USA > South Dakota > History of Dakota Territory, volume III > Part 69
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This year stock growers of the foot hills suffered so much from the depreda- tions of big gray wolves that they at last determined on a general hunt to remove as many as possible. Accordingly twenty-one horsemen surrounded a large tract including Hat Creek Canyon, closed in and captured five of the animals. The horsemen had with then a number of English trail hounds. About this time a second great fire destroyed nearly the whole of Deadwood's principal busi- ness street. In July a body of students from Princeton College in charge of Prof. J. B. Holitier toured the Bad Lands in search of fossils and curios ; they collected about 9,000 pounds, mostly the fossilized remains of extinct animals.
They secured a complete specimen of the extinct pig-Elotherium. An important question this year was whether the herd law should be repealed.
In the early '70s Russian immigrants brought to this state in their baggage seed of the Russian thistle, which they intentionally or inadvertently scattered along the highways and finally through the fields. It has since been asserted that they brought it intentionally to serve as feed for sheep during its early growth as they had used it in their native country. It is here to stay. From time to time organizations of farmers, weed pest experts, the Legislature and Congress have tried to remove the plague but without avail. Perhaps the Russian settler feels more at home with his old weed comrade near him. In Congress in 1894 attached to the agricultural appropriation bill was a clause appropriating $1,000,000 for the extermination of this thistle in the two Dakotas. The con- gressional delegation of both of these states fought desperately for the retention of this clause, but it was stricken out in July.
Better and more concerted efforts to prevent destructive prairie fires were made this year than ever before. Farmers had learned through sorry experience and severe losses that the best way was to do the burning themselves after they had protected their stacks and buildings with furrows or narrow burned strips around their property.
While diversified farming was rapidly on the increase in 1894, it was true that the state was short in several important food articles. In May, 1894, large quan- tities of potatoes and onions from Wisconsin arrived in car load lots and were sold to local retailers in Sioux Falls at $1 per bushel in 100-bushel lots. In 1893
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one firm there brought in $10,000 worth of potatoes, for which they found ready sale. Other portions of the state witnessed similar importations. The news- papers attacked this custom and declared it was due to the lack of diversified farming.
Many of the counties held fairs this year, among them being Yankton, Clay, Union, Lincoln, Bon Homme and Hutchinson. The state fair at Aberdeen was moderately successful. That city cleared over three hundred dollars on its grain palace exhibition and had a royal time in addition. The district fair at Center- ville was even a greater success than the state fair.
Prior to the middle of November there were shipped from the Black Hills region alone cattle worth over $5,000,000. These cattle were fattened wholly on the native grasses of that region-buffalo grass (Bulbilis dactyloides), curly mesquite or false buffalo grass, the gramas, blue joint, sand grass, and others. The profits were estimated at $4,000,000, because it cost next to nothing to raise the cattle and to fatten them for the market. From Belle Fourche alone there were shipped this year about 3,000 car loads of these cattle. During a general hunt in Hand County in the fall of 1894 there were killed about 3,500 jack rabbits. In a similar hunt in Beadle County 445 rabbits, I fox and I wolf were destroyed by several companies of twenty men each. It was estimated that the hot winds this year reduced South Dakota's crops 50 per cent. This fact set all the agencies at work to change, evade, modify or correct the evil. The free wool tariff law interfered with wool and sheep production, it was both claimed and denied. In 1904 a plan of R. O. Richards was to amend the con- stitution so that townships could issue as high as eighteen thousand dollars in bonds with which to sink nine artesian wells, which would be sufficient to irrigate the whole township. From the Department of Agriculture came the request in 1894 for farmers to grow more corn instead of wheat.
At the Russian thistle convention held in St. Paul early in 1895 there were passed resolutions asking the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the two Dakotas for general appropriations to destroy the pest. There was a big battle in the Legislature of 1895 as to whether a bounty for wild cat, wolf and mountain lion scalps should be paid by the state. It was a Black Hills measure and was urged with great persistence. The object was to protect cattle in the unorganized counties. Such a bill was declared constitutional by the attorney-general. It passed in modified form.
At the farmers' institute held at Yankton in January, 1895, all subjects were discussed solely from a scientific standpoint for almost the first time in the history of the state. At previous institutes, while scientific lectures and discus- sions occurred, they were interspersed with experiences not based upon scientific inquiry and investigation. Now the agricultural college influence was beginning to be exerted and felt. At this institute were Professors Phillips, Sheppard, Wheaton, and other scientists, who discussed milk and its products from the up-to-date standpoint. The chemistry of soils was explained and topics were looked at from a new angle and not from the old one of the farmer's experience alone. The Dell Rapids Creamery was cited as a model establishment of its kind. It had purchased the year before 2,254,553 pounds of milk, paying from 50 to 83 cents a hundred pounds. George W. Palmer was state veterinarian at this time. Elkton had a cooperative creamery company.
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In March, 1895, Governor Sheldon issued a proclamation which excluded Texas cattle from the state owing to the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia. In. this proclamation it was shown that on the state ranges were 75,000 calves and yearlings from Texas and that many of them were afflicted with this disease. They were kept here a year or two, fattened on the ranges at little expense and then shipped to market. This trade brought to South Dakota and particularly to the Black Hills district from eight to ten million dollars annually. This procla- mation was issued at the instance of the Department of Agriculture. In the spring of 1895 approximately ten thousand head of young cattle from Minnesota were driven to the ranges west of the Missouri River.
This year the Sheep Breeders' Association passed resolutions opposing free wool and asking for a duty of 6 cents per pound. In July about five hundred thousand pounds of wool were shipped from Pierre, the product of the range country to the westward. During one day at Alexandria 14,000 pounds of wool were marketed. The price paid was 9 cents per pound. The freight rates on wool from Pierre to Chicago were 82 cents per hundred pounds, and from the Black Hills were $1.42 per hundred. This fact caused wool growers living as far west as the forks of the Cheyenne to bring their wool to Pierre. Cattle rustlers were the pest and terror of the growers, who often organized, ran down the culprits and either arrested them or hung them to the nearest tree.
This year more men were brought to the state from outside to help in the harvest than ever before. Often oats yielded over 100 bushels to the acre and 30 bushels of wheat per acre was a common crop, though above the average. Corn ran from 40 to 50 bushels to the acre. Highmore was the center of impor- tant dairy interests. The great hay fields were historic sights. Weather reports came from Huron. The glanders which had prevailed over the ranges for many years was checked this year and slowly exterminated. Severe hail storms and destructive tornadoes devastated portions of the state. The hot winds came too late to seriously affect the small grain crop. At the meeting of the Sheep Breeders' Association held at Mitchell in June, Kyle, Gamble and Pickler were present and delivered addresses ; they promised relief to wool growers.
The state fair at Sioux Falls in September was successful, though it fell behind financially. A. A. Grant was president and John Pettibone, secretary. The contract between that city and the State Board of Agriculture was that the former should pay the latter $1,500 the first year and $1,000 per year thereafter for six years as a bonus to secure the fair. In addition Sioux Falls agreed to put the grounds in order and pay the printing bills. It was declared that while the city paid the $1,500 it did not comply with the remainder of the contract and finally took the latter in order to evade the obligation. In any event the state board became insolvent after this fair and failed to pay the premiums as advertised. The total receipts were $10,711.61. Nearly all of this was denied by Sioux Falls, which promptly went to work to retrieve the disaster which it claimed was mainly due to the board's helping itself to the gate receipts. Senator Pettigrew took up the cause of the city and scored the state board, said it should be abolished as it was run wholly on a wrong basis, declared it was corrupt and bred disparity and should not be allowed to hold another fair in the state, defrauding the people as it did. But the board was not an officially constituted body- was a private concern in the game to make money. After an investigation
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the state board was cleared of blame in October. It was "more sinned against than sinning" it was said. As a matter of history, the board deserves great credit for its efforts in the face of the most discouraging circumstances.
The Corn Palace Exposition at Mitchell was a striking success this year, as it was the year before. It was formally incorporated in the spring with L. C. Barnes, D, A. Mizner, L. C. Gale, J. K. Smith and William Smith as incor- porators. It was at this time that tumbling mustard began to make its appear- ance over the highways and fields in the eastern part-another weed pest to be controlled. Destructive prairie fires swept away thousands of dollars worth of property despite all the warnings and precautions.
A law passed by the Legislature several years before required outside cor- porations doing business in this state to comply with certain restrictive and oppressive regulations. The result was to drive many of them from the state- including the Dun and the Bradstreet agencies. This law was repealed in 1895, whereupon those two concerns and others returned. The census this year gave the state a population of 330,975, as against 328,808 in 1890. Thirty-two coun- ties showed a decrease and thirty-seven counties an increase. This report was a disappointment to the people who had thought from the indications that there had been a substantial increase. They had not taken into account that many had become discouraged owing to the prevalent hard times and the usual hardships incident to a new country and had gone back East. It was particularly noted this year that the "Great American Desert" had almost wholly disappeared and was slowly being transformed into profitable cattle ranges and then into equally profitable ranches or farms. Many had contended that drought was South Dakota's normal condition in summer, but it was shown that the average annual rainfall in the vicinity of Pierre was about 16 inches, at Watertown about 26 inches and at other points as high as 40 inches. For twenty-one years, ending with 1895, the average precipitation over the state east of the Missouri was 26.41 inches, the highest being 40.95 inches in 1881 and the lowest 14.41 in 1894. Already it was shown that with proper management the whole state could be made available for the various forms of husbandry. Irrigation, tree planting, drought resistant plants, and conservation of moisture were seen to be the leading factors for this finality.
This falling off in the population of the young and attractive state furnished food for serious thought to all residents during the winter of 1895-96, with the result that numerous immigration and "boosting" mass meetings and conventions were held in all sections. At the immigration convention held at Mitchell, Janu- ary 17th, delegates were present from all centers. It was ascertained that other western localities outside of South Dakota had succeeded in winning large bodies of immigrants away from this state. H. H. Keith, who presided, urged the importance of properly advertising the opening of the Yankton Reservation and the advantages of the lands west of the Missouri River. It was declared at this meeting that the custom here of agitating the irrigation subject amounted to a confirmation to outsiders that the state did not have sufficient rainfall and that such agitation really checked and prevented settlement. On the other hand it was stated that any misrepresentation of the true conditions-any "boosting" done by lying-would react upon the state, and that too much of such "boosting" had already been done. This convention issued a circular which was widely dis-
LAST THREE HUNDRED BUFFALO ON THE AMERICAN RANGE, NEAR PIERRE
THE BUFFALO HERD ON FULL FEED
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tributed, telling the facts about the state, showing all its good points and calling for 100,000 settlers.
In January, 1896, the Black Hills Improvement Association was organized through the influence of the mayors of all the leading cities in that portion of the state. The object was to develop the untold wealth of the Hills and to induce capital to come there for investment. The construction of a gold palace was planned. This meeting was held at Deadwood and was presided over by Fred T. Evans.
All of the fairs this year indicated to what extent improved breeds of live stock had been introduced, particularly in the eastern section. Aberdeen Angus, Durhams, Guernseys and Herefords could be seen on the ranches or farms. The latter were commonly called "white faced cattle" and had become great favorites. This year was very important to the dairy interests, many new dairies and creameries being added. At the State Dairymen's Association annual meeting in January it was stated that there were about fifty creameries in successful opera- tion and nine others being built. There were made in 1895 4,500,000 pounds of butter which sold for an average of 22 cents a pound. Nearly all the plants were cooperative. Five years before 1895 the state did not make enough butter for home use. The winter of 1895-96 was an open one and cattle subsisted wholly on the wonderful range grasses which cured without cutting. Many were shipped to market in January, the owners fearing that the excellent conditions might not continue. In going from South Dakota to Chicago cattle shrunk in weight 140 pounds and hogs twenty pounds. It was believed that this was a "hold up" at Chicago. The chief state industries this year were general farming, grain grow- ing, dairying, cattle growing and mining. Manufacturing was limited, and job- bing was confined to Sioux Falls mainly.
In April, 1896, Yankton secured the state fair for nine years upon condition that it should furnish a forty-acre site near the railway station, make the neces- sary improvements, guarantee the premiums the first year and pay the expenses of the board of agriculture. Frank M. Byrne became the new president of the association, Morris H. Kelley, secretary and J. E. Platt, treasurer. The fair was duly held in September and was a pronounced success-more so than for several years.
The Western South Dakota Stock Growers' Association held its fourth annual meeting at Rapid City this year, there being a large attendance of dele- gates and cattlemen. The association now numbered 346 members who owned 200,000 cattle. When first organized it had but fourteen members. The range cattle industry west of the Missouri was developed principally during these few years.
Other important industrial events in 1896 were the extensive burning of corn and hay for fuel; the large numbers of hogs that died of cholera; the great increase in the number of creameries and cheese factories (181) ; and the an- nouncement of the State Bankers' Association that the state financially was never in better condition.
The deep snows were the striking features of the early part of 1897. It was openly said that the drifts generally were deeper than ever before. All of the state north of Sioux Falls and east of the Missouri River had more snow than any winter since 1880-81. The ice was also unusually thick. In the James River
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Valley the drifts covered fences and all small trees and shrubs. Great floods were predicted at the break-up. At Pierre the snow blockade interfered seri- ously with the work of the Legislature. Snow piles along the railway between Pierre and Huron were sixteen feet high. On March 11th another furious snow storm swept all of South Dakota east of the Missouri and blockaded all trans- portation for several days. Snow was about four feet deep at this time over most of the eastern portion. The spring came slowly without flooding.
This year the Government established a hatching station on nine acres near Spearfish. Grasshoppers were seen in Spink, Day and Brown counties, in June. Professor Saunders of the agricultural college investigated and showed how to exterminate the pest. The creameries showed up better than ever before. But- ter made by six creameries of Kingsbury County in 1896 sold on the track for one hundred thousand dollars, in round numbers. The DeSmet creameries were famous. It was shown that the fine and delicious flavor of South Dakota butter and cheese was due to the aroma of the native grasses on which the cows fed. The state fair this year was better than ever before, there being notable improve- ments in all departments-racing, live stock, school children exhibits, women's work, grain display and vegetables; but the attendance was smaller than at sev- eral previous fairs. The total receipts were only about seven thousand dollars. Fred Schnauber was president of the association.
During 1896-97-98 the culture of sugar beets received a strong impulse under the supervision of Professor Sheppard, director of the experiment station at Brookings. Several companies organized to handle the beets and farmers here and there tried their skill with this crop. Excellent results were obtained by Professor Sheppard on the experiment farm-an average of about sixteen per cent of sugar.
Early in 1898 it was concluded to send East lecturers instead of circulars to expound the attractions of South Dakota, but the plan seems to have been aban- doned. The state dairymen's meeting of February was an important event, because many new methods were explained. Lieutenant-Governor Gibbs of Min- nesota lectured on the subject, "The Cow and Her Feed." More than one hun- dred and fifty delegates from all sections were present. All agreed that, in political parlance, the "American cow has a great and growing constituency." The subject of what to feed to produce the most and best milk was considered and discussed in detail. The native grasses had many firm friends. It was at this time that the growing importance of alfalfa was called to the attention of the delegates. At the meeting of the dairymen in DeSmet valuable prizes were awarded.
"While Harry Adams was gone on his eastern trip he closed a contract with the Reeves Pulley Company of Columbus, Ind., for the construction of one of the celebrated horseless wagons to be used between Pierre and Rapid City. The wagon will be constructed especially for this route and the motive power will be supplied by a Wolverine gasoline engine of sixteen horse power. The tank supplying this will hold sufficient gasoline for three single trips. The wagon will be elegantly finished and upholstered, furnished with canopy tops and storm curtains and will be guaranteed in every way. Under favorable conditions it will make twenty miles an hour and it is expected during the summer to make the trip in sixteen hours."-Pierre Journal, April, 1898.
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By 1898 the state had made great advance in improved methods of farming, the most modern machinery and better live stock. It was already seen that the days of the ranges were numbered, in view of the demand for homesteads and fenced farms. The influence of the agricultural college, the experiment station and the United States Department of Agriculture, with their hundreds of bulletins and circulars on every subject of husbandry, was a powerful factor for improve- ment. But it was hard for the farmer to realize that a college professor could know more about farming than he did or that he knew anything worth while concerning farming. The farmers usually ridiculed all the attempts of profes- sors to improve farming methods. Such men they called "college farmers." With this prejudice to combat the state and government agricultural experts had a hard time to uproot the old wasteful and improvident methods. But hammering at last made a break which has steadily grown down to the present time. Alfalfa fields could be seen here and there in 1898. Hogs took to it readily. Balanced rations for hogs, cattle, sheep and horses began to be discussed around the fire- sides and hearthstones of the farmers. In 1897 the Huron creamery bought 1,853,030 pounds of milk and sold butter and cream to the amount of $12,696.27, of which sum $10,836.75 was distributed to the farmer stockholders of the con- cern. In April there were in the state 145 creameries that handled daily over six thousand pounds of milk. Their annual income was about two million dol- lars. Four years before there were but six cream separator plants in the state. This year sixty-eight varieties of standard apples were grown in Yankton County alone.
The state fair of 1898, though well attended, fell short of the receipts of 1897. There was slim attendance on the first and fifth days. The racing was excellent and all the exhibits good. At the close of the year the society was behind $1,866.98. The total receipts were $4,427.25. Premiums to the amount of $2,006.60 were paid. The races cost $1,174.53. The general expenses were $2,336.25. As a matter of fact the so-called state fair was little, if any, better than the district fair at Scotland and many of the county fairs. Its foundation was weak.
At the annual meeting of the State Horticultural Society in December, 1898, many interesting papers were read, among them being: "Model Farm Home," by G. L. Gilman; "Diversity in Farming," by William Walpole; "Economics of the Household," by Isabella S. Frisbee; "Plum Growing," by H. J. Gurney ; "Cherry Growing," by Sam Kaucher; "Celery Growing," by W. B. D. Gray ; "Canning and Preserving," by Mrs. Thomas Thorson; "The Trip to Russia and Siberia," by Prof. N. E. Hanson ; other papers were read. A question box was an interesting feature. Among the subjects discussed were: "Advantages of the State Fair," "Sugar Beet Culture," "Sugar Beet Growing," "Grain Farming," "Plant and Animal Diseases and their Treatment," "Care of the Orchard," "Fruit Crop of 1898," "Marketing the Fruit Crop," "Farmers' Orchards," "Profit in Apples," "House Plants," etc. A full line of fruit trees for all parts of the state was recommended at this meeting.
In 1899 Professor Sheppard at farmers' institutes described his experiments with sugar beets: 86 samples yielded from 12 to 14 per cent of sugar; 127 samples, 14 to 16; 99 samples, 16 to 18; 28 samples, 18 to 20; 10 samples, 20 to 22 ; 7 samples, 22 to 24. A sugar beet company was organized at Sioux Falls.
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John Armstrong in an open letter to the farmers in January, 1899, told them how to feed their live stock-explained about the balanced ration, protein, carbo- hydrates, etc., and noted why bulk was necessary. In January the wolves and coyotes were so thick and fierce west of the Missouri River that many parties of hunters organized for their extermination.
The National Creamery Butter Makers' Association met at Sioux Falls in January, there being present delegates from nearly every state in the Union. Large quantities came to contest for the prizes offered. Much indignation was expressed over the fact that a large oleomargarine factory of Chicago was put- ting out more of that product than there was being sold butter by 1,000 large creameries, because the law did not prevent them from passing it off as butter. Stringent resolutions for better legislation on the subject were passed. A. W. McCall, of Iowa, took the first prize for the best single exhibit of butter, his score being 97. Minnesota had 169 entries and was marked 88.2; Iowa had 170 and was marked 87.8; South Dakota showed 48 samples and was marked 86.6.
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