Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1880-11-23
VICTORY, VICTORY, VICTORY !!

VICTORY, VICTORY, VICTORY !!
The Kickers. Boiters, and Soreheads
ThWlrGed.
e. r. WELLS, THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
Is ELECTED.
BISMARCK, Nov. 23d.
| Special to The Alert.
| The canvassing board for the 18th Leg
lsiative district met in this city last even
ing and canvassed the returns, giving the
certificate to Mr.. u. y. W ellis, nf your city.
alr. Wells majority in the district is 3,
and with one exception lie is the first re-
publican ever elected from this district,
and is the only one elected on the entire
republican ticket this year.
HON f. r. WELLS SINTEkyIEWED
The Alert, with its usual enterprise,
was the first to carry the news OF his cleo
tion to our future representative in the
Territorial House. On receipt of a
SPECIAL telegram from Bismarck, The
Alert called Immediately on Mr.. Wells al
his office ard, showing MIN the telegram,
was informed that IL was the first lnLima-
tion he had of the result. MIR. Wells,
however, showed very little surprise, him.
self as having been coufident ever since
election that tile mate sense OF justice anG
right, which lie believed was pledomi-
nant in the hearts ola large majority OF the
people within this district. would lead to
just this result.
At this pplut The Alert called MrWells
attention 10 the iact that the lauulng pre-
cincs III Bismarck, wherein large frauds
were charged, lad been counted by the
board Of canvassers.
Mr. Wells: "Of the fact Of wholesale
frauds at that precinct my friends have
abundant an, conclusive proof; SO tllut
hat a majority not been received, con-.
test would nave been inaugurated upon
that ground 1t is much better for all Of
the interests of this district that such
contest has been avoided land right here /
desire The Alert 20 state that lave ne,er
held my opponent responsible for the
frauds pcrpetrated in that or any other
precinct. believe it was entirely with
out his knowledge or consent
Rep-I also notice that The Little Mis-
souri, rlver and Fort Stevenson returns
were counted and admitted:
Mr. W.-Voung precincts were estab-
lisied, judges ot election sppoinsed, and
ballot boxes furnished at those precincts
by the opposition, ana in face OF protest
from me. The same parties who estab-
lisiled these precincts could not consist
emily refuse to CANVASS the returns alter
the vote was cast
Rep Suppose an effpit should be made
10 throw out the vote in these two pre-
cinc,s, how would 1t effect your position?
Mr. W.-After the returas have been
canvasscd they cannot be disturbed except
by the legislature and should the legs d.
this district, 1t would be largely in my
favor in its final results. Throwing out
the vote III those two precincts wouii re-
duce my vote Ga, while tue same power
that could thus throw out these two pre-
cincts, would most certainly admit the ev-
idence of fraud which have In my DOS.
session, and as result, would reduce the
vote of my opponent over 80. thus giv-
ing ME net gain OF is or 20 vot s.
Rep Then as the future representative
of this district, your views upon certain
subjects become public property and will
interest the readers of The Alert. DO
you favor the division of this territory?
Mr.. W. With The great doubt auout
my election, have given but little
thought of the matters that are liable TO
come before tho next legislature. 1t has
been my opinion that the division of tins
territory upon the 46ih parallel WOULD be
Of advantage to the whole territory. Sep
aiated as north and south Dakota are,
with different interests, each with its pa
itical a d business ceaters, and with no
communications between the two, it will
become more difficult each succeeding
year for the entire territory to work to-
gether in harmony.
ke2.-ls is rumored that you intend to
use your influence In the territorial legis-
lature toward getting an appropriation for
the Improvement of the James rivc.. Is
there anything in it?
Mr. W.-App'sopriation for public i'm.
provemeuts ase made EXCLUSIVELY by con-
gress. and are not within the province of
the territorial house. have nu hesitation in
saying however, that were it in nv power
I would secure All order from the general
government for the survey of the james
river from jamestown to Grand Rapids,
to determine whether reasonable apprc-
priation would make the stream navigaDic
from this point.
Rep.-Of what benefit would naviga-
tion be to this place, provided the Mil
waukee and St. Paul railroad be con-
structed, as is now altogether probablee
Mr.. What is an easy question to
answer. The Milwaukee & ST Paul rail-
road, if built to this place viii hau! the
products from almost within our verg
doors, south to Milwaukee and Chicago,
and away from US. Boats running upnn |
the James river, provided this stream
could he made. naviesble, would bring |
the products of the valley from hundred |
miles south OF US to this point, for tans-
shipment.
Rep.-Could boats on the James river |
in competition with the Milwaukee and |
St. Paul do this?
Mr.. W.-Yes, sir; the Milwaukee and |
st. Pgui railroad will run from eight to
twenty miles distant from the river.
Farmers within . distance of three or four
miles from the river land especially in |
the valley, which south of here Is much
wider than at this point) could load their
products upon the boats and lay til EN-
down at jamestown, as cheaply as they
could make the longer haul up and out of
the valley and deliver their grain at the
local station of the Milwaukee and ST. |
Paul Company, while the Northern Pa
ci6c could take that grain to Duluth for
Que half the rates charged by the Mill
xrai, L an & Ct Panl i,hi1.a and lSa