Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-16
nsusUyMMRMIuggy
Report or Governor VIVA. a. Howard q
the secretary Of the Interior.

tho Secretary of b Interior.
Executive office. d. T., Yankton, Decem
Der i8. l678s-SlR: Referring to your let
u Your letter OF the 9th OF August Lost,
beg leave respectfully to report upon tn
topics suggested. 30 far as ] have been a0l'
TO obtain the desired information.
The territory OF Dakota Is very large. DC
lug nearly four hundred miles square. OF
more than four times ss large as The state 81
Ohio, The settlements are principally con
fined to three distinct localities rs remote
from each other rs possible. aud OF very
| difficult aud expensive communication Win
each other.
The settlements of souti eastern Dakota,
10 which 10 located he present capital, ex-
t.nd from northeastern Nebraska mainly IN
u northern direction up the Big Sioux, the
| VermillioD, and the james rivers. These
settlements are extending north along the
Nrder Of northwestern Iowa and south.
western Minnesota as tar rs Lake Kampes-
xs, and as far west as The James river.
Although the population is sparse at pres
mt 1t is rapidly filling up. Southeastern
Dakota has a population NJ the present time
II not less than 50,OU0, and probably Co.
700.
Northern Dakota is settled. or rather set
Ting, along the west bank OF the Red River
Of the North, from Richlsnd county, oppo
lite Rreckinrldgs, down TO P. mbina, gu The
line Of The British possessions, crossing the
Northern Pacific railroad at Fargo, and ex-
lending west along the line of that road TO
Bismarck. Population, perhaps 10000.
TIE other settlement is in the Black
.lllls, occupied mainly BY a mining popula
ION, aud containing u population at the
present time ot 10000 at least, and proba
hy 1900.
l suppose it is about $50 miles in a straight
.lne from Yankton 10 Deadwoud. But tue
,nly Tea ,ible way Of getung there invoiver
ravel OF at least 900 miles, and an expense
greater than the journey from Yankton 10
Washington, anu requiring more time ~
Ne form 1t. Tue distance tom Yanklon 10
pelnbina as the "crow hles,' is at least 4OU
mile, and requires more time and expense
nan u visit to the capital of the nation.
The three sections are not only remote
from each other and OF difficult access, but
heir interests are separate aud not indenli-
cal.
In a commercial point Of view, Saint Paul
and Duluth are the objective points uf north
srn Dakota, while Chicago and Milwaukee
slll naturally drain southeastern Dakota.
Meanwhile the vast wealth Of the Black
Hills will swing to the right or lett as it may
oest force itself out, or as railroad enterprise
shall open a more direct way over which it
may move. The great Indian reservation
west of the Missouri river contains tifty-six
thousand square mics, about the size of all
Michigan, including both peninsulas. Vi
course, this will prevent settlement, and tend
20 turn the business of the Black Hills to
The south or north of itself.
Dakota has no public buildings, no mill
tary organization, and no arms. There re-.
ally seems about the same necessity for three
territorial governments as there il for one.
But as population increases they will soon
mingle and blend, and the means Of direct
inter communication will naturally follow.
Answering more definitely. your inquir-
LIS, l may say:
First. The u of this Territory are
Doth agricultural and mineral, aud OF vast
Atent, only partially developed as yet but
uough has been ION to demonstrate the
act that Dakota, cons .deripg her vast ex.
mt OF territory, has agricultural resources
scarcely secouu to those OF any state in the
luiOu. Dakota has on the east side OF tue
silssouri river at least sixty thousand square
Jules Of land tit for The pillow. 1t is be
ieyed ut least fifteen million bushels Of
wheat will be produced next year.
| haye been unable 10 obtain reliable
statistics OF ;he mineral OF the
Black Hills. Enough Is known to warrant
tue statement that the mineral resources
are very great. Recent discoveries more
Than confirm The %sanguine expcc'a-
ii ms. The spirit of wild speculation That
characterized the mad rusu that resulted
~ 9 , much disappointment, suffering, in
SAM " and crime. has given place 10 we'll
directed efforts, guided ny experience and
skill, sustained BY capna.. l regret I am
not able, even at this late day. to furnish
sta is.lcs. 1 think l should ue more apt 10
ind them in Washington or New York OF
california, where many OF the best MINES
are owned, than in Yaukton.
Sscond. Tue soil is generally prairie.
Tue rivers are bor0ered or skilted with
huber. BulldiDg-stUne and coal are fnunu
ln various places. The climate is q fair
,verage for its latitude. although general,
than The same latlluues farmer east
more exposed to wind from The
want vi timber. Our population is geuel-
NY estimated al 10000. 1t is sale 10
,ay it is AT lea,,|lU0. OUO.
1hlrd. lhe lntereet Il people take IN
benevolent and charitable in-
lltutions iS at least equal to that OF any
country, as new as this, with which | am ac.
The people highly appreciate
ue magnifc mt appropriation made ty con-
res Tor the hen.tt of schools, and l be-
leve there wall he a dispo.lt ON to preserve
ais intact, that posteri Y may share i. 10 the
alest generations. We have no insane asy.
um. We have twenty-five iunal,cs, KEEP at
resent at the asylums of Minnesota aud
iebraska, at an expense Of about $500 each,
e>ides a large expense for transportation
wen this cannot be had longer Than until
'ebruary. We are now building a pavilion
r temporary hospital, SO rs 10 bring them
ome. All neighboring hospitals are full
patients of their own. We nave no peni-
Our copvicts are kept at Detroit,
a very heavy expense for transportation
keeping. The management Of the con.
is humane and satisfactory, but the ex.
ense for transportation and keeping is a
.ry heavy burden, and rapidly increasing.
n lhisway, The two items Of expense for
lie c%onvicis and lunat,cs have absorbed
early all our territorial revenue, and left a
eating debt in the shape of territorial war
lnts Of about $4,000 The construction of