The Dickinson press., 1883-11-10
DEsCANTs UPON DAKOTA
Gov. Ordway's Annual Report to Secre-
tary Teller on the Condition of
His Territory.
He Suggests that Congress Pass an En-
abling Act and Submit a COnsti-
tutution to the People.
GOV. oRDwAY's REPORT.

tututiOn to the People.
GOV. oRDwAY's REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, Nov. O.
Gov. Ordway of Dakota has submitted his an
nual report to the secretary Of the interior. 1t
is q voluminous document. More than half of
it is occupied in explaining the position of the
governor on the question of removing the
capital and in an extensive defense of the re-
moval commission. 1t is made up largely Of
newspaper clippings, and is the old removal
fight, from the governors point of view, again.
The governor says the progress and develop
ment of Dakota in the last two years has been
almost phenomenal The tide of emigration
which set in strongly in 1880. has been steadily
increasing until during the past year. He
thinks a fair estimate Of he increase in popu-
lation would reach 100, 600. while the increase
Of assessable property has even been more
marked than the increase in the number of in
habitants. He then proceeded to call attention
to the wonderful resources Of Dakota, which
are being developed in 30 large q degree, gives
q very encouraging statement regarding the
climate. the education and health of the people
of Dakota. and then takes up the subject of
dividing the Territory and admitting q part
into the Union.
HE SAILS IN, 80 TO SPEAK.
He explains at length the failure Of the bill
creating a State out Of certain counties of the
Territory, and jushies his action in allowing
the bill to expire by Limitation without his ap-
proval.
"The failure on the part Of the promoters of this
scheme. SAYS Gov. Ordway, ito enforce favorable
executive action has resulted in an unjust aud in
aud all the members Of the legislative assembly
who did not support the measure. or who did SO
from compulsion in order to secure the passage of
to their constituents. Men styling themselves ex-
ecutive commissioners have. without sanction of
law. assumed to hold elections. and IN some In
o otaosss to u hsv e%leotid 3nd %seSin.r7 legally e Choose s' acted
gates to a scattered constitutional convention
which recently met at Sioux Falls, and prepared
from nj the constitution stu itio Of the various States a mum;
In q constitution for certain counties in the south
ern part of the Territory. Some of the PROPOSE
tions put forth by this body, if placed in a consti-
tuition. would destroy the great privilege Of equal
ity in taxation. and open numerous avenues for
strong combinations and Shylocks to escape q just
share of the public burdens. While stating these
views aud criticisms Of the methods and aims of
some of the adroit manipulators of this movement
looking toward division and statehood, do not
wish to be understood as Directing to-. or standing
in the way OF. either division or immediate admis-
sion. On the contrary. I am quite willing to CO.
operate with the honest sentiment of the people Of
the Territory, fairly expressed upon all these ques-
vision of the Territory and the ultimate admission
of tho two States, which the population at the pres
ent time would warrant under former precedents,
has become a political question. which is likely to
be solved by the supposed interest Of political
parties. The decisive action of the minority in the
last house of representatives, in refusing by nearly
3 strict party vote to take up the question Of
that the same party will not be likely, with more
than fifty majority in the house Of representatives,
to accept a constitution emanating from the men
who assumed leadership at the Sioux Falls gather
Ing, even though the propositions there submitted
should receive a bare majority in Southern Dakota
Of the few votes which are likely to be polled at
the coming November election, when there are but
one or two county officers to be voted for in each
county.
THE PRINCIPAL DANGER,
however, lies in the fact thRt the manipulators of
the movement propose to subsequently, elect a
large lumber of so-called State officers and a legis-
lature. locate a capital and go through the same
Of Colorado. The result Of that experiment, I am
informed by leading men of Colorado. delayed in-
stead Of accelerated admission. which vas finally
gress: and that very few Of the so-called State Of
fcers. and even those claiming to have been elected
to congress. received any recognition from
WI ps rsea!ari :! admitted sss gate into Of the o0! In'o1:
In dealing with this question I have been governed
by my oath Of office and the provisions of the or
gsnic act which requires me-, as the executive
officer of the Territory, to see that the laws are
faithfully executed. Ihave therefore become COM
PEELED to discountenance the wild vaporings of
demagogues who have sought to in1ame the public
unlawful change from Territorial to State govern
ment without the sanction of congress. even though
those vaporings eman ated from the United States
officials, whose counsels and conduct have been in
direct violation of their oaths of office.
Gov. Ordway recommends that, if congress
does not see fit to create . new State, it pass
IN act calling a constitutional convention, to
include all the counties. and that 1T have power
to prepare one or two constitutions. as the
majority shall determine, which shall be sub
mitted to congress for approval. Or he thinks
the passage of q comprehensive enabling act,
to be submitted to the people, would bring
about q settlement of the trouble. He denies
the charge that the capital removal bill was
rushed through without due consideration.
The act is in full force and will
80 remain until the supreme court,
which does not meet until May, 1888, shall
pass upou the order of custer. The capital
building at Bismarck will be completed Jan.
1, 1884, at a cost, exclusive of the ground, of
nearly $25O,OO0. At the beginning of his re-
port he says there is very little valueless land
in Dakota. Mining still continues in the Black
Hills, but the increase has not been as great as
during the previous year. The average yield
of wheat was from fifteen to twenty bushels
per acre. During the year 1926, 600 was ex-
pended in founding and maintaining the public
schools.
III, he says, some plan is devised for giving
the Indians land in severalty, the Black Hills coun-
try will soon become very productive. All the best
lands east of the Missouri river open to settlement
on entry as far north a. the Northern Pacific rail-
road, will be taken up by Jan. /. Owing to the
scarcity of water, and the necessity for expensive
mining machinery. the production of gold and
silver has not been .. large as it would under more
favorable conditions"
Dakota Territorial News.
A telegraph Office has been opened at
Waghburn, and is now ready for busin-
ness.
Peter B. Wilcox of Bismarck has
drawn 81 1000 in lottery.
Cooper, injail at Grafton, charged with
an aggravated attempt to ravish a young
woman, has escaped from prison.
The Phillips estate, in Sioux Falls is
about closed up. One third of the prop
erty, which according to the appraise-
~oon4 ,onlo - voo- FooA, ,,- Lokv>4o