Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-18

Dakota is now attracting considerable atsen-
ton, and being made the subject Of consid-
cradle discussion, OF the part of the press
and people within It's limits, and deservedly
90, for it is a matter of paramount impor-
lance, and n upon which decided action
will doubtless shortly be taken. That the
territory should be divided 10 . pro.
position too seiEevident to call for the sup
port of much affirmative argument 1t 10
Ear too large to render any longer possible
the transaction Of the Judicial, executive
and commercial business consequent upon !
its proper and judicious management ; the
interests of its various sections are too
important, and too widely and evidently
diverse to permit a bond of unity any
longer to exist. The question of how it
shall be divided is the only one which is
longer entitled to consideration. Upon this
question a variety of views are entertained
By the different journals aud leading men
of the territory, some favoring a division
into four equal portions, some a division
upon the 10th parallel into two equal parts, |
and yet others a division into three equal
parts upon the following basis
Beginning upon the east border Of the
territory and running west upon the forty.
six.h parallel to the Missouri river, thence
south along said river to a point in the neigh
borhood of Fort Sully, and thence directly
south TO the north line Of Nebraska. This
would leave to the western division all that
Missouri river, aud west of the line from
Fort Sully to the north lire Of Nebraska;
to the northern division that part north Of
the forty.sixth parallel, and east of the
Missouri river and to the southern division
tho romaindor If the Territory
This division is an entirely natural one,
and is in strict accord with all the best in
terests of the territory, something which
cannot by any means be said of any other
plan of division which has thus far been
proposed. 1t i. the plan which meets with
the approval and support of all the leading
journals and most of the leading men of the
territory. The proposition to divide Dakota
into two equal portions upon the forty-sixth
parallel has some supporters and advocates.
but there are 80 many weighty objections to
it, that it is almost absurd to suppose that
it will receive any forcible atten.
zion at Tie hands of those in au.
thority. To erect a state out Of
the southern half Of Dakota. according
to this plan of division, would be to force
upon it's people an endless series Of annoy
ances, disadvantages and drawbacks. The
population Of such a state is now and for a
long period will in all probability continue
TO be located at its two extreme points,
namely: southeastern Dakota and the Black
Hills. These two sections are separated, and
for the next forty years will continue 10 be
separated by an immense Indian reservation
one hundred and fifty miles in width. This
is q we'll nigh insuperable obstacle in the
way of a union of the interests, both politi-
cal and commercial, of southeastern and
southwestern Dakota, and it cannot be read
lily removed, for there is not within the lin.
it's of the United States to-day a region to
which it is practicable, or in fact possible to
transfer the Indians now occupying this
reservation. But this is no. the only objec-
ton to a union Of the eastern and western
portions of the southern half Of Dakota.
The interests of the two sections are exactly
diverse, and can never be harmonized.
The Hills is strictly a mining region,
while southeastern Dakota is, and will be,
entirely devoted to agriculture and stock
raising. Legislation for the Advancement
of one of these interests must be directly
5 opposed to the advancements of the
, interests OF the other; wealth of the one
can never be used to benefit the other; the
! seat Of government of the one, can never be
y the seat CT government for the other; IN
TACT there can be no unity, because every
reason natural, political and commercial is
against it. The wonderful young city Of
Deadwood, with its wealth and influence
s and power, q natural seat Of government
' because of it's location In the very midst oil
the interests which it represents, will nevel
consent to become q mere political depend
ency Of southeastern or northern Dakota
and there are centers Of trade and wealth
s~prinRing up in both northern and southern
Dakota which will %strenuously and power
fully oppose taking the same attitude 10 re
.pect to Deadwood. A union of these sec
lions is simply impossible. and as the ad
mission of Dakota as q whole Is not though,
Of, as it would place this vast territory will
all its mighty resources, upon a basis witt
such little states as Rhode Island and New
X Jersey. in the councils of the nation, th
only thing to do is to divide the terri, or,
into three parts according to the plan abov
outlined. Such q division is entirely pa
tural, and it would accommodate all intel
'e ests and all sections. to the oetrimeat o
Ve none, and to the advantage OF all.
n. NORTHERN DAKOTA.