The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-02-01

division of the territory on the 10th
parallel and the admission Of the
southern half into the union as a
full-hedged state. The census
taken the lst of June showed that
the portion Of the territory seek
ing state rights was composed of
population numbering 90, 200, leav-
ing IN the northern half Of the
territory $4,000. Since the taking
of the census there has been a
large immigrations in both sec
tions. In the SOuthern half of the
territory the Chicago, Milwaukee
and II. Paul. the Chicago and
Northwestern. and the Chicago,
St. Paul, Minneapolis aud Omaha
railways have constructed and
ironed over four hundred miles of
railway during the past year, and
have over two hundred miles more
graded and sready for the iron.
These companies have about seven
hundred miles of railways now in
operation in the southern portion
of the territory. This extensive
railway building has had a ten
dencv TO draw thousands Ia Dakota
Who would otherwise have staid
east. Where, III June last, only
naked prairies existed, now can be
found MANY little towns, some
containing upward of 500 inhabi-
tants. The Mitchell land office shows
that u, 800 acres Of land was taken
In the month of November last.
This. at the rate of l60 acres 10
each person, would show am immi-'
grafton of 500 persons, mostly
heads of families; and counting
two and a half persons To each
family would show an increase of
1900 population in a month in the
Mitchell land district, and as there
are four such districts in southern
Dakota # would indicate Am IN
crease of population in this part "f
Dakota at the rate of 5000 per
month and $4,000 for the year,
which would give that por-
ton Of Dakota south of the forty
sixth parallel over 100000 people
by Deccmber, lSSI-as soon as it
could be admitted as a state.
Under the most disadvantageous
circumstances conceivable, south
en Dakota will have over 10000
population at the close of 1881.
The immigration in 1881 will not
be less than 10000, and the indi-
cations are that it will be nearer
100000.
Most of the railways built in
Dakota in the last year were
through the free government lands;
consequently, they are being set
tied very fast. and the FIVE hundred
or more miles that the company
propose 20 build in 1881 will near
ly all be through the same kind of
lands. Aside from the impetus
the extensive railroad building IN
Dakota has given to immigration,
the excellent crop of 1880 in this
territory, and the partial failure Of
crops in western Kansas and Ne
braska will have a tendency TO
turn a large share cf home-seekers
10 Dakota.
With this showing, congress
should rot hesitate to pass the
bills now before that body divid-
ing the territory on the 46th Paral-
lei, and granting the southern half
authority to form constitution
and state government, and TO elect
senators and representatives, pre-
paratory to admission to state
rights at the next session cf con-
gress.
Before the lapse of many years,
not only will southern Dakota
have the necessary population for
a state, but northern Dakota, Mon
tana, Washington and New Mexico
viii have populations sufficient for
admission TO the Union, and pos
sibly all the territories but Alaska.