Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-05-18

CWce On 4hlfo St., Prcss ana DakOtAlAn
BOWEN KINGsBURY, Prop'ts.
Another instance is recorded wherein
the capital commission laughed. It was
at Canton after the opening OF the bids.
W. s. Wells, speaking in behalf of
Pierre, remarked that the time was when
Yankton was the center of population in
Dakota. Laughter followed. 1t was de.
risive laughter. But the men who treat.
ed themselves to this emotional indul.
gence know very little of the history OF
the territory they assume to represent
II they were more fully conversant with
its past, it they had shared in the tolls,
dangers and discouragements of here
planting the seeds of empire and had
nurtured their plant through long years
OF adversity, perhaps their thoughts for
the instant might have drifted in diff.
ferent channel. Truly, as the Pierre
man remarked, time was when Yankton
was the center of population and in
those days it was more difficult to main
tain population than now. In the be-
ginning the outposts of civilization were
reared in this southeastern corner and
the efforts of hardy pioneers were Just
giving to Dakota a name and fame
abroad. A horde of murderous Indians
swept down from the north, the settlers
fled before their approach and the terri
tory would have been depopulated had
not Yankton held the fort for days and
weeks and cared for and protected the
terror stricken refugees who, upon that
occasion, made it the positive center of
population. Dakota's governor retreat
ed in hot haste and took refuge in an ad.
Joining state, the official organization was
broken up and scattered in all directions,
the newly formed territory of Dakota
was losing its identity and all its pros
poets for the future. 1t was then that
the men Of Yankton refused to yield an
inch Of the soil or fraction of the pro.
gress the territory had attained. With
guns in their hands they stood within
their stockade and the bowling mob Of
painted warriors failed in their sanguin.
ary efforts to redeem Dakota to their
savage uses. The men who laughed at
Canton the other day were none of them
inside Of that stockade. Yankton's sue.
cessful defense upon this occasion made
Yankton for years afterwards the com.
mon center for Dakota's people, and the
public was free to admit that our city
fairly earned the honor. It was in Yank.
ton, after the enemy had been compelled
to abandon its effort to wipe out the
struggling settlements within the few in.
habited counties of our territory, that
two companies of soldiers were organ
lied and sent out to rescue Dakota from
savage domination. For two years they
secured the plains to the north and to
the west, following closely upon the trail
of their foes. and when they returned to
their starting point lasting peace had
been attained, and all of Dakota east of
the Missouri river had been surr endered
to the settlement which is new popping
its prairies. In these days it is easy to
build towns and develop farms, and it ap.
pears to be no difficult task for their
builders to cast derision upon the claims
of those who, through blood and toll,
prepared the way for the rapidly develop.
ing civilization Of to-day.
Upon many ether occasions Yankton
has been made the center of Dakota's
population. There have been times
when the wolf was at the door and the
pioneers of the generation of to-day
turned their footsteps Yanktonward for
the food and the raiment which the
parched soil refused to yield to them.
And they were all cared for and encour.
aged to further efforts to subdue the
wilderness. In years gone by grasshop.
pers have devastated these plains and
driven the settler from his cabin TO seek
sustenance. Yankton was his rallyine
point-the rendezvous where the latch
string was always within the reach of the
needy. BY its substantial aid, by it,
counsels, by its influence and its efforts
the city of Yankton established
the beginning of what is today the most
promising commonwealth in all the west
1t has struggled, not only for others, but
for itself. The training of the past may
have made it . hard fighter, but if it is
its pugnacious qualities were developed
in overcoming obstacles which stood il
the way OF the advancement of all Dako
ta. For years it bore the brunt of til,
struggle and its greatest reeompense il
that every locality within the borders o
the territory is now able to take care o
itself. These "reminiscences are give,
chiefly for the consideration of the mirth
full band of pilgrims who were deIiberat
ing upon affairs of state at Canton til.
other day.
Aberdeen Pioneer: The James Rive
valley is not only attracting people from