History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 71

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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In 1901 a bounty was offered by Brown County on gophers and the result surprised everybody. When the bounty offer came to an end on May 20, the total number which had been received at the auditor's office in Aberdeen was 309,885 on which a bounty of $6,197.70 was paid. One large consignment sent by express was not received in time to be counted in the above figures but was counted soon after its arrival. The tails came in so thick and fast as nearly to swamp the working force of the office. On the last day over eighty thousand tails were received, counted and certificates were awarded.

During the discussion of the wolf bounty question what seemed to be a gigan- tic fraud committed against the state was disclosed. The records showed that four men secured nearly all the bounty paid on certificates turned over to the treasurers of Meade and Pennington counties. The amount thus paid was $11,000. It was recorded that the wolves had been killed in these two counties. The cer- tificates and affidavits disclosed that these four men killed nearly if not quite one thousand wolves .. The certificates were assigned to the Meade County Bank and after the last $5,000 became available that institution filed the certificates with the state auditor in large numbers. When the fund was exhausted no more certificates arrived. About this time one of the men was arrested and taken to Montana on a warrant from the governor of that state on the charge of per- jury in connection with wolf bounty frauds. It was the theory that the scalps which were sold to South Dakota had filled after having been punched by Wyo- ming or Montana or both and that at least two or three of the states mentioned paid for wolves killed within their borders.

Enclosing the Hills like two loving arms were the two main branches of the Cheyenne River, the numerous affluents of which drank the water of the melting snow and then tumbled in rapids and cascades down through fragrant valleys past farms and villages and cities on their missions of usefulness or devastation. High above were the prairie or table lands torn by the waters of former ages. As a whole the Hills stood out a lofty plateau with a mean elevation of from five to six thousand feet above the sea, but really varying in height from three thousand five hundred to eight thousand four hundred feet. In delightful and picturesque confusion were ranged hand in hand mountains, hills, shining min- erals, bursting waterfalls, natural parks, stately trees, beautiful and aromatic valleys and the everlasting and stately spirit of lovely nature that was always present and ever kind and sweet.

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Fruit did well in the valleys and on the slopes and hills. Nine-tenths of the whole area was covered with the nutritious native grasses where thousands of cattle roamed and subsisted. Every year about this time saw from 2,500 to 3,000 carloads of cattle started to market. The Hills had and have the greatest range of diversified industry in the world-farming, grazing, lumbering, manufactur- ing and mining. Like the hills of Moab they seem ever to have over them the divine benediction of the sunshine and the storm.

From 1899 to 1902 the County of Lyman was infested with a large gang of cattle rustlers and horse thieves headed by the notorious Jack Sully and closely followed by dozens of others nearly as desperate as he. They were able for several years to elect men to office who were either part of their organization or men who did not have the courage to oppose them in "rustling" live stock from the settlers who were trying to make an honest living in that newly settled part of the state. The circuit judge was unable to secure convictions with a jury chosen by the sheriff and clerk of the courts who were influenced by Sully's gang of thieves, and affairs became so desperate by 1902 that an independent county ticket was elected and was composed of clean men who believed in the enforce- ment of the law and the protection of the settlers. Then it was that the circuit judge could get men on the jury who were not part of the organized group of thieves. The result was that within two years fully twenty men were sent to the penitentiary from that county, and Jack Sully was killed by Federal officers while trying to evade arrest.

The Black Hills Forest Reserve was considered one of the most important in the country. In 1901 there were in the United States fifty-four such reserves. This one contained 1,211,680 acres. In 1902, 1,121 acres were burned over. That year timber to the value of $20,269.52 was sold. The agents granted 303 grazing permits. Up to this time the price received for the sale of timber was double the expense of caring for the reserve. Binger Hermann was commis- sioner at this time.

During the winter of 1901-02 over 12,000 head of cattle owned by white men were scattered on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, permission for which having been granted by the secretary of the interior. The cattle were permitted to remain until spring upon the payment of 50 cents per head to the Indians for the privi- lege. On other reservations large herds were also scattered, the rates being about the same.

During the summer of 1902 numerous meetings were held in all parts of the state to voice the demand of the people that South Dakota should be suitably represented at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. It was not a pleading, but a demand, that the state should occupy a creditable place at the great fair. The Business Mens' Association of Huron passed tart resolutions demanding such representation. A movement under the leadership of Scotty Phillips had for its object a Sioux Indian exhibit and an exhibit of a herd of his buffalo at the fair.

At a big meeting on the grounds at Alexandria this fall sixteen fast horses contested for prizes ; $2,500 was paid for trotting, pacing and running races. The gate receipts amounted to over $1,000. Prior to 1902 all of the state fairs were little or no better than district fairs and were inferior to many county fairs in other states. There was no general action by the citizens to make it represent the

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products of the whole state. In 1902 a change seemed to come over the spirits of the good people. Prosperity had greeted them with loving hand-clasp and at last all seemed to feel the stimulus of pride in their noble state. For more than twenty years Sioux City had laughed and made faces at the attempts to hold a state fair in South Dakota, had declared it out of the question and had called upon all here to drop the farce and attend a real fair in that city. But now that wealth was abundant the people decided to take a step that would be a credit to all. Half a dozen cities prepared in 1902 to bid for the fair to be held in Sep- tember, 1903. It was now demanded with due emphasis by the voters that the next Legislature must pass a bill carrying the necessary appropriation.

In December, 1902, Senator Gamble's bill in Congress provided for setting apart a tract of 9,000 acres near Hot Springs for the proposed Wind Cave National Park, which included Crystal Cave and other rare natural attractions. It was proposed that Capt. Seth Bullock be placed in charge of the park.

It was noted in 1902 that the cattle and horses raised and marketed in the Black Hills were almost as valuable as the mines. And the cattle were better than ever before, having Durham, Hereford or Aberdeen-Angus blood in their veins. Corbin Morse, representing the American Live Stock and Loan Com- pany of Chicago, bought and sold 16,000 head of cattle this year in the Hills.

The crocus or anemone having been chosen generally as the state flower in 1893, it was proposed that the motto to go with it should be "I Lead." A news- paper suggested that it would be more appropriate to adopt the Russian thistle with the motto "I Roll." Five or six Carnegie libraries were established in 1902-03. A horse disease called "maladie du soit" afflicted the western part of the state in February. A lot of cattle with anthrax were quarantined at Huron at the same time. The wolf bounty was limited to $4,000 in 1903, which made the hunting of those animals unprofitable and therefore hunters turned their atten- tion to other game. A portion of the fund remained in the treasury.

The Legislature of 1903 serious considered any and all plans that promised relief from the hot winds that dried up the crops so during the summers. They decided that more artesian wells and more lakes formed therefrom would assist to alleviate the scourge. Dipping tanks for sheep had long been in use in the state and now in 1903 the same for cattle were introduced under the law at all cattle centers. The design was to kill lice, ticks and various other skin para- sites and skin diseases. A new iron bridge over the Cheyenne River at the mouth of Fall River was opened in April. Charles K. Howard was president of the Western South Dakota Stock Breeders' Association at this time; F. M. Stewart was secretary-treasurer and H. A. Dawson, vice president.

Cattle shippers had learned from sorry experience not to send cattle in large lots to Chicago at one time, because prices were reduced by the packers. The shrinkage continued to be large-over one hundred pounds to an animal. This fact caused the shippers to begin to send their cattle to Sioux City and to urge the establishment of packing plants at Sioux Falls.

During all the years before 1903 it was declared on all the ranges that "Grass is King." The cattle shipped in 1902 were valued at $9,424,067, and all or nearly all were fattened on the native grasses of the ranges. The cattle shipped in 1891 were valued at $4,998,420. During eleven years, from 1892 to 1903, there was spent $11,977.57 for the prosecution of cattle frauds and cattle thieves. In

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1902 12,440 cattle were recovered from men who were not their lawful owners. They were valued at $503,532.02. In 1891 there were thus recovered 5,729 worth $227,269.18. The lower Belle Fourche round-up was always an interest- ing and exciting event. Thousands of cattle were brought in and branded with the owners' marks. The best range riders of the state were here.

It was justly declared that the exhibit from Hughes County at the Huron fair was not grown there, but was obtained from other counties or perhaps from Nebraska or Kansas. Hughes County had taken the first prize there and the second prize at the state fair in Yankton. These statements and charges were ascribed to the capital contest between Pierre and Mitchell that was then raging over the whole state. Late in October the State Board of Agriculture at a meet- ing held in Watertown announced that Faulk County was entitled to first prize at the state fair, and gave Davison County second place and Hughes third place. The score was: Faulk, 707; Davison, 693; Hughes, 677. At this date for the first time in the history the best corn lands in the state were valued at $100 per acre-sold for that sum. This year's potato crop was one of the greatest ever grown. In October this year there were recorded at the statehouse 4,916 private animal brands.

The passing of the cowboy, the rustler and the rancher had slowly come with the homesteader and the wire fence. The free plains, it was seen, were doomed at an early day. Nearly all the big and historic ranches were being closed. This year the Pure Food Commission sent out regularly circulars specifying what food stuffs were adulterated.

"There is little use of trying to grow potatoes in the drier sections of the Dakotas with any hope of a certain crop, if late varieties are planted. The late potato or the early one planted late is almost certain to be in that critical stage known as setting when the almost certain dry, hot spell comes on. If strong, vigorous seed is planted as soon as the ground is warmed up for it and that seed is of the standard early variety, a fair crop is almost certain to result if the land is rich and well prepared. Then everything should be done to force the plant along and nothing done (such as too deep cultivation or heaping the earth around the hills) to retard it."-Dakota Farmer, January, 1903.

The short courses at the agriculture college this year covered (1) live stock judging and feeding; (2) diseases of farm animals and treatment ; (3) practical horticulture; (4) pests and diseases of farm crops, their eradication, etc .; (5) general agriculture, which included farm machinery, corn judging, grain clean- ing and grading; also 12 weeks at commercial nursery work; 12 weeks at butter- making ; 12 weeks at domestic science for young women ; and 24 weeks at steam engineering. The president was scheduled to deliver twelve lectures on home reading and self culture.

During 1903 the creameries in the state were reduced from 153 to 130, owing to the lack of milk caused by the bad cow winter of 1902-03. Late in 1903 big gray wolves killed many young cattle within sixty miles of Pierre. The cattle men offered $15 for each gray wolf scalp. This set the hunters at work and soon the pests were exterminated. The wealth production per capita in 1903 exceeded that of any other states of the Union. The American Prairie Dog Exterminating Company, with a capital of $5,000, was organized with J. J. Jockley at its head. He stated that he had discovered a means to kill the animals on a large scale.

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An important problem in 1903 was the re-grassing of the plains and prai- ries. Several years before this date, in an effort in this direction and in order to secure drought resistant grains, Prof. M. A. Carleton, of the Department of Agriculture, had visited Russia, where he secured samples of the macaroni or durum wheat which grew there under the same weather and climate conditions as prevailed in the Northwestern states. These samples were sent to all the experiment stations with instructions to test them. Two leading varieties- Kubanka and Velvet Don-he brought in considerable quantity, the former com- ing from Uralskty, a semi-arid region, and the latter from Ambrocierka, also a semi-arid region, of Russia. In the spring of 1902 Professor Sheppard received about forty bushels of these two varieties. He sowed 114 bushels to the acre and obtained a good crop. This proved to be the durum wheat that has since become so valuable and popular in South Dakota.

At the meeting of the Improved Live Stock Association at Mitchell in Feb- ruary, 1904, J. M. Erion, of Mitchell, officiated as president. The object of the association was to grow and develop all blooded live stock and poultry. There were shown Shorthorn, Hereford and Angus cattle; Duroc Jersey, Poland China and Chester White hogs ; and Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Light Brahma, Cochin, Leghorn and Indian game chickens. It was declared that alfalfa was almost indispensable for all of these animals.

At the Mitchell Corn Palace Exposition in 1903 six varieties of corn from Lyman County were shown. Among them were splendid samples of Yellow Dent. The Ree corn exhibit attracted all observers. The latter crop, it was asserted, averaged eighty bushels to the acre and grew almost directly from the ground and not on tall stalks. That county also showed samples of the old sod- corn-the kind that had flourished twenty years before. In this exhibit, also, were Heyne's pedigreed wheat, alkali grass, sugar cane nine feet high, etc. This was the fifth corn belt contest at Mitchell. The idea was originated in Sioux City in the early '8os and taken up by Mitchell in 1892. The building in 1893 was 100 by 140 feet and located in the heart of the city. It was of Moorish design, with nine towers and minarets, the decorations being Mosaic, Arabesque and Grecian. Corns, grains and grasses were used to decorate the exterior until the towers seemed to be solid grain-mostly corn; sugar cane was also used. The building was lighted with incandescent globes. In a popcorn room were shown all farm and farm-home products. The work of women and girls was shown in detail.

In 1903 silos began to make their appearance here and there throughout the state ; they were especially welcomed and needed by the dairymen who wanted green feed for their cows during the winter months. Alfalfa was rapidly becom- ing popular. It was first brought from Chili to California in 1854 and then gradually spread eastward. It had been grown in Persia and Egypt for thousands of years. In the United States in early times were from eight hundred to nine hundred native grasses, many very nutritious. The most valuable wild grasses in South Dakota were buffalo, false buffalo, curly mesquite, blue joint, sand grass, alkali, grama, and others. Several had the characteristic of drying on the stem with all their nourishing qualities impaired. Such grasses furnished the winter feed for cattle under the deep snow despite intense cold. They possessed high fattening qualities, but were low in protein.

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In 1903-04 there were many evidences that the great cattle ranges were fast disappearing. It was announced in December, 1903, that Harris Franklin, the Driskills, Connor Brothers and the Lake Toombs Company were closing out. Those who favored paying no bounty for wolf scalps maintained that dogs killed more domestic animals than wolves. Shepherd and Newfoundland dogs were declared to be the worst.

In January a party of hunters went from Pierre to the Scotty Phillips Ranch to shoot four buffalos known as the "outlaws," one of which could not be con- trolled or approached. Among the party were Governor Herried, Scotty Phil- lips, T. E. Phillips, R. H. Kellogg, E. H. Warner, Doctor Tilton, E. C. Jones, and others. A party of Indians went along as guides. The four were finally seen about sixty miles west of Forest City at 8 o'clock A. M. They were pursued till 3 o'clock P. M., before a shot was secured. The governor took the first shot, but the animal, though hit, did not fall, whereupon T. E. Phillips fired, after which the buffalo ran two miles and then fell. Both shots had taken effect behind the shoulder, but the big bull was so strong and hardy that he resisted the effects. His head and hide were brought to Pierre.

It should be noted that the tract of country between the Missouri River and the Black Hills remained untenanted so long for the following reasons: (1) The Indians held the land until recent years and continued to reside on reser- vations there after the bulk was opened to settlement and were not desirable neighbors for the white settlers; (2) that region had no railroads and hence farm products raised there could not be marketed at a profit except such as could market themselves, as cattle, horses and sheep; (3) the soil was presumably, in part at least, semi-arid and seemed uninviting to the man who wanted to grow large, sure crops and did not understand the soil nor the climatic conditions. It is now known that the lack of railroads was the only serious obstable. Had the state at the start built two or three lines from the Missouri River to the Hills, or encouraged railway companies to do so, that portion of the state would have gained fifteen years in settlement. But the state was young and the times hard and it was deemed best to wait. But it has been questioned whether it was wise to surround the railway companies with restrictions and obstacles until they were unable to extend their lines and until they were forced to enter politics for their own protection.

This year great efforts to stamp out cattle mange were made. All cars which had contained mange cattle were required to be disinfected before being used again. All cattle yards were similarly treated. Companies that made dipping a special and perfect process were formed and passed from tank to tank to do the work at so much per head. The Department of Agriculture said the whole state was infected with scabies or Texas itch. This caused the authorities to double their efforts and precautions, until in the end the diseases or scourges were eradicated. Dipping was made compulsory during this period-two dippings for each animal ten or twelve days apart. Sanitation became the watchword in home and field. Dipping tanks for cattle with mange were erected through all the range country. In May fifty-four carloads of barbed wire came at one time for use on the ranges west of the Missouri. Ten came to Pine Ridge, twenty to Pierre and twenty-four to Chamberlain. Settlers and wire fences meant doom to the free ranges, it was declared. Lyman County received many settlers this

SOME OF THE SCOTTY, PHILLIP BUFFALO

Those in the lower picture, taken about 1883 near Cheyenne River, were known as the Dupree herd and were the progenitors of the present famous herd

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year. "Grass, Grain, Gold" was suggested as the state motto when the anemone or pasque flower was adopted as the state flower. The decline in cattle ship- ments was foretold early in 1904, because it was noted that the companies were not bringing in from other states so many young cattle as formerly. There was more home breeding of native cattle crossed with the standard breeds than ever before. All of this showed again the coming of the homesteader and the passing of the ranger.

The enormous wool output was an important industrial event this year. In the Belle Fourche district alone there were shipped, in 1900, 168,000 pounds; in 1903, 800,000 pounds; and in 1904, 1,500,000 pounds. A herdsman there who began in 1900 with 400 head had 2,200 head in 1904. Rapid City and Edgemont were also great wool and sheep centers.

"South Dakota should be known as the Sunshine State. It fits the case. It is attractive and appropriate. It is said that there is no state in the Union in which there are so many days of brililant sunshine the year round. The people of the state have come to be proud of the name and it will live. But there must be a name by which to characterize those who dwell in the state and sunshine will not do it. In view of the names which have been saddled upon the people of other states, we would suggest that the governor withdraw his protest. We had rather be coyotes than bug-eaters, or craw-thumpers, or suckers; or buzzards. The coyote is swift, diligent, active and alert and those qualities will fit the dweller in the state of sunshine."-Argus-Leader, October, 1904.

A petrified tree weighing 16,000 pounds was found in the Black Hills. It was sent to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Rust appeared in many fields of wheat. Large quantities of durum or macaroni wheat were grown this year. The winter wheat acreage was also large. It was announced that alfalfa could be grown in all latitudes, on all soils and would resist all droughts in this country, after being properly rooted. All crops were fair, but cattle were above the standard, both in quality and weight. But the price of beef on the hoof was so low in the fall that cattle growers refused to ship. There was greater diver- sity in farm products than ever before. Rotation of crops was the slogan now. Excellent systems of rotation were prepared and recommended by the agri- cultural college and experiment stations. Already South Dakota was losing its reputation as a wheat producer, the yield having run down from twenty to ten bushels per acre, largely owing to soil exhaustion. Rotation with legumes was the remedy suggested. Thus wheat and cattle after the old methods were doomed unless the new conditions could be met.

At the legislative session of 1903 it was enacted that commencing with 1905 the state fair should be permanently located at Huron, and the agricultural board was authorized to secure grounds and buildings. This act in a large measure took the spirit out of the fairs for the years 1903 and 1904. But the Mitchell Corn Palace was as attractive as ever. In 1904 it was estimated that fully thirty- five thousand people attended this show. The state was well represented at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

In 1904 H. L. Loucks installed a milking machine which, it is said, would take the milk from fifteen cows simultaneously. It was the first machine of the kind introduced in the northeastern part of the state. In the fall of 1904 he had eighty-two head of milk cows and was making a great success as a dairy and a general farmer.

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"The cattle raisers of South Dakota have had an unusually favorable season so far as natural conditions are concerned. The grass and hay crops are excel- lent, and people who have visited the country west of the Missouri River state conditions there could not be more favorable than they are at present. The cattle are fat as butter and in prime condition for market. But on account of the differences between a half dozen packers and a few thousand workingmen the cattlemen of the Northwest stand to lose millions of dollars and the meat consumers of the country will later on be compelled to pay many more millions in increased prices of meat to pay the cost of the quarrel of the packers and their workingmen. The situation is such as to cause the public to view a continua- tion of the strike with impatience and indignation. It is altogether unbearable." -Aberdeen Daily News, August 26, 1904. This article was called out by the report that General Sheafe had just lost $8 per head on 520 cattle which he had shipped to Chicago from the ranges.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 71

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