Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1908 — FROM SOUTR DAKOTA. [ARTICLE]

FROM SOUTR DAKOTA.

Britton, So. Dak., April 28. Mr. Editor: Am sending you my subscription to your paper, and also a little letter, as I have located here and we like this country fine. Enclosed you will find a postoffice order for $1.35, as I do not know what your paper is now a year. But send it to me as long as this will pay for. Wishing you success, I remain as ever Yours truly, RALPH SHUMAKER. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Shumaker. Thinking it might be interesting for our many friends in Rensselaer and vicinity to know what we think of South Dakota, we will try and write a short sketch of our new home. South Dakota is not the wild wilderness so many eastern people think it is, but is a beautiful prairie country, with large, well kept farms or ranches, as they are generally called here. It is no longer an experiment since the agricultural population first came into the state the entire portion east of the Missouri is settled, and a great portion west of the river.

The ranches are of course much larger than the eastern farms, and each farmer has all the way from 600 to 2000 acres of land under cultivation. Many of those who came to South Dakota as homesteaders were determined men of worth and merit and these men have made the state one of the greatest of the Unoln. In other words, years of occupation and experience have taught the South Dakotian how to avail himself of the natural conditions, and he has adapted his methods to the best end. And in this age where material results are the measure of all values, South Dakota passes the extreme test for she yields to her people more per capita wealth than any other. Some interesting facts we have learned of the State are that it has two of the largest apple orchards on the continent and also has more than three thousand artesian wells, and many of the farm homes are modern, with bath, electric lights, etc, operated by water power, afforded by artesian wells. Rural telephones are in most all homes, and rural free delivery brings the mail every day to the door. South Dakota has the most extensive natural gas belt on the continent. This gas is used for heat, light and all kinds of power. The gas wells also furnishes large flows of warm, soft water.

The live stock industry vastly exceeds any other in importance, and we find fine cattle that have grazed on these western plains all winter without hay, grain or shelter. Of courst wheat growing is a prominent industry and is pushed with great profit at the present writing. The farmers have nearly completed their wheat sowing and the fields are already green with the new crop. One thing, speaking well for this locality, is that during the recent money panic the banks not once refused payment on checks, showing the prosperous condition of the country in this vicinity. There are several families here from Rensselaer. Mr. r. A. Besse's are prospering here I am afraid this has developed into more of a lecture than a letter, so will close with best wishes.