Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-15
NoRTHERN- DAKoTA.
Reason. Why IL should be SCI,
Apart AS an Indcpcn,
dent Territory.
The Progress it has Made aud the
Advantages it Possesses.
AN 1NrERylEw WITH JUDGE nAliNEs.

n
ID
AN INTERVIEW WITH JUDGE itAnNEs. C
AS the subject of n division of the terri e
tory is uppctmost in the minds of every one
in Dakota, information on the subject is
particularly valuable Just now. Judge q
A. II. Barnes, of the third judicial district,
being in town attending the supreme, court,
we hunted him out Yesterday and found he
had leisure and subjected him to an inter
view by which the following important facts i
were brought out:
Q-Judge, you have o thorough knowl-
edge Of northern Dakota, its people, its i'm.
proyements and its prospects, and we de-
sire to ask you few questions pertaining I
thereto?
Al will be glad to give you whatever
information possess on the subject
Q-What do the people of northern Da-
kota want first.
"A division of the territory.
| Q-Why do they want 1t and what rea.
sons do they urges ge - ---=
A-Decausc they arc so far remote from
southern Dakota that they do not feel an
identity of interest; they have more pop
ulat,on thun se;.ihcrn Dakota had when
the territory was organized, and more than
Michigan or Wisconsin at the time Of their
organization. They have good agricul-
tural country, railroad running from the
Red river to the Missouri river, with two.
fouEishing prosperous towns. Bismarck
at the west end Of the nilroad must be a
large commercial centre, surrounded by a
fair agricultural country. Fargo at the
head of navigation on the Red river is
very prosperous town and in one Of the
4 best agricultural countries in the world.
\ No country can produce better wheat, or
more Of 1t to the acre. The same is true
for $50 miles up and down the valley Of the
Red river. This valley is from 40 to. 20
miles in width.
Q-Is the Red river valley well settlcdg
A-Most of the land for the entire dis.
. lance, bordering on the river and streams
tributary, has already been pre.emptcd by
settlers. The farms are generally quite
large and farmers are quite prosperous
though, not rich. They have raised good
crops and comparatively speaking are ou
of debt.
II y Q-What other flourishing towns ha!
4. northern Dakotas
n A-Grand Forks, IS miles north of Ear
c go on Red river, is q very fourishing town
8. Pembina, the, Oldest town in the territory
!. within the last year appears to have startee
u anew. There has, been more actual settle
mcnt in the town and vicinity this yea
than in 10 years before
Q-What other reasons are there Why
a. division of the territory is desirable.
A-As we are now circumstanced, Will
g the actual distance is but 800 or 400 mile
from Yankton, the capital Of the territory
y to Bismarck or Fargo, practically We are
s. 900 miles apart To illustrate the incon
IN venience that our people are put to, pei
T. sons, having business in the supreme court
d where the amounts involved are $500 0
ne 5000, might better lose the amount in con
troversy than to incur the expence of visi,
10 ing the capital. Aside from this if sep
4. aa,e territorial government was establishe,
g emigrants would flock there in create
e. numbers and the country would be NOR
is. rapidly occupied.
nd Q-What is the outlook for the Norther
@s5 Pacific load g.
RE A-Thc Northern Pacific railroad at Il
y; distant day must bc built through to II
La Pacific; but whether Immediately built !,
ux not the business upon the line Of that rot
ng will from this time forward make it goo
40. paying enterprise, and its now western te
y minus at Bismarck will I've the commerci
ns, point and the depot for northwestern d
kota and Montana. The amount of bu
=. ness now transacted by them is the wond
and surprise OF strangers visiting th
oE point.
y. |\Q-What is your opinion of Bismarck
lat hope for the better class ofpcoplc?
no A-Nc idea that Bismarck is a rou.
undesirabls place for persons to live in is
Of very great mktake. While like all fro
we tier towns it has>its rough element, at Il
els same time there ara as good citizens, 1
ed good society, as comfortable homes and
ho good surroundings as can>be found in Il
full territory.
md Q-What valuable improvements do
,ic. Fargo possess?
en. Alt has as good a Touring mill as the
er. is in the territory and the largest and be
I'M. hotel in northern Dakota.
los, Q-ls the transportation business on 1
ess. Red river an item, Of much consequence ?
un. -A-Ihe tonnage on !he lied Klver OF I
Mr.. North from Fargo to Fort Garry, is enc
ich NOUS A fleet Of IL steamers is employ
be. in the Red river carrying trade, and mo