Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-29
MEMORIAL 70 CONGRESS.

AshinE Fsra Davislon - The Territory q
Dakota ~ an East md Wese Liae.
The following memorial was sintroduced
inSthe house Of Representatives, on 'she, 27th
inst by Hon. John Q. Burbank, o fRichland
county, northern Dakota:
To the senate and house of representatives
of the United States, from the legislative
assembly Of Dakota territory, and against
its admission as Q state with it's present
boundaries.
Your memorialists, the legislative assem-.
bly, Of Dakota territory, respectfully pray
your honorable bodies for the early creation
of q new territory out of the northern bali
of Dakota, bounded as follows, viz: Com
mencing at the point on the eastern
boundary where the north line ofsthe Sisse.
ton Indian reservation intersects the same /;
thence along said line to the northwest col.
ner Of said reservation; thence southerly
along the west line of said reservation to
the point where the seventh standard psral-
lei intersects the same (; thence west along
Missouri River; thence up and along the
middle line of the main chanel of said river,
to the 46th parallel Of north latitude
thence west along said parallel to the west
ern boundary Of Dakota. and thence north
upon the 9Th meridian west from Wash
ington to the 10th parallel of north latitude I;
thence east along said 49th parallel to the
northwestern corner of the state. of Mime
sofa, and thence south and along said boun-
Diary 10 the place Of beginning. The said
division line, as above described, conforms
nearly to the 46th parallel of north latitude,
but it is upon a line already surveyed, es-
tablished and marked, and will not require
q survey of another line, which would cut
fractiOnally all the divisions made by public
land surveys. THIS line would also leave
all said Indian reservation within one juris-
diction, the surveys within which do not
conform to the public land surveys.
We further respectfully show that our
present area Is over 100000 square miles,
too vast for convenience, and causing us
great expense. The communities are wide
ly separated and hold diverse relations;
inter-communication is slow and expensive
a trip from the capital to any point in
northern Dakota requires the time and cost
Of a trip to Washington City it is as far
from the southern corner of Dakota to the
northeast corner, as from Cairo, Illinois, to
the gulf of Mobile I; from the south line of
Tennessee to near Chicago, Illinois, or from
Washington City, to beyond the northern
line OF the state OF New York. We have no
hope for direct lines of inter-communica.
ton, as all the projected routes are east and
west lines, and We are compelled to journey
through St. Paul, Minnesota.
These facts render Official administration
slow and difficult, put the government out
of reach of many of its citizens for all but
extraordinary occasions; render it difficult
for any but the most wealthy litigants to
reach W supreme court with appeals, prac.
tically making the lower courts those Of last
as well as first resort. 1t is difficult to man.
age our school system, and the care of pris.
oners and the insane become a heavy buFc
den because of the long distances for travel
and transportation. In many ways these
difficulties practically deny many large
communities the favor and benefits of the
government they should have.
1t is found practically impossible also tt
adjust our code of uniform laws to the va
rying wants Of our citizens, and all thes,
causes operate to %irritate and vex the citi
zens of remote localities and render impos.
sible the growth of a general public spirit
and regard for the welfare of the whole body
Of the people. No common interests are
felt, and there is no commonwealth receiv.
ing the fealty of all.
We further respectfully show that this
condition has long existed it has grown in
cost and difficulty as cur settlements have
expanded, and no scheme to avoid it can be
suggested because it exists in the barriers of
nature and is made worse by all commercial
and other relations. These are now rapidly
developing and promise soon to 30 exagser-
ate the burden as to compel, 30 far as is
legally possible, the subdivision of our in
situations between the two sections or their
duplication for each.
The same causes steadily increasing will
render statehood OF the whole obnoxious to
all. and We respectfully protest against
any acts toward the admission of Dakota as
a state with its present boundaries. We
pray a division that the full blessings of
harmonious local government may be vouch-
safed to all parts as they have been to other
parts and territories of the United States.
And further your memorlalists will ever
pray, &c, &c.