Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-31

THE OLD YEAR.

WEDNESDAY 6v0uetSy OeN OF soSos
THE OLD YEAR.
With this issue closes our newspape
work for the year 1870 and 1t lie fitting tina
something be said concerning the mos
prosperous year In all of Dakota's history
Within this bright and busy twelye-montf
tbs population of our territory has doubled
and new enterprises have taken root upor
oar soil which will 10 time yield large re-
turns. Two hundred and twenty miles o.
new railroad have been built within Dak0
ta's limits and a beginning for hundreds OF
miles of other new railroad lines has been
made. Though the year has brought SO
much Of material prosperity, It is only the
beginning Of a future great development for
the best agricultural region in all the
west.
Since the opening Of the spring Of 1879
the advancing line of immigration has
reached and occupied the region watered by
the James riverand has gone a little beyond
towards the Missouri. Settlers have erect
ed their cabins by hundreds in . country
which a gear ago was a silent wilderness of
native fertility, and the pillow of the pioneer
is turning over the rich prairie cod of future
productive grain fields. 1t is almost be-
You'd realization that from Ysnkton to
Jamestown exists an unbroken line of set
Element. when at the beginning Of the year
1879 fully three quarteIs ofthis distance was
unclaimed aud unoccupied land. This rap.
i'd development is one of the marvels Of
western history. From the James river
eastward q large increase of settlement has
filed the vacant sections and solid commu-
mites of agricultural laborers are causing
the wilderness TO blossom.
Along the Northern Pacific railroad and
10 the valley of the Red river and ito tribu-
taries there has been a surprising increase
of population and development OF resources
during the year. Tue little village of Far
go has taken on the dimensions Of . city and
oil the region northward and westward from
this gateway is busy with preparations which
will create ca empire in the north. The
westward extension of the Northern Pacific
is attracting settlers to that portion Of our
domain which lies west of the Missouri
river.
Within the Black Hills portion of Dako-
ia the year 1879 has been filled with pro-
gress. The great miues Of Deadwood gulch
have increased in richness and have dem.
onstrated their practically inexhaustable
character. In the southern Hills unusual
discoveries have been made which fix the
future of that hitherto neglected portion Of
Dakota's bonanza belt. There has also
been a large immigration into the Hill.
from the east and of the class which builds
and develops. The destruction of Dead
wood by fire was a marked feature of Hills
history for the year and the surprising
speed with which it was re-
built wa still more remarkable. The
prosperity OF the mineral section of Dsko-
ia is now assured. Its basis Is hard pan
and upon that it will stand for all time 10
come.
The year 1879 has been a generous giver
to every section of our great territory and
with its close a retrospective glance gives
the brightest encouragement for even q
more liberal bestowal from its successor.
Following the line of development to the
present era of prosperity we can see tina: We
are nov only at the open door Of progress,
but with strength enough to step through
and take vigorous hold of the good begin
ming and cause it to rebound to our benefit
as a people and a common wealth. When
the record of 1880 is written it will be one
Of grand advancement-one Of attainments
unparalleled 10 the history of all the west.