Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-11
his ExcEllEncy.
Governor Pennington interviewed by an
Inter.Occan Reporter.
Chicago Inter Ocean, sth,

governor remington lnterHieSHeu ny an
Inter-Occan Reporter.
Chicago Inter-Ocean, Sth.
Governor John l.. Pennington, of Dakota,
was in the city yesterday, and found quar-
tiers at the Sherman House. Last evening .
reporter called upon him, and was greeted
by the veteran journalist in the most cordial
manner The governor was looking we'll,
and said that he felt "a vigorous as ever, ex-
cept that he was suffering from a slight cold.
He has been in Washington and the east on
business for about six weeks.
The interview began by supposing that
the gentleman was on his way home.
"Yes," said the governor, II shall leave
tomorrow for home by the way of Fairbault,
where my daughters are attending school, at
st Mary.s."
"What aRe your prospects Of ~reappoint-
ment 2" was the next query coming right to
the mark.
II have every reason to suppose that 1
shall be r%eappointed. I have the most
unanimous support Of the people of both
parties. The republicans support me rather
than a stranger, and the democrats, knowing
hat they cannot expect a nan from their
own party, do so also. have the indorse.
ment ofsuch men as Bishop Ciarkson, Bish-
op Whipple, Gen. Terry, Senators Allison,
Howe, Window, and a dozen others from
the west. The people out there think that
the local selfgoyernment might be tried
one or two gentlemen from Wisconsin after
the appointment also one from Connecticut
and Mississippi.
care your citizens anxious to have the
territory admitted as q state ?'
"No l do not think they care, if they can
have honest federal officers. A state gov
eminent involves more expense. We are
more populous than Nevada, but I do not
believe congress wonld admit us if We wished,
it,"
as solid as Minnesota, or Iowa, or Nebraska.
They don't want any more republicans in
congress. yet awhile. This reform congress
| will make no new states."
"Do you think the Black Hills will be
separated into a territory of its own I"
"No, I do not. The only objection the
rest of the territory would have is the pop
ulation We should lose in the event Of be.
coming a state vet that is a comparatively
small matter. The population of the Hills
l do not think is over 1000 to 10000. while
the territory, all told, contains about 70, OOO
people. The Hills has been no benefit to
the territory. We have never received a
dollar revenue from that country, and it has
cost us a great DEAL"
"Please explain"
"In this way. Property in the Hills , has
never been taxed, while a large number of
criminals flock to the gold country, and We
have to try them, and then, if convicted, to
hire them kept at the Detroit house of cor
r%ection. We have to stand all this, and
many other expenses"
"The Hills people say they want a resi-
dent Judge? ?"
"At the last session of the legislature all
was done that could be for them. The coun-
try was divided into three counties, and
made a judicial district. If the Judge does
not reside there it is not the fault of the ter
%ritory."
"They talk of outvoting the rest of the
territory, and moving the capital to Dead
wood in a couple of years?"
"Oh, we'll, that is all exaggeration. There
is an immense amount of fraud and bum
conbe in that country. but about one thing,
certain, there is
NO FRAUD-THE GOLD.
The mineral richness of the country is be-
yond dispute. An intelligent man, who has
been among mines all his life, said, a few
weeks ago, that nowhere else in the world
was there such an extensive and rich depos-
it of gold everywhere. He declared it the
gold field of the world"
"Is the agricultural portion of the terri
tory in a prosperous condition.
every. | was on the Dalrymple farm
last fall, on the Northern Pacific road, and
the brothers who owned the place had 1000
acres of WHEAT. which yielded twenty-five
bushels to the acre. There were no grass
hoppers at all. They seem to have died out,
and emigration is pouring in fast"
FINALLY, governor, you are holding over,
are you mott"
eyes. The president has taken my re.
appointment under consideration, and I re-
main in the Office till my successor is named.
1t was said at Washington that Schurz had a
German friend that he wished appointed.
He'll said to be q scholarly gentleman, but
such an appointment would be most distaste-
full to the people. l shall remain in the ter
ritory whether | am appointed or not, az all
l have is invested there
Twill Mr.. Kidder be returned to con-
gress|
II think so. He is a popular man, a hard
worker, and by far the most influential ter.
~ritorial delegate in congress. Dakota has
changed very much within the last few
years, and wants goods officers. That used
to be q great difficulty. Men were appoint
ed to Office who we're political tramps and
r%ascals, and the people were robbed. The
present secretary, who does the disbursing,
Is a good man, and the position is q very
important one. Take it all in all, the ter
%ritorial government il in a good, healthy
condition, and all We ask is honest. republi-
can home rule"