Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-12-17
DAKOTA WANTS DIVISION
THE SUBJECT THOROUGHLY Y
DISCUSSED AT FARGO.
a Resolution Passed by ihe Grand
Jury Favoring Division on
the Seventh Standard Par.
al1el---Argus Report.
VARIOUS OPINIONS.

tai hotel, Fargo, on Saturday, to consid.
er, in connection with committee ap.
pointed by the United States grand jury,
the question of the division of Dakota
now pending before congress.
Maj. A. W. Edwards was elected chair
man,and G. A. Lounsberry, of the Bis
marck TRIBUNE, secl etary.
1t was assumed that the bills now be.
fore congress provide for the division OF
Dakota on the 7th standard parallel, a cor.
rection line established in surveying, ly-
ing about four miles south of the 46th
parallel, instead of on the 47th parallel. as
published through the associated press,
and it was agreed that if the 47th parallel
was the line mentioned in these bills that
every interest of N orthern Dakota should
oppose such a division.
Mr. CLARK, of Pembina county, on be-
half of the committee from the grand
jury, said that as they were the only body
selected from all portions of North Dako-
ia, that it would be possible to reach, and
being, as it was reasonable to suppose.
represented IN character, it was thought
proper for them to take some action IN
the premises and they had been selected
by the grand jury a committee to confer
with meeting Of citizens, with a view to
placing before congress an expression of
the wishes of North Dakota in relation to
the subject Of territorial division.
Wo0DRUFF's RESOLUTION.
Mr. J. S. Woodruff, of Cass county, Of.
fered the following resolution:
Resolued: That tits the sense ofthis meeting
that the interests OF that portion of Dakota ter
ritory lying north of the 18th standard parallel
demand the same should be set off from the
southern portion of said territory and be formed
into separate government
This resolution was seconded by Mr..
Geo. II. ElIsbury, Or Barnes couT.ty y -T - z
s Maj: Edwards explained the purports of
the Paddock and Bennett bills as he un-
derstood them, justifylng the view that
they provide for division on the 9TH stand
ard.
Ex-Gov Austin, of Minnesota, desired
a statement of the reasons urged for di-
vision. He was aware that the people Of
North Dakota generally. favored DIVISION,
but was anxious to learn what reasons
had been or could be advanced on which
their impressions favorable to division
could be founded.
Mr.. West, Of the argus, stated briefly
the grounds for fear that the large pre-
ponderence of political influence in the
southern portion Of the territory would
give to that section advantages at the ex-
pense Of the northern section, and called
attention 10 the fact that the wealth per
capita is far greater in Northern than in
Southern Dakota.
THE TRIBUNE's VIEW.
The char asked MI. Lounsberry to
state the reasons which he presumed to
be familiar to him in favor of division.
Mr. Lounsberry referred to the great
extent Of the territory-15O,OOO square
mlles-more than three times as large as
the great state of New York, and to the
fact that Northern and Southern Dakota
had no common interests and no common
sympathies. He regarded their interests,
their lines of trade and lines of commerce
as separate and distinct as those of 1ndi-
ana and Tennessee. The business of
Southern Dakota naturally passed east
over southern lines of railroad to Chica-
go while that of North Dakota centered
at Duluth, St. Paul and Milwaukee, and
for his part he urged that lie regarded
connection with Minnesota far more ac-
ceptable than with Southern Dakota. He
referred to the great difficulty experienced
in reaching the capital Of the territory,
requiring a trip via St. Paul and Sioux
City, three days time and a thousand
miles travel He referred to the large
unsettled tract Of country, covered large
ly by Indian and military reservations,
living between the sections, and called at
tention to the fact that there are no wag
on roads, even, connecting the two sec
tions. executing an Indian and military
trail leadlng down the Mlssouri river,
and no commerce between the two sec
tions excepting comparatively little pass
inc up and down that river.
WILLING TO COME. 4
Mr. Austin was not fixed in his convic-
lions, and if there were strong and
weighty reasons, aside from political con-
sideratlons, which he thought ought not
to be regarded, he might consider them.
He recognized the force of some Of the ar
guments advanced, but with the deyel-
opment Of the country most fthem would
pass away. They grew largely out OF the
fact that in former years southwestern Da-
kota had been the butt--tlla controlling
influence this portion had been
only snapper to their whip, and the fear
that North Dakota would be only an out
lying province, as it We're, had suggested
them. But the territory was being grid
iro1 ed by railroads, and was increasing
rapidly in population, and if central 10
cation should be selected for the capital,
he saw no reason why the two portions
should be separated. hepublic lands of
Southern Dakota were well near exhaust
ed, and settlers would naturally seek the
northern portion OF the territory, and he
believed that within ten years North Da-
kota would have the greatest population.
There was nothing in itself 55,he objec
ton that it would contain too many
square miles unless there was some great
Confined on 1'ou'sA Tage.}