33. South Dakota ha d bu t four creameries in competition and he r highest score was 97 second, 95.66 third, 94.50 fourth, 9L80. Out of forty-two creameries represent ing the great dairy states of Illinois and Minnesota, only two excelled the product of one of th e only four South Dakota ex hibits. Ohio's highest was 94.66, Michigan's $3.66,andVermonfs90.33,and so on through the list of states. And what of It? That was in 1896.. Our creameries have in creased four-fold since then, and their rank is higher to-day than ever before. LAND Buyer's, Settler's and Explorer's GUIDE A popular exposition of the theory and operation of homestead, timber and stone, and mineral laws. Government, state, railroad and specu lators* lands manner of acquiring, terms of sale, location of, and how to reach them. Complete instructions for camp outfit for homeseekers and sportsmen. Price 25 cents. . M. E. Horton, 124 Laurel avenue, Minneapolis. A bad complexion never gets better of itself. Doctor with Satin-Skin Cream, gaining healthy satin skin. ,26c. "A good spring tonicHamm's bocljc beer. I have lived in South Dakota and what used to be part of the then Territory of'Dakota for the last twenty years and have seen the wild prairie land of that section of country changed to one of the most fertile farming sections in the United States. Thousands of our farmers in the James river, Blue Blan ket and Big Sioux river valleys have be come wealthy raising corn and wheat, cattle, hogs, sheep, and by following the dairy busi ness. These "men came here to seek'a home they found it and during the hard times of the panic in the nineties they-were at work on their farms making money. I have watched .the tide of immigration coming into the state from the south and the east and as the settlements became thicker and thicker land values have advanced -from $5 up to $30 and $50 per acre. By making purchases early when prices were yet low we are enabled to offer land of the best qual ity for sale at from $8 to $20 per acre, ana which we are satisfied will double In value within the next year. The present rush of immigrants into South Dakota is not a boom, but is caused by the fact that good land can be had in considerable quantity at a low price and this rush will not abate until the price~ of land reaches a point where the revenue producing power and the. selling price balance each other. Nowhere in the United States J s good corn land offered as cheaply as it is in South Dakota to-day and those who fail to take advantage of the present prices will never have such an op portunity offered them again. 3 H O p i n i o n 1 Good H n s t l e r a . 'd' ,* [",'i&l--- - " - . ' - : ' - - " - -i ' Kelley's lanf"agency incorporated un - der the laws of the state of South Dakota, began doing business as such corporation, in 1900. Since, then i t has branched into all parts of S6uth Dakota also Iowa, Minnesota, .Wisconsin and Illinois. ,-,-^It has become one of the strongest land 1 companies i n South Dakota, ami nowwater k ' : A C l a r k C o u n t y W i t n e s s . S. H. Elwood, of Clark, state's attor ney of lark counlty and president of the Clark County Land and Loan company, in discussinc his home county says: It is one of the best counties in eastern South Dakota and is noted for plenty of good water and abundant grass crops, and Is well adapted to mixed farming. Dairying is rap idly Increasing all over the county. Farm ers are- prosperous and are making money and raising just as fat hogs, sheep, cattle and horses as are the farmers in the east and off of land that can be bought from $15 to $30 an acre. \ . The government reports for the past ten years show that the rain fall has been greater In Clark /county than in Brookings, Deuel, Hamlin or Kingsbury. The above named counties are good ones, but'Clark county is just-as good. In the past four or five years we have made sales to several men from-Illinois and Iowa who were renting in these states and paying the rich land" owners tribute at the rate of from $8 to $5 an acre. Every one of theso men are happy that they got out of bondage and now have homes in Clark county, South Dakota. ^ A L a n d of G o o d B a r g a i n a. .'The Caldwell Land agency, with offices at Pipestone, Minn., and Howard, S. D., bffers th e following advice to th e land seeker : ' r " To those who may be' contemplating Agoing west or north to purchase a.new home.or to invest for profit, let us say .that .South Da* kota offers some of the. best bargains in either case that can be found anywhere. Why? First, it lies In the corn belt second, becauBe it is coming to the front as the banner dairying state of the United States. Third, because it has plenty of the purest and- good healthy climate. Fourth, In the Corn and Cream* ery Belt of southeastern SouthDakota. Goodcrops last year. Fine Soil ^Jjice laying land and cheapo Send for folder and price list to: U ? % SVV. J \ It So. Dak. ill yiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiilS " "1 1 Defective Page