Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1904 — CHEAP LANDS FAST DISAPPEARING. [ARTICLE]

CHEAP LANDS FAST DISAPPEARING.

Commenting on the recent land drawing at Rosebud, the Miller, (So. Dakota) Pioneer Press says that the day of cheap lands in Sonth Dakota is fast coming to a dose, and thinks the experience of Illinois and lowa in cheap lands of not so many yearsago will soon be Dakota’s. # Of the Rosebnddrawing it says: This spectacular rush of people to the northwest is a great advertisement Of this state. Thousands of people who never saw the state,

and have no idea of its resoarces, have been here and seen the magnificent crops. After the drawing many of them will scatter out over the state and buy land. And all of them will go home with a better knowledge of what the state really is. Some of the lucky ones who draw the first chances will get big prices for their claims if they want to sell, while others will hold on to their land and prove it up, paying four dollars per acre to the government, and incurring another four or five dollars per acre in expense. As a matter of fact, well known to all old homesteaders, and citizens of the state, a man can do better by buying a good deeded quarter of cheap land in the settled portion of the state than he can in fooling away time and money with a homestead. But men will continue to try the homesteads just the same, because few will take advice from others. And perhaps it’s just as well or better for the settlement and development of the vacant lands. The Rosebud opening will push settlement west of the Missouri river and give the state a grand advertisement.