Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-02-19
on

LEGISLATORS On A ROMP
/ Canton Captured by the Dakota Legi
1ature--A good Dinner, and q Hug
How Of Oratory-General good tim,
The lawmakers of Dakota, becomin
fatigued with their arduous labors, con
cluded to take a day of rest, and by
unanimous vote accepted an invitatio
from the managers of the Dakota South
ern and Pembina railroads to Canton. l
was the good fortune Of the COURIER t
receive an invitation to play legislato
that day; so last Friday morning til,
writer got aboard the train Is it haultec
for a moment at the Elk Point depot
We gobbled the hest seat In the car, an(
then put on a solemn look to make stran
gers believe us a full fedged legislator
The train then started at full tilt for til,
junction at Jefferson. A hault of a few
seconds ensued, and then we began whirl
ing up the beautiful valley of the Sioux
The eye could not behold a prettiel
landscape-far out on both sides of the
river the prairies are dotted with groves
and pleasant farm houses. with here and
there a little town where the farmers do
their marketing. Portlandvillc, Far
view, Calliope and Eden are all nice
growing towns.
Three cars were filled to overio wing
with excursionists. The crowd was full
of life, to say the least. Most Of the
members of the Legislature took the
selves to ride through the garden of the
west, aud those who could not go sent
substitutes. The extreme front car, like
the ladies' car, had its attractions. We
have no hesitancy in making the bold
assersion that the apples and cigars were
strictly first class, while the recent TEN
perance wave knocked our willingness to
make further Investigations.
When the train stopped at Beloit, the
present terminus ofthe Pemblna road, we
found the prairie covered with carriages
and wagons Of all kinds, ages and quail.
ties ready to convey a crowd to Canton, a
mile distant. In a few moments we were
all whirling up the west bank of the
Sioux toward the court house in upper
Canton. 1t happened to be the misfor
tune OF the writer and a clerk in the
council to get into a wagon that logged
along rather lively for safety and comfort,
and during the race up the valley we
caught a glimpse of a Yankton insurance
agent, an Elk Point miller and the own.
er of Union county abstracts. all three of
whom looked as if they expected t, turn
a series of handsprings into the Sioux
river. Being an humble member of II
moral profession, we felt perfectly re-
signed.
On landing at the court house in Can.
ton the party met with a hearty welcome.
The corpulent Mayor of that city stood
on the steps of the temple of justice and
gave a broad smile to each as they land
ed. The v~ariuus Offices Of that pretty
building were used for coat, cloak and
reception rooms, while the court room
above Has to administer TO the appetites
of a couple of hundred hungry excur
sionists. In a few moments after reach
ing Caution, the full party found seats
around the tables in the room we have
mentioned. Before eating commenced,
Carter mounted the rostrum and
delivcd u well worded address of wei |
which was responded to by Hou.
Ansley Gray, mcmber of the Legislature.
from Bismarck.
The dinner was one of the fiuest we
have partakcn of since VIC began writing
journalistic %sertnoils. With others, we
gave it a thorough investlon. In fact a
better meal could not be asked for. The
tables groaned beneath cakes, pies, sauce,
chicken, and many other thugs too nu
to mention. The Canton ladies
are the boss cooks, and we do not wonder
that Lincoln county is full of fat, jolly
men.
After dinner came speech making,
with the following result:
Dakota. past, present and future-Re-
sonse by Vim Blatt of yaukton.
The laws of Dakota, Justice and equi
fy-i ~ tNnnp In IVN, DtAt
delegate elect to congress.
The Black Hills Response by DR..
Flick of Dealwood.
Lincoln county, and her relations to
the territory Response by w. NJ. Cup
petit of Canton.
The Ladics-Response by Capt. Miner
Of vermiliion.
Sioux Falls, the Lowell of the west
Response by Speaker Jackson.
The east AID the west, may their ties
ever remain insepcrable Response by
Kuyken dali of the Hills.
The Miss ouIi River-Resporse by Dr..
Livingstone of Yankton.
The City Of Yankton-Response by
Mayor Wynn.
The Army-Response by Maj. Sharp,
U. 8. A.
Canton-Response by Mayor Keller,
At about -four O'Clock the train pulled
from the Beloit depot filled with the
and happiest crowd of men and
women that ever passed down the valley
of the Sioux. The Canton band gave
the party a musical farewell, afser which
everybody was cheered the crowd could
think of. The ride both ways was very
pleasant, and the railway officials have
shown themselves hosts in the brsadest
of the term. The citizens of Da
kota may we'll feel a pride in the men
operating the railroads in Southeastern
Dakota. They are progressive and earn
est, and the principal agents in develop
ing the agricultural resources Of these