National Republican., 1882-07-31
DAKOTA'S DELEGATE.
RECORD OF HON. R. F. pETrIoREw.
Sketch OF the Man who Walked to Dakota and Now
Represents the Territory In Congrea-Hir
denomination and Election Assured
Work Accomplished.

private letter from Judge Kidder, of Dakota,
to friend in this city, brings the pleasing news
that Hon. Il. Il. Pettigrew, the present incumbent,
Will be renominated and reelected Delegate TO
Congress- Judge Kidders Judgment In the matter
is entitled to especial weight, having ably repre-.
sented the Territory in the Forty fourth and
Forty fifth Congresses and been continuously
upon the supreme bench of the Territory since.
II is seldom one is able to congratulate a more
worthy and deserving representative By his un-
tiring industry and discerning intelligence Mr..
Pettigrew has secured the attention Of his fellow
Congressman to a large number of important
measures concerning his constituents, while by
his unassu ming modesty and happy manners he
has pushed large per cent. Of them to success,
Hon. r. L. Pettigrew
LITERALLY WALKED TO DAKOTA
from his home in Evansville, Rock County, Wis
consin, in 1862 for the simple reason that he did
not have the means of paying his way upon public
conveyances. At this time he was under twenty
years of age. For want of other occupation he en-
gagged as a laborer with n surveying party imme-
diately on arriving in the Territory. He had edu-
Gated himself, and graduated in law ut the State
University in Madison, and was admitted to prac.
tice before the Supreme Court prior % leaving
Wisconsin. Such qualities as he exhib,,s ID at the
the outset were not long unappreciated and he
soon became leading member Of the community
of Sioux Falls, where he settled. In 1876 his neigh
bors, deeming him worthy toserye in wider field,
elected him to the Senate of the Territorial Leg sla
ture, in which capacity he served two terms, end
Ing In 1880 In the last named year
MIR. PETTIGREw WAS NOMINATED
without his seeking and elected by All overwhelm.
ing majority to the Forty. seventh Congress, re-
celvlng more than two-thirds of all the votes cast
In the organization of the House he was chosen
from among all the delegates us the only territorial
representative on the Committee on Territories,
giving him an advantage which his subsequent
record proves he was fully qualified to improve
When the States (and Terrtories) were first called
ON the Goth of december last, Mr.. Pettigrew was
fully prepared aud introduced twenty-five thor
oughly dgested bills, including such, important
mei sures as the admission Of Dakota, to create
the Territory of North Dakota" "to establish an
assay office at Deadwood,' .to convey section OF
land near Yankton for erection of in.ane asylum"
to create three additional land Offices" Ito en-
courage settlement OF public lands, to establish
mint at Deadwood," TO yacate Fort Randall
reservation aud open 1t to settlement" "to open
Turtle Mountain reservation" Since that date he
HAS INTRODUCED FOURTEEN OTHER BILLS,
all Of public importance, and concerning his i'm.
mediate constituents. Besides having prepared at
great labor and research the bills enumerated,
Mr.. Petiigrew was energetically engaged in Sc
curing an appropriation for surveying the Mis-
souri, River within Dakota, which was allowed in
the House in the sum of S25, 900.
Not satisfied with this sum he went before the
Senate Committee on Rivers and HarbOrs and
made both oral aud written argument for an iu-
crease, and was rewarded by ali increase to $4,000
Besides the appropriation for surveying the river
Improvement of the Missouri River above Sioux
City. He asked tor and with the aid of tie Min
nesoa Representatives, secured $4,000 for the i'm
provement of the Red River of the North. Through
personal appeal to tue committee he secured an
item In the sundry civil bill appropratng 900 to
improve wagon road between Yankton and Fort
Randall.
THIS is THE ONLY ITEM OF THE KIND PASSED
by Congress, although scores of bills were intro.
duced. He appealed to the Fish Commissioners,
and they have agreed to stock James River with
food fish, experiments to begin as soon prac-
icable. He has succeeded in having a signal Of
flee established at Huron, and the authorities are
Chamberlain, Brule County. The list of pensions
allowed MANNED aud disabled soldiers through
the efforts of Mr.. Peitigrew is a long and honor
able one. II is often the case that, through the in
ability OF the applicant to comprehend the ill.,
structions of the department, Il case is hung up
for months and sometimes years for the want of
piece of information, simple enough in itself, but
OF vital consequence.
PENSION CASES COMPRISE BUT ONE CLASS
of the varied departmental business performed
by Representative, as all who are familiar with
Washington well know
The work of a Congressman has, of course, only
laws are introduced. Members OF committees
must be posted in oil the details concerning each
bill, and the advantages of the law asked for
must appear preponderaing Work must be done,
data for reports collated, and the golden moment
(when the quorum is present in committee, and
when the committee is called in the House, must
not be lost, and all this devolyes upon the inter
ested party The subsequent record of the bills
presented by Mr. Pettigrew must be accepted as
test of his fidelity
RECORD OF BILLS.
nh