Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-30
Down THE ROAD. .
EAMAsrs AZ NIX Poise and vernillisn-
FarnsEs' Wsrk

AN0v6o ~ RAk fOt0S anu vefUnNlktoO-
FarnsEs' wsrk
Special Correspondence.
ELK Po1NT, March q, 1885,
All along the road from Yankton to this
place tho farmers are busy putting In their
spring c,ops, and it is safe to say that at
least q per cent. more land is being planted
this year than in any previous year in the
of Dakota. No broke en- land is left
idle. That which vas unculivated last
year and the year before is being cleared Of
the weeds with which it was overgrown, and
seeded with wheat, oats and barley, or pre-
pared for corn and other later crops. Much
of the wheat is already up, and shows =
strong. vigorous growth.
vERN1LLIoN
begins to show evidences of the good times
which are once more returning to Dakota.
Business men are more confident hotel
keepers are proepering; mechanics and la
boring men are employed at fair wages, and
. general air Of prosperity pervades the
place. The town is the principal trading
point Of the Vermillion valley, one Of the
most fertile and productive valleys in the
territory. The bench land, of which Clay
county is largely composed, is unexcelled
for wheat growing, while the bottom lands
produce large crops Of corn, potatoes, &C.,
and immense quantities of good hay.
The approaching city election is begin
ming to attract some attention in Vermillion,
and the prospect is that the contest will be
between a ticket IN favor Of raising saloon
licenses to $500 q year, and . ticket satisfied
with the present license, 500 a year. In
other words, the fight will be between red
ribbon and anti-ribbon voters of the town.
The impression is that can't" will win by
3 decided majority. A strong sentiment
prevails in favor Of re-electing the present
mayor, Col. Jolley, but his honor emphatic
ally negatives the proposition, and asserts
that he has enjoyed the honors and emolu-
ments long enough, tina. he desires to retire
from the p%erplexing cares of publice life,
and have some leisure to get acquainted with
his wife and children. Under his admins
tration the affairs Of the city have been well
managed. The expenses of the city gov.
eminent have been paid entirely out of the
revenue derived from licenses-no tax what
ever having'been levied for city purposes
and there is money in the treasury to meet
all outstanding claims. What is here said
in regard to the municipal government Of
Vermillion, is also true of
ELK POINT.
Hon. NJ. w. Sheafe, jr, has been mayor
of this place for two years, aud during the
entire time no tax has been levied, but all
expenses met from the license fund. During
his incumbency many important improve.
nents have been made-streets graded, good
wooden eutters put down along the main
business stcsss ~ Sthpr shinss done to i'm.
prove and beautify the town. Mayor Sheafe
is also urged TO accept the Office for another
year, but his sound and we'll known demo
cratic principles rebel against the third term
doctrine, and he declines to be a candidate.
While BY SO doing he will maintain his
principles, yet Elk Point will lose as it,
chief municipal officer its most e~nterprisine
and public spirited citizen. But then Their,
are always some compromising c.rcum
stances. What the people will lose in ener
gy and executive ability by the retiremen
of Mayor sheafe, they will gain in tn,
shrewdness and ability to see a joke pos
ceased by the coming man, Mayor lodges
Z