History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 72

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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It was calculated that the number of cattle in 1903 was 1,284,877 and in 1904, 1,263,362, the decrease being due to the passing of the ranges. The number of sheep in 1903 was estimated at 509,267 head and in 1904 at 487,523, the decrease coming from the ranges. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson visited the Black Hills cattle regions this fall and inspected the cattle dipping arrangements. He did so to learn in part if two dippings were unnecessary, as was claimed by the cattlemen.

Much black rust spread over the wheat fields of the state in 1904; it became widely extended before steps to stop it were taken. The Forestry Bureau of the Government did excellent work at this date in South Dakota. The irrigation system on Box Elder Creek near Rapid City was well advanced this year. The Tri-State Grain Dealers' Association made important changes in their meeting at Mitchell in July. The Central South Dakota Fair at Huron was well attended and successful. Large quantities of fruit were grown in the Black Hills region.

At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition South Dakota received 83 awards-4 of gold, 26 of silver and 53 of bronze by October 19, with a few more to come. The Black Hills Reduction Plant was awarded first prize. The Spearfish Normal School took a silver medal. Fifteen counties of the state contested for medals. They exhibited rye, flax, wheat, corn, oats, popcorn, emmer, millet, butter, macaroni wheat, wheat products and general educational work. Pierre, Sioux Falls, Mitchell and Flandreau took a joint prize in the latter. Clay County received 20 awards, Sanborn 17 and Edmunds II.

Late in 1904 there was much talk of soil bacteria, soil inoculation, rotation of crops, dry farming, water conservation, seed corn specials, imported herd leaders, farm management, sanitation, silos, automobiles, rural free delivery, telephones, alfalfa, diversified farming, scabies, weed pests, stock diseases,- etc. In November this year Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota combined to get rid of the scabies. The meeting was held at Fargo, there being present Doctor Ramsey of the Bureau of Animal Industry. The legislatures of all states were asked to pass bills aimed to remove the evil.

During 1904 the state veterinarian traveled 1,719 miles by rail and 1,065 miles by team, killed fifty-five horses afflicted with glanders, doctored many cases of anthrax in cattle and inspected the many dipping vats in all parts of the state.

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

In January, 1905, A. C. Johnson of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, and Pres. James Chalmers of the agricultural college, called the attention of farmers to the great importance of seed improvement and at the same time pre- pared to run pure seed trains over the railways of the state. Farmers came twenty and thirty miles to meet these trains, realizing their importance. No wonder, because it had been announced that in 1904 the state had lost 25,000,000 bushels of wheat through impure seed. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway did likewise. The Legislature listened to talks on grain seed of all kinds by Professors Wheeler and Chilcott of the agricultural college.

In January, 1905, E. K. Whitehead, secretary of the Colorado State Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, called the attention of the whole country to the awful conditions prevailing among the cattle on the ranges. On a single ranch in Texas over five hundred thousand dollars worth of cattle died of thirst, starvation and cold. On many ranches all over the West half were thus lost. or three-fourths, or nearly all. The few that survived went down to the very verge of death and suffered all its pain without its relief. The cattle were turned out all winter in the snow. If the winter was mild and open they did very well where they could get water. But in case of heavy snow and severe cold, they were forced to eat snow for water and paw for a scanty supply of grass. Thousands in this state died of thirst and starvation. The rich owners did not seriously concern themselves over these conditions, because "a dollar a year would keep a steer" and if half of their herd of 10,000 cattle perished the other half were mainly profit.

In February, 1905, the Live Stock Association in session at Mitchell was presided over by its president, James M. Erion. The organization was now two years old. They adopted a resolution asking the Legislature to provide them a permanent home costing $5,000.

The suit of the Government against the cattle trust early in 1905 gave much encouragement to the cattlemen of the West who for so many years had been at the mercy of the packers. Often at Omaha and Chicago they were compelled to accept but one bid-no competition-by the concerted action of the buyers. The trust beat down the price to the consumer. So a change was warmly welcomed.

While the 640-acre homestead bill was under consideration the horticultural society passed a resolution asking Congress to so amend the law that homesteaders would be required to plant and maintain at least eight acres of forest. In Feb)- ruary both houses of Congress reported in favor of the bill.

In the spring of 1905 an organization calling themselves the Wolf Fighting Association was effected in the southwest part of the state, the chief object being to kill off the big gray or timber wolves that were the terror of cattlemen. Each member was to receive from all the other members 25 cents for each coyote scalp and 50 cents for each gray wolf scalp killed in that district and turned in. This offer made the bounty large, because the membership was nearly two hundred.

At the Grain and Forest Convention, held at Huron in March, there was a large attendance, M. F. Greeley being the presiding officer. Grain seed was the chief subject of discussion. The convention warmly approved the special seed trains that were promised by the railways and the agricultural college.

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

The National Timber Culture Law was a failure in South Dakota, owing to the drought and the prairie fires. Another cause was that the trees were planted on the dry hills instead of in the low and wet waste places that could not be farmed.

In May a packing plant was established at Sioux Falls by Mr. Davenport of the board of trade, which organization sprang out of the former Men's Lunch Club. The capital of the concern was fixed at $100,000.

The Government fish hatchery at Spearfish, which was established about 1898, was under the superintendence of D. C. Booth in 1905. About this time over four million fish eggs were distributed annually throughout the West. The original appropriation for the Spearfish hatchery was $11,000. A large bulkhead was built to protect the works from the creek floods.

Early in 1905 there was a general movement all over the West for better transportation. Senator La Follette and President Roosevelt were spurring on the changes. By this date many automobiles were to be seen in the towns and cities and a few in the country districts. The commissioners of Brown County awarded the contract for five dipping tanks at $200 each, to be located in differ- ent portions of the county under the new law, in the spring of 1905. It was stated at this time that although the dairy industry here was but eight years old, yet it brought $5,000,000 to the state annually. The seed agitation gave the farmers this year better seed than ever before and larger crops. In April I. D. Smith, of Madison, was the richest exclusive farmer in the state; he was worth $1,600,000 and owned ninety-four big South Dakota farms, besides 3,000 acres in Iowa and had large deposits in the banks.

About this time the letters of W. J. Ryan in the newspapers described the schemes of the grain buyers and the railways to secure and retain a monopoly in the business. The whole corrupt scheme was disclosed at the same time in the United States by Senator LaFollette. On April 17, 1905, Mr. Ryan said at DeSmet, "Grain dealers combine to throttle independent action of farmers. Rail- roads combine to save the terrible expense of opposition and competition. La- borers in cities form unions to be able to stand together as an army against unjust opposition of powerful employers. Capital has formed combinations which make their power felt around the world. Are farmers intelligent enough to learn the lessons placed before them? Are they independent enough and brave enough to accept the challenge which organized opposition has thrown in their faces? Can they do it as individuals or must the work of the hour be taken up by an army? Two million men do not make an army if each acts by himself. An army is organized. This, then, is the watchword. Organize!" Mr. Ryan described how farmers' organizations for cheaper transportation had been crushed by combines of grain buyers and railroads. Ten or fifteen years earlier H. H. Carr, then called the "farmers' friend," had struggled to induce farmers to engage directly in marketing their own products and thus save the buyers' profits of from one hundred to two hundred dollars annually on each farm. But the grain dealers' associations built a great wall against this action. They pro- ceeded to crush the movement and succeeded until nearly all were driven out of existence. Now, in 1905, the conditions were as bad, and what were the farmers going to do about it? Back of all the actions of the farmers or the buyers was the railroad, the real autocrat and oppressor, the actual power to levy almost

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

any tribute on the farmer, the originator. Hence, all welcomed the railroad rate bill that was pending in Congress, because it promised relief from extortion and tribute. At last there was a concerted movement all over the state for better conditions. Mr. Ryan was vice president of the National Farmers' Association for South Dakota.

By June there were nearly five hundred automobiles in the state. Watertown had seventy-four-the highest number. Irrigation in the Belle Fourche district was well under way by mid-summer. It was planned that the canal would carry 1,635 cubic feet per second. The Government was pushing the work. It was planned to plant 50,000 trees in the Black Hills at this time to test their adapta- bility to the conditions. On July Ist the state had 249 free rural delivery mail routes-fifty-four more than in 1904.

The failure of the state fair during the years before 1905 was due to the fact that (I) it had no fixed place; (2) it was controlled by private individuals ; (3) it was local and was not a state-wide event; (4) Sioux City tried to kill it by fixing its fair on the same date and thus drawing away the crowds; (5) the premiums offered were not attractive to exhibitors; (6) rivalry between the cities hurt the project. The big change arrived in 1905. In February the State Board of Agriculture located the state fair at Huron for ten years. Huron had made the best offer to secure the event by donating sixty acres near the city, but in a short time the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company deeded eighty-five acres there to the fair upon condition that it be established at Huron permanently. This was in reality the first state fair and great preparations to make it a really creditable event were made. Governor Elrod delivered the dedicatory address. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson spoke on the agricultural needs of the state . and the purpose of the Department of Agriculture. He expressed surprise at the development in a few years of farming and live stock growing. Senator Kittredge and Congressman Burke were present and delivered addresses. Other prominent residents and nonresidents participated. On the third day 7,500 people were present, breaking all records thus far. The races and the live stock parade daily were two striking features. The exhibits of state cattle, horses, swine, sheep and poultry surpassed all previous records. The women's building was a hive of bees and a bower of beauty. On the best day, Thursday, there were present almost exactly ten thousand people. The buildings and grounds overflowed with humanity. Horticultural hall gave a superb display. The exhibit of the agri- cultural college attracted the attention and interest of all. The cattle barn was more than filled with native Herefords, Red Polled, Aberdeen Angus and Dur- hams. Iowa and Minnesota were well represented with live stock. The poultry exhibit was the greatest ever seen in the state. In the dairy department were thirty-five entries of butter. A herd of fifteen buffalo were in the northeast corner. Among the horse kind were Percherons, Normans, Clydes, Belgians, Shires, Morgans, coach horses, Shetland ponies, and an Andelusian jackass. The sheep were represented by Shropshires, South Downs and Merinos. The weather was ideal and the fair as a whole was all its most ardent friends had dared to hope. An attraction that drew all spectators was a village of Crow Creek In- dians living in native costume and style in their wigwams roasting dogs and other meats in the open air. The total receipts were $19,224.29-from all sources. All expenses and premiums were promptly paid and a handsome balance was left with which to prepare for 1906. George E. McEathron was secretary. Vol. III-33

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

The corn palace show at Mitchell was excellent this year. A larger crowd than ever before attended and heard the speaking contests between high school students. The building was new, better than ever and was dedicated with great ceremony by Governor Elrod. One or more congressmen were present and spoke to large crowds. As a matter of fact the building was too small for the crowds of people who did not wish to miss any event. There were many attrac- tions to rivet the attention.

It should not be forgotten nor overlooked that the great prosperity which had overtaken the whole country was due mainly to the advanced agriculture that within a dozen years had been put into effect more or less in every state by the Department of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges and the sixty to sev- enty experiment stations. Experts were solving the problem of intensive farmi- ing and the farmers were at last slowly but surely grasping the fine points of double production with the same labor and of preventing the great waste and losses of the past. This fall the Government established a branch experiment station at Bell Fourche, a most opportune and vital act. In November the pros- perity was shown in a most striking way by the delinquent tax list from all the counties-the smallest in the history of the state. Verily, the days of bondage seemed past or almost past for the farmer. The shackles of poor methods, tributary conditions, the scoffing of standpatters, official and wealth oppression were at last heard to fall rattling forever to the ground, let it be hoped.

The enormous deposits in the banks revealed the prosperity. Seventeen banks in the Black Hills showed $6,203,484 in deposits. The east half of the state could not show so much. The next year there were in the state 290 state banks, 13 banking corporations, 31 private banks; total 334. In two years the total bank deposits increased from $22,523,481.46 in 1905 to $32,186,209.89 in 1907.

SHOWING CHANGES IN CERTAIN STATE PRODUCTS IN FIVE YEARS-1900 TO 1905

Items

1905

1900

Farm Owners

30,322

40,640

Total Farms

52,376

51,270

Corn, acres.

1,739,080

1,196,381

Wheat, acres

2,874,184

3,984,659

Oats, acres

1,210,156

691,167

Macaroni Wheat, bushels.

662,714

Flax Seed, bushels.

1,468,792

2,452,528

Irish Potatoes, bushels.

3,132,638

2,909,914

Vegetables, bushels

881,968

65,591

Total Hay, tons

2,787,945

2,378,392

Apples, bushels

217,880

17,12I

Honey, pounds.

161,583

49,320

Butter, pounds.

20,545,549

17,400,970

Horses

399,801

513,026

Cattle

1,288,698

1,562,175

Sheep

514,670

775,664

Swine

947,949

832,283

Eggs, dozen

16,890,190

17,349,750

Wool, pounds

1,872,860

3,246,945

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

In 1870 the foreign born population of Dakota Territory was 31.7 per cent `of the whole; in 1880 it was 34 per cent, but after that there was a slow decline until in 1900 it was 27.6 per cent and in 1905 it was 19.7 per cent. While the state had gained 10 per cent in population from 1900 to 1905 only I per cent of this gain was from the foreign born population. The census returns of 1905 showed that the state had 64,385 children six years of age and under, of these 55,549 were born in the state, 7,983 were born in other states and 849 were born in foreign lands. Of the total population of the state 175,072 were native born, that is, were natives of South Dakota.

By 1905 the growing of alfalfa throughout the state was quite general. Al- ready many fields of this valuable forage crop could be seen on Rosebud and other Indian reservations of the state. Much of this improvement was due to information dispensed by the Dakota Farmer and Wallace's Farmer which were subscribed for and read widely throughout the reservation. The ranchmen as well as the more progressive Indians imbibed a great deal valuable information on all agricultural subjects from these valuable publications, and from the state and Government bulletins. Wherever the Indian had taken his allotment, built his home and resided, he became interested in advanced farming operations; and wherever he or any member of his family could read, they usually secured the agricultural papers. One of the first to start alfalfa growing on the Rosebud reservation was John Niess, who lived on Rock Creek. He began in the spring of 1903 with an eighteen-acre field. Owing to the dry season he had only fair success, the stand not being extra good. He was not discouraged but tried again the following year, sowing seed as early as June 14. This year he secured an excellent stand on the eighteen-acre tract and also on the six acres adjoining. Mr. Niess afterwards said that every time he mowed the field he was much tempted to gather the cuttings for hay, as the alfalfa and oats stood a foot high ; but true to his farm paper teaching, he left all on the ground for mulch. This started the neighborhood generally to grow alfalfa. Mr. Charbonneau seeded a 30-acre field in 1903. He sowed the alfalfa seed broadcast on corn ground and without a nurse crop. The field was then disced, but before it could be harrowed a heavy rain prevented 'any further work for some time. The alfalfa did well and during the season two crops of hay were taken. In 1904, 150 hogs were pastured on the field and received no other feed than the alfalfa. In addi- tion he took therefrom fifty tons of hay. Mr. Ramis also about the same time started a field of alfalfa on the Keyapaha and Mr. Courtis sowed ten acres north of the same creek and both succeeded in securing good stands. This was the start and thereafter the growing of alfalfa on the reservation rapidly expanded and became a valuable and fixed product.

The Government projects in the Black Hills early in January, 1906, were : (1) Irrigation in Butte County to cost $2,600,000; (2) assay office; (3) a fish hatchery at Spearfish; (4) a forest reserve of 1,211,680 acres, partly in Wyoming ; (5) construction of the National Sanitarium at Hot Springs for the old soldiers ; (6) Indian school at Rapid City; (7) a proposed mining experiment station.

In the spring of 1906 the Independent Farmers Elevator Company was organized by residents of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. In a short time they had control of fifty elevators in the three states.

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

By this time the vast cattle indutry at Belle Fourche was threatened with subordination by the rapidly growing sheep and wool industry. In 1905 there were shipped from that point alone 998,600 pounds of wool. The number of sheep was increased faster proportionately than cattle.

In 1906 the Government sent out experts to examine the gumbo soil to see what crops, if any, it would grow best. A considerable tract at Belle Fourche was secured, on which to make the experiments. Already farmers and ranchers had learned that it was not worthless, but that much could be grown on it if the conditions were right. The crop experiments there were to be made in 1907. C. R. Volin wrote for the press articles on scientific farming-methods, utensils, chemicals, pests, diseases, etc. It was at this time that the Department of Agricul- ture sent forth the war cry that "There is no land that is worthless." It was uttered in connection with the gumbo and alkali soil investigations. . Thus the Great American Desert was no longer great as a desert, but was to become great as a crop producer under suitable conditions and scientific methods.

The Western South Dakota Stock Growers' Association met at Rapid City on April 9. 1906, with Pres. C. K. Howard in the chair. There were three days of festivities during which $1,500 was paid out for prizes, etc. Participating in the ceremonies were soldiers from Fort Meade, Indians from the reservations, cowboys from the ranges. There was a bucking broncho contest. On one day the Indians held up and captured a freight train, whereupon the Indians were captured by the cowboys. The following subjects were considered: Brand inspection; scab infection; transportation of cattle to market; time limit for unloading. The association at this time had a membership of about 800. To this meeting special trains ran from Chicago, Omaha and Sioux City scheduled to take in Rapid City, Belle Fourche, Sturgis, Deadwood, Lead and Hot Springs. This was the fourteenth annual assemblage of the society. At its conclusion the meeting adjourned to attend the fourth annual session of the Northwestern Stock Growers' Association at Belle Fourche, of which Russell Uhler was presi- dent.

It was at this time that the Government experts made a thorough investiga- tion of the terrible loco disease that was playing such havoc among the horses. It was particularly prevalent and deadly in the vicinity of the Slim Buttes. Soon it was found to be due to a weed that when eaten poisoned the animals. Wild mustard, Russian thistle, cockleburs, etc., were as troublesome as ever and appar- ently spreading.

The cooperative banking system was established at Woolsey by R. O. Rich- ards and others in 1906. There was no limit to the stockholders, but the shares to be held by each limited to fifty. The bank was controlled by a board of direc- tors. There was no limit to the stock to be issued; it was always on sale and nontransferable.

By 1906 the cattle tick of the ranges had almost wholly disappeared. Congress appropriated $82,000 to fight the pest. This year there were numerous red squirrel crusades or hunts in the Black Hills to rid the forests of these animals so destructive to trees.

The state fair this year was as fine and successful as it had been the year before. There was really a larger attendance, except on two days when the weather was unfavorable. Red polled cattle were a feature. They were exhibited

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

by the State Reform School, the superintendent of which was S. E. Young. The corn palace show at Mitchell was also a success, with several new amuse- ments, attractions and features. The corn exhibit was never better.

The state corn crop in 1906 was 77,414,351 bushels worth $23,224,299. This year the Government put out an arid land alfalfa. The wheat crop was: white wheat, 37,553,880 bushels; durum wheat, 1,940,228 bushels; oats, 51,324,557; barley, 24,603,257 bushels; flax, 2,383,156 bushels; hay, 2,973,754 tons; speltz, 4,538,708 bushels. The state had passed through all the growing pains of child- hood, had weathered the diseases of infancy and was now ready for the battle with red blood, clear eye, steady hand and fertile brain.

In 1906 from Texas to the Dakotas inclusive there was grown west of the 99th meridian a total in round numbers of 50,000,000 bushels of durum or maca- roni wheat. Only six years before it had been brought to this country from Europe, Asia and Africa. Now it was being eaten in all the eastern cities of the country. The predictions of the Department of Agriculture that this wheat had a great future before it on this continent were rapidly becoming verified. Not only alfalfa, but clover and other legumes were found that would grow and thrive on the lean arid plains of the vanishing Great American Desert. At first there was much opposition to durum wheat, first by farmers who made fun of it and even by experienced grain growers. But it grew swiftly in favor until in 1907 about one-tenth of the wheat crop was durum.

In the spring of 1907 John S. Cole, agronomist, announced that only about one-third of the seed corn in the state was good and warned farmers to beware. He gave full instructions how to test the seed in trays or small beds. He secured several hundred samples from all portions of the state, made tests himself and showed that the average germinating power was only 36.5 per cent and that only two samples showed germinating power as high as 92 per cent. Dry experi- ment stations were talked of early this year. In June the green bug appeared in the wheat fields. The spring was very late and the weed pests were exceed- ingly troublesome-wild mustard, rag weed, Canada thistle, Russian thistle, wild morning glory, quack grass, cocklebur, yellow dock, smartweed, Spanish needles, etc.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 72

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