, 1881-04-17

10 the Editor ~ Tho Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO, April 1G-Dur,ng the past week
was compelled by the blockade tu remain sew
era1 days In Sioux City, H., aud hence had a
good opportunity to Inquire into tho condition
and wants OF the people uf tho adjoining Ter
rtory. and By your permission will make few
Statements:
And first. as to the condition Of things before
the recent flood. AM satisfied that many cxa9-
:scrated stUries were circulated by travellers and
otherwise, and gained credence, that are calcu-
lated to discourage people from going to Dako-
ia, and thai really DO the inhabitants m injus-
uce. Not withstauGinE tic Ercnt severity Of the
~nte r. there Las been in this par1 Of the Terri
tory bit very little actual want. The storms
and bOc.sudcS mace it difficult to get fuel end
provisions. hut tho people were NOT destitute ut
:ueuns. III Tur1lcr County. fnr cxa!np!e, .rtIy
>,t WIS vapsnuth t.v tie Committee in charge
.f the relief of sufferers us IL chn-ity. Much
sale OF Erasn. c:';. -.ul this Is think, about Il
tntr s'atenent as IT, 1nc larger pArt Of the Ter
sitory; ard iic.rtainls speaks well for the iudus
:ry AND tariff tf the pennlH.
but the rr:cat do,"!s nave brought great loss
and su;'t!t:s |" si':tM!, .snd they need and &C.
fTon 1he ie.. blockade ucerr.d u the night
The pcupfa .,lou:- the railroad lire wert warned
BY 1cfeSrat,s. AMI tho Word was carried to the
communities: but 1t seemed i!IcretliD: that
EDuny could n',t believe the dut:cr tu be 81
ETrat rs 1t nctt1nF WIS. Many tied: but IN
1cN H1NFs cscf- WIS tEt OIL, Lr render G1 uifil-
cult and the result WIS init nanny had tu 1e
helped away hy bnts: and when | LET; Il hilu-
drrd or tilulg WIN ID sought safety in high
buildings, ur on the highest EruulIGs, we're still
prisoners Anu suffering. Never huye men la
horcd hurdtr thnsl have The citizens nt Iuuktoa
and NcrinllI,n To rcscaie their neighburs from
0angcr: but the ice SnrxeS are hard tu cross;
howevcrft IS huued ail will be reached aud saycd.
Now, us result of 1h,, grcut overflow, over
::aoO.uo acrcs Of the best improved part of Da-
kuta ntr uIder water. Many Of tho houses arc
destroyed, aud nearly all the stock h,ls been
drowned. TIE people could lake little Or note-
Ing with theta in l4clr flight; and hence they
are left without anything; and wacn the wntcr
subsidies must rEturn IL tonnes And f;r.ns utter
Is deaulated. THE Government will supply food
and blankets fur d time: hut these people de-
serve and should have immediate assistance. 1t
is thought tbAt about sCGD ,l:. in want un.i ure
now beng cared for by those who were less un-
Fortunate.
A ou.nmttee. consisting Of George II. Hand,
Acttng Governor, and J. H. Sanford. Mayor of
iatkton. D: r., and Others, mas been formed,
who appeal to the public for ceip. What the
people most need, suppose, is money. The SHOW
IS yet Oh HI Average twO feet deep over most OF
The Territory; but boil railr0ad and river COM
municAtiou5 will snon he established. The pur-
t10n nf Dakota nf which a!n writ1ug is settled
mostly frum our own State, from Iowa, Wiscun-
sin. and Minnesota They are our nelghbors.
They arc striving to build up what will SOON be
great and prosperous part nf nur country. Let
Chicago and Illinois help thcm il this thor great
trial II. ". THOMAS.