Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1879-01-23
EDWARD u. FOSTER, EDITOR.
Governor HOward's MESSAGE.

{ We make the following extracts from
Governor Howard's Message to the Dako
IA Legislative assembly, as our limited
pp.ce iorbids lis publishing it entire.
Our worthy Governor says ty way Of
intr'lucrion:
=. "Gcntlcmen Of the Council and House
Of Representatives:
In view Of the greatly improved condi
tion "t the territory it is a pleasing duty
t" we.c"me >ou to your Legislative la'"rs
and responsibilities During the last two
years our population has increased stesdi
ly and rapidly; probably three fold. ''pr
taxable property mas increased in single
year more than sixty per cent. The ex
ceedirg fertility OF our soil has been
demonstrated. The destructive power OF
the locust, heretofore overratcd, has be.
come less and less until it'has been es
tablished that labor can be rewarded and
4 large measure prosperity secured in
spite Of the ravages Of the grasshopper,
incurred III the past, or apprehcnded in
the future. A rich gold and silver min
ing region has been onencd within our
borders which has already produced
large value Of the precious metals, and the
DEVELOPMENT Of VIII ch will be a source of
permanent and increasing wealth. Ou'
educational interests are better cared for
Our laws are i>etter emf reed, and more
generally respected. Our finances are III
proved and improving. Immigration has
Increased beyond all former precedent in
the territory, with every indication of a
still larger ratio of increase for the next
year In short all the materials are flow
ing in and clustering around US that must
soon form = great and prosperous State
Into what sort Of State these elements
shall be moulded; as to what institutions
shall characterize the future of Dakota,
must largely depend upon the wisdom
and fidelity with which we meet our
present greatly increased responsibilities.
'Our abundant and varied resources,
developed and to he developed, show that
Providence has placed here an exuber-
ance of all those physical conditions
necessary to the formation, growth, and
maintenance, Of great and prosperous
community. And whether these elements
Of Statehood shall ultimately be formed
into one or more States, their number and
volume have greatly increased and are
still increasing, and the process of crystal
ization has already begun. Some clear
ideas of what should characterize an or-
ganized community or free State would
seem to be necessary and appropriate
before We lay aside our territorial swadd.
ling clothes"
Concerning the important subject of
immigration, he says: ,.. e.. ..
"Wlth returning prosperity in the ma
ton and the more buoyant feeling Of
enterprise among the people, an increased
attention is drawn toward this Territory,
which is now augmented by the railroad
enterprises within and near our borders.
The favorable land laws of the United
States have here their most complete and
perfect application; and there remain
large areaa u,,on the borders of our settle.
ments which offer permanent advantages
70 the immigrant. 1t would, perhaps, be
impossible to adopt any general system,
under Superintendent, without involving
heavy expense, and which would be
otherwise. satisfactory to oil sections
Our settlements are sepented and hold
different relations 20 the neighboring
etatcs and to the makets, while there il
now little except official lntcr-communica
&ion. The several judicial districts rep
resent the three great communities com.