History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 2

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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"Self-deception, even when intended to deceive others, never pays. The people of South Dakota must squarely face the most important question ever raised in the state, and the sooner they do so, the sooner they will solve it and insure their prosperity. It may be humiliating to admit it, but it is the solemn truth that a large portion of the counties in the state in a considerable number of years lacks sufficient moisture. Except in the eastern quarter crops are not certain. There are years of abundant rain and phenomenal yields, but they are succeeded in many cases by the opposite extremes. The average of success is not high. This result is not due to the soil. The unanimous testimony of observers shows that the black loam of Dakota and the porous subsoil surpass in productive and lasting power any others known. Given ample moisture and the crops are wonderful in amount and quality. The problem is to secure this moisture, and upon its solution depends in a large measure the resources and the future welfare of the state. The solicitation of widespread immigration, the investment of capital, the construction and enlargement of railroads, the erection of cities, the advancement of market facilities, the lowering of individual taxes and the vast increase in the wealth of the state depend upon this solution. It belooves the people, therefore, to give marked attention, first, to the question whether the desired moisture can be secured, and, second, if so, what is the best means for securing it."-Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 1891.

"A great mistake is being made in not gathering the statistics of the products of farm and factory in this state. The moneyed men of the East and even those of the nearby western cities of Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis are not aware of the resources of this state as they exist at present. Railroad building and the investment of capital need not be expected where the community do not offer inducements. This state has many such inducements to offer capitalists at present, but the lack of officially collected statistics hampers anyone interesting himself in the welfare of the state and its people by a proper presentation of

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

facts as they exist. A reasonable sum of money invested in securing such data would add annually to the tax-paying property of the state investments which would pay in taxes alone many times the amount of the outlay necessary to collect the statistical information needed."-State Register, September, 1899. Soon after this article was published the Legislature made ample provision for collecting and publishing the important statistics of the state. Under the able supervision of Doane Robinson all important matters concerning the resources and products are now published annually or biennially at state expense. Much of the statistical matter after 1900 in these volumes came from these publications.

For the fiscal year 1893-94 the commissioner of labor endeavored to collect complete statistics concerning all the natural productions of the state. It proved to be more difficult than he expected, owing to the lack of funds with which to prosecute his investigation. Three methods were open as follows: (1) To secure the information by uniform schedule blanks sent to persons from whom the facts were expected; (2) through public hearings; (3) through the efforts of special agents. His means limited the commissioner to the first of these methods. He sent out numerous letters of inquiry to many farmers in every county, but on the whole the answers were evasive, incomplete and often jocular. He learned, however, that the highest average value of farms was in Yankton County; that Brown was next highest, and Pennington lowest. The highest average members of families was in Lake County and the lowest in Clark and Douglas counties. The largest number of acres to the farm was in Spink County; next came Brown and next Custer. The farm productions were usually poorest through the mining counties. The percentage of mortgages on farms was about 48. Clay County showed the highest average number of bushels of wheat to the acre-18.55; Buffalo County was very low, showing an average of 5.3. The average of the whole state was 11.37 bushels. Clay County showed the highest returns in oats, 37 bushels to the acre, and Buffalo the lowest, 8 bushels. The average to the state was 21 bushels. Clay County was also highest in barley, rye and flax. Brown was the lowest in rye and Charles Mix County, the lowest in flax. The commissioner said: "In Clay County the rainfall was sufficient for the needs of agriculture. In Buffalo County it was not, and this tells the whole story." The average yield of wool to the animal was 7.08 pounds. The heaviest fleeces were in Codington County-over 9 pounds to the animal. The commis- sioner sent out the following question to farmers and laboring men: "What in your opinion would better the condition of the farmers and laboring men?". To this question 170 replies were received from all parts of the state. The opinions were almost as numerous as the individuals, but as a whole they expressed the belief that intelligent and hard work with economy would be better than anything else to improve the farmer's condition. The commissioner said: "These answers are widely distributed and come from all parts of the state. They are amusing in many instances and are entertaining and generally instructive. Some of them of course seem but to illustrate the familiar and well known habit of many of the American people of attributing all the ills that flesh is heir to, all the accidents and all the distress, each phenomenon of earth and each portent of the sky, to political causes. Two points of interest stand out in bold relief in the economy picture of this state as painted by this testimony of the farmers. The first is that the mania for raising wheat alone must be abandoned so that the agricul-

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

tural interests can prosper; and the second is that, except in the southeastern portion of the state, the tilling of the soil cannot be uniformly successful without an increase of moisture either natural or artificial."

The development of corn growing in South Dakota has been one of the unexpected but hoped for wonders of agricultural development. At first it was grown in limited quantities and with doubtful results in the southeast corner of the state. Steadily the area has been extended northward and westward until now almost the whole state may be considered within the corn belt. This has been accomplished mainly through the selection of hardy varieties and the proper seed. It was thought at first that the old Indian Ree corn would have to be grown in the northern portions of the state exclusively, but soon the Dent and Flint varieties were adapted to the soil, moisture and climate conditions so that now corn can be grown in all portions of the state and is one of the principal assets and resources.

One of the natural resources, particularly in early tinies on the ranges, was the buffalo and grama grasses, often classed as the same by the ranchmen. Even to this day they may be classed as an opportune and valuable state asset. The grama belongs to the genus Boutelua and the buffalo grass to the genus Bulbilis. The two are found closely associated, growing near each other, but not often together. Mesquite grass was also to be found here. There are numerous other wild grasses which made possible the vast buffalo and cattle ranges of early and later times, among them being wheat grass, red top, blue joint, wild rye, beard grass, bur-grass, witch grass, Koeleria, marsh grass, sand grass, several members of the pea family, etc. Several cure while standing, with all their nutritious qualities preserved, so that they furnished good food for live stock all winter, even under the deep snows. Without these grasses the buffalo could not have subsisted and thrived here. The Indian also could not have remained without the buffalo for food and clothing. The great cattle industry was thus rendered possible and profitable. Wild game has been a valuable asset for fur, pelts and flesh.

The quarternary age was important to what is now South Dakota. During that time the part east of the Missouri River was covered with immense glaciers that brought down vast quantities of soil which they gathered up on their way during hundreds of years. As the glaciers melted during their retreat northward the soil was dropped and constitutes much of the surface of the state east of the river. The western edge was approximately where the Missouri River now is and the streams running from its glaciers formed the present stream now known by that name. While this was going on east of the river, the western part of the state was modified by the combined action of rainfall, rivers and lakes being cut and eroded throughout most of its area while deposition was building up some of the smaller portions until the surface was left in its present condition. Thus the west- ern portion had its original surface swept away while the eastern portion had its original surface covered with a new coating now called glacial drift. This glacial deposit is of two kinds, till or boulder clay which is non-stratified, and stratified drift which is made of beds of shale. These are divided into drift sheets and drift sheets and drift hills. The drift sheets are subdivided into till or boulder clay in which is non-stratified and stratified drift. The drift hills are subdivided into Moraines, Osars and Butte ridges. From this drift comes much of the soil east

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

of the Missouri River. Thus the soil of South Dakota which is used for agricul- tural purposes is mainly brought down from further north. At a still later period came the alluvial formations which were made in the main by streams. The geo- logical history of the state is of great interest, but will not be treated here except to show the origin and nature of the soil.

The Missouri River divides the state into two nearly equal geographical divi- sions. It also divides the state into two pretty well defined characters of soil. As the soil makes agriculture and as agriculture makes and will make the history of South Dakota, the consideration of the soil east of the Missouri River is of wide importance from a historic standpoint. That portion of the state east of the Missouri River would not be well developed, would not have its fine rich farms and its prosperous cities and villages were it not for the rich soil which covers the greater portion of this area. Practically the entire surface east of the Missouri River, with comparatively small exceptions, is covered with drift deposits. The soil thus brought here from northern latitudes is more or less mixed and all greatly varying in character, but on the whole is exceedingly fertile, as is proved by the large crops that are grown east of the Missouri River. Over the glacial drift has come with the centuries since the deposit was made, a deep formation of vegetable mold, being usually deep and black and rich with every form of plant food. As the Missouri River was the approximate western boundary of the glacial movement, the soil west of the river is mostly composed of the crumbled primeval strata which existed there, but which east of the Mis- souri has been covered by the drift .deposits and the vegetable mold. Generally the soil east of the Missouri possesses uniform characteristics of fertility, with the exception that here and there where no such deposits were made or were thinly made, the original strata appear on the surface and have all the properties and characteristics of the soil west of the river. In the lake region east of the Missouri the soil is deep and black, while in other sections it is mixed with sand, and in some places of limited area the black gumbo predominates. This bed rock originated from the decomposition of shales which constituted the primeval formation of these localities. This decomposed material contains an abundance of plant food with the exception perhaps of humus. In other localities an abun- dance of humus is found even in the black gumbo soil. Usually the sub-stratum of glacial drift consists of heavy clay, intermingled with which are frequent deposits of gravel, sand, chalk and other material.

It should be stated that the agricultural history of South Dakota, particularly east of the Missouri River, dates from the year 1857 and that a considerable portion of this area has been successfully and continuously cultivated since 1859. The fertility of much of this soil is proved by the fact that over fifty harvests have been taken from many thousands of acres throughout Eastern South Dakota without impairing their fertility. Probably the average cultivated time of the region east of the Missouri is about twenty-five years. This is sufficient to prove that the soil generally is as fertile as any in the country. There are excep- tional areas along the Missouri and on the uplands between the river courses, but the observation applies as a whole to the region east of the Missouri. In early times wheat was grown almost exclusively, but gradually the chemical elements necessary for its growth became deficient, whereupon diversified farming was substituted with excellent and gratifying results. However, there are fields east

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

of the Missouri which have produced bountiful crops of wheat continuously for forty years. These are exceptional tracts and the practice of growing a single crop thereon until the soil becomes exhausted is neither commendable nor advis- able. Diversified farming, rotation of crops and proper fertilization will main- tain the fertility of nearly all of South Dakota soil permanently. The products of the soil of South Dakota for five years from 1905 to 1908 inclusive increased in value from $116,792,000 to $185,434,000. The increase from 1907 to 1908 was over $25,000,000. This did not take into account wild hay, but included wheat, corn, oats, barley, flax, spelz, cultivated hay, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, poultry and eggs, honey, live stock, wool and hides, minerals and other stone. Of course the chief object of the agriculturist should be to maintain the productiveness of his soil. Science has come to his rescue and shows him how this can readily be done.

So much has been said and written concerning the good and bad qualities of South Dakota soil that the ups and downs of the controversy merit the consid- erations of history. Particularly have the qualities of the soil west of the Missouri River received the attention of critics and new settlers. When inves- tigated nearly all the contradictory claims are found to emanate from persons whose pocketbooks are affected. Apparently the only ones to tell the exact truth are the geologists and the state and United States soil experts. The tract west of the Missouri River is a part of the great central plains which extend from the Rio Grande northward far into Canada and from the foot of the Rocky Mountains eastward well across the Mississippi Valley. At the time of the last glacial epoch these plains were nearly level, but since then streams and floods have eroded them until they are now cut up more or less into hills, ravines, etc.

The character of the soil in any region depends upon two great groups of factors, viz .: (1) The character of the material from which it is derived; and (2) the processes by means of which this material has been converted into a medium capable of supporting plant growth. The first has to deal with soil- farming material; the second with soil-farming processes. These two sets of factors are intimately associated, and a given soil condition is always the resultant of a defined combination of these soil-farming factors. Uniformity in the factors will give uniformity in soil, or a soil type, while any variation will as certainly result in a change in its character. Therefore, a knowledge of these factors is essential to a proper understanding of the soils of any region of South Dakota .- (Reconnoissance Soil Survey of Western South Dakota.)

There can be no doubt that a good soil is one of the chief, if not the chief, assets or resources of a county, a state or a nation, as all admit the cultivation of the soil is the foundation of human development and civilization. Notwith- standing this fact is it not remarkable that only during the past generation or so have soil qualities and productiveness been studied and their mysteries revealed in this country? Prior to thirty years ago about all that was known of the soil was what had been handed down like the myths of the ancients from father to son. This was due to the fact that the masses were still mainly uneducated and thus did not know how to improve their economic conditions, and to the further lamentable fact that they were purposely held back by their standpat rulers. "Follow your father, my son, and do as your father has done," was necessary while they were uneducated and while those who were informed failed or refused

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

to tell them how to improve. In the United States no great advance in the crude agricultural methods of the farmers were made until the experiment stations and the Department of Agriculture began the work of improvement and reform. At first even the agricultural colleges were unable to advance along scientific agricultural lines, because they had neither the expert instructors nor the exact and comprehensive text books. Thus it occurred that until field and garden experiments were made and continued to be made there was not sufficient knowl- edge for an advance. The real advance came with the experiments that proved what course to pursue-that supplied the knowledge necessary for the forward movement. Since then the advance has astonished the whole country, has revo- lutionized methods of husbandry and has quadrupled the prosperity of every state in the Union. All of this is absolutely true of South Dakota. At first the agricultural college here, like those of other states, was in the thralldom of politicians and classical students and was diverted from its mission as prescribed in the act of Congress which gave it creation. Even when several of the early professors meekly suggested what the real object was, they were disdained and treated like the clodhoppers they were assumed to be by the agricultural dilettanti who dictated the school's curriculum. It was only when the experiment stations and the Department of Agriculture began to advance with the glittering blades of the fields that the agricultural college authorities waked to a realization of what their mission really was and how far they had fallen from their bounden duties. Now all are united here-are a triple entente-to place better methods in the hand and brain of the South Dakota husbandman.

But the most astonishing fact in this connection is the lethargy exhibited by nearly all farmers of South Dakota in accepting the conclusive experiments which have been proved beyond doubt by the experiment stations, the agricultural col- lege and the Department of Agriculture, or even in admitting that these authori- ties can benefit farming methods and practices. Methods fully substantiated and verified by dozens of experiment stations throughout the United States and Canada fifteen or twenty years ago are still laughed at by thousands of farmers in this and every other state. But in spite of the scoffers, the ignorant and the prejudiced these advances have worked their way into field operations, first being adopted by the more intelligent and progressive farmers and then imitated by their more benighted neighbors.

As a foundation it is admitted that one who cultivates the soil should possess first of all a good knowledge of soil elements-should make a study of its con- stituents and of its possibilities under various moisture, heat and other climatic conditions. Particularly is this true in South Dakota where the character of the soil varies so widely and the crop environments are so numerous and seemingly so contradictory. West of the Missouri River the up-thrust of the Black Hills has brought to the surface every stratum from the earliest Archean to the latest cenozoic. Of course, from these strata is formed all the soil of the state, except what was brought here from a distance by the glaciers. The oldest rocks west of the Missouri are in the Black Hills and consist of granites, schists and gneisses which furnish stony soils which are vastly different from the soil of the plains. They are rich with plant food. Owing to the dip of the strata their edges only are exposed and hence the area of their usefulness is limited. Where they occur near the Hills the surface generally is too broken for profitable agriculture.

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

They form narrow areas which encircle the Hills. Thus, not much of the soil below the Benton and Niobrara groups appears on the plains proper west of the Missouri, so that the greater portion of the soil there is derived from later formations.

These strata are composed largely of what is known as Pierre shale. It outcrops along the Missouri River and extends westward nearly to the Hills which are enclosed by its two arms. The Pierre shale consists of dark to slate-covered clayey shales of several closely related varieties, which form a group known as the Pierre series. The heavy or clay member of the series predominates and . where the shales outcrop this member stands out distinct and characteristic from all others.

The northern third of the area west of the Missouri is composed largely of soft sandstones and sandy shales of the later Cretaceous time. These rocks form a distinct group of soils called the Morton series. In the south central section west of the Missouri are extensive Tertiary deposits consisting here of the White River group (Oligocene) below and the Arikaree group (Miocene) above. In the main these formations are light in color. The White River deposits are a pale flesh-colored to almost white silt loam which often embraces beds of fuller's earth. North of White River this silt loam changes to silty clay or nearly pure clay. The Arikaree formation is similar, but contains much more sand and less clay and therefore furnishes soils of a lighter and more porous texture. Thus the White River and the Arikaree deposits furnish soils of silt loam, silty clay loam, and silty clays with varying (sometimes large) quantities of sand. All are called the Rosebud series. In the White River group area are the Bad Lands. A special formation of the group, containing much sand, is called Hermosa or Hermosa loam.

Along the Cheyenne River are gravel terraces and here the soils have been placed in the Cheyenne series. It is presumed that these terraces were formed at the time that portion of the state east of the Missouri River was covered with glaciers. The present valley of the Missouri probably formed the western extension of the ice fields, though small sections of the ice field may have depos- ited soil here and there west of the river. In the southwestern part of the state are heavy sand deposits from the Arikaree formation. Here are found sandy loam called Dunesand, Gannette fine sand and Smithwick sandy loam.

The above and a few other different formations have formed all the soils west of the Missouri River. But what were the processes that converted these rocks and strata into soils and how did they influence the character and proper- ties of such soils? While it is true that the chemical constituents of the strata had much to do with the character of the soils, it is likewise true that climatic conditions contributed not a little to the same end. Soils formed under sub- humid to semi-arid environments always differ greatly from those formed under extremely moist conditions. The former contain more soluble material, owing to the fact that they have not been leached as much as the latter. Thus the soils of the semi-arid districts, especially the shales, yet contain large quantities of soluble mineral salts which cut an important figure in agriculture. Excessive accumulations of these salts occur here and there. Much lime and other soluble material exert an important effect upon the organic supply of the soil. They serve to humify the organic matter, giving the soil a dark appearance which the

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

SOIL GROUPS AND TYPES

Proportion of type

Level

Very

Very Rolling to very Hilly

Broken Percent.

Total area Acres

Morton fine sandy loam.

2,430,720

Morton loams

3,744,000

Morton clay

100

. .

9,216

Morton gumbo

396,288

2. Pierre Series-

Pierre loams and clay loams

2,421,504

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 2

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146