Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-04

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To illustrate this idea Governor Howard
pointed to the early history of Michigan.
The territory of Michigan once embraced
the vast extent of that present state and OF
Wisconsin and Iowa. 1t was reported to
the men OF New England and New York as
a region Of horrors, Astounding only in
swamps and marshes, the home of diseases
dire. and u%ninhabitable to man. Leaving
unnoticed the common gossip of evil report
take one instance of official record. In 1912
congress voted six millions of acres of land
as bounty for the soldiers in the wal with
Great Britain. Two millions of acres should
be selected from the territory of Louisiana
Missouri), a like quantity from
the territory Of Illinois, north Of the Illinois
river, and the same quantity from Michi-
gan. Each soldier was to have 100 acres
fit for cultivation. The lands in Louisiana
and Illinois were surveyed and appropriated
but the surveyors reported there was no
lands in Michigan fit for cultivation. Onthe
basis of the surveyor generals report, dated
at Chilocothe Ohio, November 80, 1915
congress in 1916 repealed so much of the
law as applied to Michigan and provided
for taking 100000 acres in Illinois and
$780, 600 in Missouri, in lieu of the 2,000,00O
which could not be found in Michigan.
Yet from this territory have grown three
mighty states, and Michigan sent ninety
thousand soldiers to the defense of the un.
ion. Similar struggles have been made by
the pioneers Of Wisconsin and Iowa, and
are being made by other people. Why, in
1858 when it was proposed to admit Mime
sofa to the union as a state it was strongly
opposed on the ground that such a region
could never sustain the permanent popula-
ton ola state. 1t was said that when the
fur trade exhausted and some pine lumber
cut, in q few years, the region would be
abau doned as it could not sustain animal
life, especially that of mankind. But look
now after only 20 years at the great state of
Minnesota with its 80 or 40 millions of
bushels of wheat, and filling up TO its
utmost borders with a thrifty population.
Here now is Dakota Territory nearly
400 miles square, and it has more acres of
arabic land than any state in the union ex-
cept possibly Texas. 1t is more than three
times as large as New York and about four
times the area of Ohio. 1t has met the
same objections aud is now overcoming
them 10 the same way. Lines of railroad
are rapidly building across our rich plains
and new communities are forming on every
hand. Twas told that on that part Of our
eastern border between Eden and Big Stone
lake there was for some time last summer
an average of 300 teams and wagons per
day entering Dakota. The same is true Of
Northern Dakota where the marvellous
growth of country and towns is a constant
surprise. The governor alluded to Fargo
and it's growth and to that Of Grand Forks
as about equal to it. He then touched upon
the population, wealth and development Of
the Black Hills. He was there just after the
fire at Deadwood and spoke with eloquence
and high respect for the sterling manhood
and self reliance Of the people under that
misfortune. He noted special instances Of
manly traits shown, of the fair play exhib-
tied in respect to disputed titles where 80
much depended on possession. He describ-
ed the great mines and the new discoveries
and developments steadily progressing.
His general summary Of the advantages and
resources of all Dakota was mastery and
strong. He declared that we now had at
least 10000 population and many thought
more. OF these one third had come in the
: last eight months and one half in 18 months.
The railroads are going forward, more PEG.
pie are coming, new centers Of population
are forming and the future is assured.
The governor then declared that If every
t church would quadruple its efforts in Dako
ia it would only fairly fill the present need
of new forming communities. He hopee
they would do SO. Not only this church
but all evangelical churches He spoke o
the importance Of occupying strategic
points, of doing this early An.
keeping up the communication
like an enemy in its campaign. He allude,
also to education and the muni6cent provi
lsion made by the United States for our fu
ture schools, declaring that if properly haz
died il would ultimately produce twenty-6v
millions Of dollars. He called for such
public sentiment Is would paralize an
sacriligious hand that should wrongly touc
that fund.
We have only given = few Of the mai
ieatarss Of this admirable address whic
10 was 70 creditable alike to Dakota and i
Christian governor. His experience in Il
northwest dates from Territorial days