Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-15
sDoRnrARx soHuaz ON DAKOTA

nual report, devotes some epace to the
territory Of Dakota, which he says is the
largest of the organized territories. He
gives our population at 100000, and makes
reference TO the constant accessions thereto
By immigration. He says the educational
interests of the territory are ina satisfactory
condition that schools have in.
creased in number and improved
in character that churches have
multiplied and that greater respect is shown
for the law than formerly. This item in
the report Of the secretary will operate ID
advantage among those classes of east.
err people whom We most need IN the con.
struction Of our coming commonwealth.
They hesitate about transferring themselves
10 region where the law and the gospel il
ignored and where educational advantage,
are denied them. They will find how.
ever, that the secretary of the ~interio,
has 5truthfully represented matters in this
connection, with the exception that he has
not dwelt at sufficient length upon these
speclalties. Our educational system, though
yet In its infancy, is as perfect as the de-
mands Of thesDeople require and it is in q
condition to improve as rapidly as there is
any need for Improvement. There is but
9 sentiment upon this point-that the
education of the masses is para.
mount to all other considerations, and in
every section of this vast domain, where
white people have congregated together,
there exists q universal desire for the es.
Enlistment and improvement of the com.
mon school. The advancement of the cause
of religion goes hand in hand with the pro-
motion of education, and on the prairies of
this new vest the church and the school
house are among the frat
improvements Of a progressive people.
An obedience to the law and a desire for the
preservation of order are the legitimate
results of these conditions and it is there.
fore not a surprising fact that the statutes
Of the land are implicitly obeyed and that
crime is less frequent here than in the older
settled east. where vice finds fellowship and
receives the encouragement of association
and example.
The secretary ASSERTS that the present
need Of the territory ia a suitable p~eniten.
tiary for the confinement of criminals and
urges congress to supply the want. 1t is
not because We are possessed of any unu-
sual number of wrong doors that this im.
provement is urged. The statistics show
that our criminal list is . an ex-
oeedingly light one. But We
could more efectually and economi.
icaify enforce our laws with q restraining
institution of our own than We can under
the present inconvenient and expensive or
nngsment whereby convicted criminals are
i~fansported5 long distances to the reforms
tory establishments Of the east, where their
labor becomes q source of revenue to
others.
An institution for the care and
education Of the deaf and dumb and anoth-
erafof Tie blind are also recommended by
the secretary. He believes also that Dakota
should possess militia organisation, con.
sistinE Of It least three companies-one for
The southeastern portion, one for the north
ssn~portiou and one for the Black Hills.
All these are valuable suggestions which
sbould be carriedgout
q