Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-12-31
WHAT THE.PEOPL E Want
DIYISION OF DAKOTA ON THE
SEVENTH HSTAND4RD.
The Grand Jury's Report---Enthusi-
astic Meeting at Jamestown---
Fargo Citizens Committee
Report.
GRAND JURY's REPORT.

GRAND JURY REPORT.
4 The grand jury at its recent session at
Fargo made a report recomm ending the
division Of Dakota on the seventh stand
ard parallel. They urge this division line
on the ground that it would not interfere
with county or township lines, and for
other reasons.
The United States Of America, Territory
of Dakota, Third Judicial District, De
cember Term, 1880.
We, the grand jury of said court, hav-
ing been duly empaneleG, sworn in and
charged, in session this Goth day Of De-
cember, A. D. 1880, respectfully presentto
said court as follows:
First-That your grand jury having
been summoned from all portions OF
northern Dakota, which comprises the
Third judicial district of said Territory,
may consequently be considered as a re-
preventative body, and in that capacity
would present that it is the almost unanl-
mons opinion of the citizens OF said dis
trict that the territory is too large for eco
nomical or satisfactory government, and
their earnest wish that it be separated
from that portion Of the Territory lying
south Of the seventh standard parallel
and erected into Il separate government
that dividing line being suggested on ac-
count of its not interfering with or inter-
secting any counties or townships IN the
present system of surveys and would give
to said district a tract OF fertile land larg-
er than the state of New York, to-wit Is,
600 square miles, capable Of sustaining
many millions of an agricultural and
manufacturing community, with an in.
vigorating and healthy climate, and a soil
better adapted to raising wheat and other
cereals than any other part OF the great
northwestern wheat zone; IN fact, 1t has
I'll the physical features to make it, IN the
near future, wealthy, populous and pros
porous state.
Second-The climate and soil of north
crn Dakota differ materially from those
of the southern portion OF the Territory,
the former being more emlnently adapted
to the growth of wheat and the smaller
grains the latter to grazing and other
Kindred pursuits. They are separated 6y
a large tract of unsettled country, mostly
Indian lands crossed only by Indian trails
and cart tracks. The people OF the two
sections. have little or no interests in com-
nltf They have no social or mercantile
relasttfons, nor should they be 1orceu 10
|gether politically The southern sections
finsd markets in Chicago and ST.. Louis,
their outlet being east and south, the
northern: finds an Immediate market in St.
Paul and Minneapolis, and has u ship
ping rort at Duluth AS matters now
stand tits easier and less expensive to
reach the capitol Of the United States
than that of the Territory.
h1l.:Srl rNI,u Growth
ofnorthern Dakota makes it reasonable
to suppose that 1t will soon ask for adj
mission. into the Union rs a State, and it
is considered 10 take immediate steps for
the establishment ofp1isons, asylums. ed
ucational and reformatory institutions,
and save the enormous expense now in
CURED in sending our convicts, untOrtu-
mates. and children for a higher educa-
ton to the states, rs we are now forced to
do. The time has come when the hardy,
thrifty and intelligent citizens of north
ern Dakota should be allowed to frame
their owns laws and to lay the foundations
oftlcse educational and charitable insti-
1utlons which are the pride of the Ameri-
can people and the envy OF the civilized
world, and be subservient or checked
in these pr;sisewor,hy aspirations to 4
more densely settled portion Of the Terri
tory, with which they have no social, busi-
ness or political sympathies.
Fourth present The following sta
tistics as an additional argument III favor
of separate government, showing that
northern Dakota has all the facilities ncc-
cssary for its own management, and to en-
sure prosperity. 1t has y 400 miles OF
navigable and navigated streams; 800
Il with
c1s being rapidly constructed; about 4O-
OOO.inhabitants; 1882 ,347 acres OF govern
ment tlan,i have been entered III the land
offices at FARGO, Bismarck and Grand
Forks since their establishment, in addi-
ton 10 the. large quantities Of railroad
lands which have been sold Our grand
trunk line or.railroad- Northern PA,
citic-passes through the Territory from
cast to west, north Of the proposed divid-
inrline. Other lines are reaching though
and into the Territory from the south and
east. to share in the rapidly increasing
trafit resulting from its immense produc-
ton of wheat and other grains.
Tifth-That1he citizens of that portion
living north ofs1hc seventh standard p1ral--
lei, llavc no desire for admission as state
at present, they beng satisfied with the
present form Olaa5lclIll0AINi N'SAn .1ASAi'
antlstlle efficiency and integrity OF the
federal 9appoi.ltees. Il,
Six,h-'That any arbitrary legislation
erecting the whole Territory into a State
or dividing it on any other line than,t that
1ndica1cd, or giving any other name than
thatot North Dakota, would, besides be-
ing contrary To the spirit of Republican m
le@islatit,n which is and should be made
by the people and for the people, whoare
arbitrars of their own destines, cause
great dissatisfaction. The name OF North
Dakota is suggested, as the name OF Da-
kotuis 50 we'll known throughout the
world as a country wonderfully fertile
and peculiarly adapted to the raising OF
immense crops Of wheat and other grain,
tlatslnv other name migbtlead to divert
or check immigration, which is now con- ,r
stanfly pouring in from all parts OF the g,
world. Finally, your grand Jury would. ,ll
respectfully request that q certified copy
of this presentment, under the seal the
court. bc forwarded To the Hon. g. Ct.
Bennett, Territorial delegate to Congress,