Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-12-21
The Pierre Convention.

thusiastic and harmonious for the op-
ening of the Sioux reservation. John
Brennan of Rapid City was elected
chairman, and 7. M. Wilkens of Miller.
secretary. The following memorial
was adopted, to he presented to con-
gress:
We, the citizens of southern Dakota.
in convention assembled, would res
pectfully represent that the great Sioux
reservation, containing over $4,000
square miles, is situated west of the
Missouri river. and is abody of land ex-
tending from the boundary of the ter
ritory, on the south a distance of $40
miles northward, and from the Mis-
souri, river 200 miles west. The length
Of southern Dakota from the eastern
to the western boundary is 400 miles
and its whole western half, with the
exception Of the Black Hills, is given
up to $4,000 Indians who hold but do
not occupy the same. In 1S76the coun-
try lying in the forks of the Cheyenne
river was taken from the reservation
by treaty, and under the name of the
Black Hills. has acquired a fame al
most worldwide on account of it's great
and varied mineral resources. The dis
covery of gold and silver in the Black
Hills led to the eNtinguishing of the
Indian title, and was followed by rapid
settlement and partial development.
In this development millions of capt.
tai become invested. In consequence,
Il great commerce has grown up be-
tween the Black Hills and tie east.
All the government lands in the east
ern half of the territory have been ia
ken up and settled by thrifty, enerEet-
ic people. Southwestern Dakota is a
t~reeless plain, without mines or tim
Der. For its, timber and fuel it must
go abroad; for it's timber it must go be-
yond the Missouri river: for it's coal
into, iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsvl-
vania. The Black Hills country is not
only rich in gold and silver, but has
coal in immense quantities, that east
ern Dakota has to bring at exorbitant
freight charles. Its lumber it must
now procure from Wisconsin,: conse-
duently the pine forests and coal mines
Of western Dakota lie idle and unutil-
lied, while upon the hardy pioneer of
eastern Dakota is laid Under the OPP
pressive burden of freight charges, pc
cause lying between these portions of
our commonwealth, is the great Sioux
reservation, trackless and painless to
commerce, save by wagon roads, over
which is annually transported one hun
bred rfillion pounds Of freight at the
enormous cost of two and one-half
cents per pound, or $2,5OO,OOO to the
consumers of the Black Hills. TTen-
ty-four thousand Indians thus hold a
domain larger than the most populous
state in the union, not using it for any
purpose whatever. The great Sioux
reservation is not only useless to the
Indians, but it is worse than useless to
the white mar. Were it sunk in the
earth and covered with %navigable wa
ters the commerce around it's borders
would Whiten it's surface with the sails
Of thousand vessels plying to and fro
with the products of the west and the
merchandise of the east. The Black
Hills country, containing 1000 square
miles and one Of the richest and most
wonderful regions on the globe has
scarcely yet been touched by the hand
of development. If the of
the Black Hills would become availa-
bic to mankind, their productions af-
ford employment to thousands and hap
Ply homes spring up to convert a wild
erness into a land of thrift and plenty.
a million OF cattle from which 100000
head We're Sent to market the present
year. The Natural road to market for
these herds is across this reservation.
but the Indian refuses his assent and
prefers that the unused grasses Shall
illuminate the autumnal heavens with
prairie fires. Thousands of the citi-
Gems Of this common country, many of
them Old soldiers, are waiting to occu-
Ply by actual settlement all Of the agri-
cultural lands within the boundary,
covered by the treaty made by the
Sioux commission. On Behalf of these
thousands of honest, industrious, bit
homeless citizens, whose only capital is
willing minds and strong arms, we ask
congress to open to them the rich and
fertile plains that now lie dormantand
ilnproductive.
Resolutions were adopted indorsing
,,he treaty made by the Sioux commits
tion, asking congress to ratify the same
IS it stood; Or with such modification as
20 compensation as congress may deem
,ust; also asking Delegate Raymond to
Introduce a bill for the opening up of
the reservation. and use every effort for
The passage of thedame. An executive
;iommittee was appointed, to meet up
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