The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-09
A BIG TERRITORY.
"Wonderland," Otherwise Known as Dn.
kota--Tho Resources of tho Countrywide
Area and Growth.

1ispatched 10 Tie Arlington last night to
find Major Edwards, whose paper, the
Fargo Daily argus. published in the
Territory of Dakota, gained national
reputation preceding the National Re.
publican Nominating Convention of
June, 1880, by its advocacy of Grant and
the Stalwarts. Our commissioner found
the Stalwart Dakotian and at once began
the work assigned.
"You have been described to me as
weighing somo three hundred and fifty
pounds, ovei six feet high, and take Il
you are the editor of the Fargo DAILY
Argus, Major Edwards ?"
eyes, sir"
Il have aeon the Argue, aud It's eight
pages are filled with local advertisements,
evidence of its wonderful prosperity"
eyes; l founded the Argue q little
over two years ago, when Fargo had leso
than two thousand people; now it has
six; own II and print an eight page
daily, a Sunday paper aud weekly, be.
sides Scandinavian edition with large
circulation among The Norwegians of the
great Red River valley"
Speaking OF that 'Wonderland,' rs
you term it, what is Dakota Territory as
to size now, and what would it be If
divided rs proposed ?"
Dakota Territory, as now formed,
the British Possessions on the North. It
contains 15O,S0o square miles. The
proposition is to divide it on the forty.
sixth parallel, leaving the South half
under the name of Dakota, with some
$4,000 square miles, and erecting the
Territory of North Dakota out Of ali that
part of the present Territory between
the forty-sixth parallel and Manitoba,
with some 72,00U square miles of land,
over 95 per cent. of which is susceptible
of high state of cultivation. New
York has some $4,000 square miles.
Pennsylvania $4,000, Ohio about 40 600,
and al New England only 68,048. The
population of Dakota at the laet census
was, in round numbers, 240, 900, of which
about 200,0 900 is South OF the forty sixth
parallel"
Il ain surprised mt the figures you give
rs to area. What are your resources,
capital and improvements? I"
"Y0u only have to look at the reports
to verify the figures. North Dakota has
some GOO miles Of railroad in operation,
200 miles graded, and 800 under contract,
to be finished mostly in time for the crop
this year. ! am giving you figures gath.
cred by the gentlemen here from North
Dakota, who como as delegates to lay
before Congress the wishes Of their peo.
pie as to division. There was some
100000 acres cultivated last year, yield.
ing in wheat some 5000 900 bushels, and
this year it is estimated there is 100000
acres ready for crop.
"We have never issued dollar of
bonds in aid of railroads, and only three
counties have been bonded for court
houses, aggregating $4,000, all selling
at premium. There was sold lest year
$1,750,000 worth of farm machinery In
North Dakota and $4,000,000 worth of
lumber. There are ten national and
some fifteen private banks in operation,
and no lack of money for every enter.
prise. Wheat brings money at oil times,
and wheat is surer than gold mines
usually. They have 81 Touring mills,
1876 schoolhouses, 10 churches, 1000
miles of navigable water, upon which
ply sixteen steamers and numberlees
barges. besides the twenty or thirty
steamboats, on the Upper Missouri com.
ing through Dakota for several hundred
miles on their trips"
"Why do you want division? There
il O sentiment in favor of one large State
out there"
"There is no bond of unison between
the two sections. The trade and traffic
of North Dakota tend entirely to points
North of the forty.sixth parallel, to st.
Paul and Duluth. South Dakota goes to
Milwaukee and Chicago. Her lines of
railway tend there, VIII. ours reach an
outlet higher up. To 60 from Fargo to
Yankton wo travel some 700 miles
through Minnesota, Iowa and back into
| Dakota to reach our capital. From Bis.
marck, Pembina and other prominent
sections of North Dakota the travel ie
from eleven to thirteen hundred miley.
The United States District Judge at
FarEo is compelled to travel $500 miles
to attend the regular SESSIONS Of the Su.
p.eme Court at Yankton every year.
The United States Marshal and United
States District Attorney are compelled TO
attend two sessions of the District Court
each year. Prisoners, insane patients
and other wards of the people have to be
transported long distances without the
Jurisdiction of the Territory to reach the
public buildings. The two sections have
no interest in common, and the people of
North Dakota, not caring for Statehood,
are anxious to be set off from the older
settled section that they may be knock
ing for admission as State"
"In talking with the parties 1 find
there Is disagreement between your
Delegate in Congress and the Governor.
Which is right?"
"Both gentlemen assure our people
they are earnestly in favor of divisio.-
and the labor OF each is appreciated"
IL see you do not care 10 express an
opinion OF the gentlemen's merits. Haye
you plenty Of statesmen, in the event of
division, to fill tho offices? ?"
THE custom prevailing, l fear, would
havdly warrant our expecting any such
concession. The statesmen required for
Governor, Secretary, Marshal, District
Attorney, Surveyor General, Collector,
Judges Of the United States District
Court, clerks and other officials, are
usually sent from the States selected fol-
their well.known merit by Congressman
who set up nights picking out The fitten.
est men, 80 to speak. Our people are
willing to leave all that 10 the President
and Congress if they may DC allowed G
division Of the Territory"
"Will not the cost of maintaining al
these officials be o reason for objectinf
on the part of CoDgfess?"
"Most of them are paid in fees, tn,
judges are acquired anyhow, and tn,
Governors is about the only additiona
salary TO be paid. The general oxpens
would be lighter because Of the great de
crease in miles travelled and time spen
on the road"
"You seem TO have thu case well (,