Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-18
DAKOTA.
The Tide of Immigratiop-What a Penny
Wise Legislature Has Done for Us
Grand Forks and Its Grand
Prospects for the Future.

Oct. 10th, 1877.
Editors Press and DaRotaian What
o'clock is it by Northwestern time? This
is a question suggested to one who has Just
made the journey from the Missouri at
Yankton around by st. Paul and nearly to
the international boundary. That route
crosses or follows all the various roads by
which people travel by, through or into
Dakota. We answer the question, that it is
near midday. There are vigorous life md
organized movement everywhere. 1t is a
constant surprise to zee and hear of the
travel, the inquiry aud the interest. Upon
all the roads leading from ST. Paul crowds
go out daily into or near our borders seeking
investments and homes. Not to alarm but
to encourage, is this fact reported. Do our
people know it? Are they also awake ?
Is Minnesota the only field and pathway in
which this interest ID throag could find what
they want? The fact is unmistakable that
the people are moving. They have wealth
too. They are paying higher prices than
we ask. They do not always get for their
money the values or the homes that we
could give them.
Let me tell you that in two years time
northern Dakota will equal southern in pop
~ulation and wealth-unless, of course. we
also grow. Wheat is king. and Dalrymple
is its prophet. "Where are YOU
going% asked a fellow traveller.
Out to Dakota" l replied. He did not
seem to recognize that this meant anything.
Then l said | was going out to see some
lands and surveys near the Red river. ooh
yes! p said he, that is out where Dalrym.
pies big farm is. Certainly; we are going
there, too. That's a great country, and they
raise the best wheat in America" So 1t
goes, and that story of Dalrymple's wheat
has been printed once or more in half of
the papers in the union, and is bringing
men and money into this whole valley.
And it is building two railroads in Mime.
sofa, or completing their connections.
Over one hundred land hunters were
down the st. Paul & Sioux City railroad at
one time, and immigration is pouring into
every part of Minnesota, northern Dakota
and the province of Manitoba. 1t is cause
for congratnlation that the st. P. s. s. C
road is going to Sioux Falls, for it Wilt urr
that stream upon our prairies. IF they
could but see once our ten thousand whea,
farms, and not one alone; could once look
on the beautiful Sioux valley, or that of the
Vermi1lion or Dakota, they would be Sc
cured. No other region could win them
from US. We do not, however. regret in
the least that other sections are growing
for they deserve it all. We are doins
~splendidly also, it is true, but | thlnl
we fail of our highest possibilities
We felt poor last winter, or a majority o
the legislature did, and refused all appro
priations for immigration purposes. Tha
was our greatest mistake. We then %
money on the Black Hills, and / would to
day far rather have the words "Souther,
Dakota'lths watchword that "Dalrymple'
farm or Red River Valley are, than al
the travel and traffic to the Black Hills t
be through Yankton.
The N. P. R. R. is selling land very rap
idly in exchange for their bonds and pre
ferred stock. These will soon be absorbe
in lands, and the road out Of debt. Man
who buy are preparing to improve tn
farms. Large farms are & rage. Men {
t great wealth are engaging in it and becom
ing identified with the country. Next yea
will far surpass this in the prosperity of thi
region. Wherever one goes the plows ar
at work. The crop this year was large an
the prices good. Very many who wen
from Canada to Manitoba have ret1rne
in'o Dakota. Here in Grand Forks ente,
: prise appears on every hand. There al
! vast farms opened or opening all about i
The prairies are of prime quality, and
. inner region l have not seen, even remen
bering our unsurpassed region near HON,
The site of the town is beautiful. opposit
the mouth of Red Lake river, which,
large as the Red, comes in from Mi,
uesota. mere the boats can ri
all the time, except for ic
: The sound Of the hammer and saw a
heard all day. The buildings are of supe,
% or style and character. They have a scho
house like our academy building; a chur(
or two, and other buildings They ha,
nearly completed two large Touring mill
lie have another near. and saw mills ais
They have citizens of great spirit and ente
prise. and plenty Of money. The roads a
always good for 40 miles around. The W
ley is high and dry. The people are intel
gent and very Industrious. They expe
success, and certainly deserve it. They a
only Is miles from a railroad, and steame
run almost daily TO the station on Red La]
river. This large praise is given becau
of all people and regions they seem to d.
y, serve it. When the annals of ten years
u come have been written, the history
Grand Forks will be marked in this gre
ie valley. So much | have p%enciled while n
a. wagon gets ready. More on return fro