Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-28
A Cradle of Great States.
From the New York Times, June IL


There is q line of five Territories ~
ing between Minnesota and the Pacific
Ocean. upon the development of which
the completion of the Northern Pacific
Railroad is destined to have remark
able effect. Their united area exceeds
by more than 100, 900 sunaIe miles that
of the entire range OF Atlantic States
from Maine to Florida, which COM
prised the original Union of States, and
they contain some of the richest lands
on which the sun shines. The great
streams of migration from all directions
are already pouring over their eastern
and western frontiers and building up
the material for great States. Farms
spread over the plains and through the
valleys as if by magic, and towns spring
up la q month at the touch of enter
prise and industry. Deposits of price
leas minerals await the miner, and
water power of stupendous extent is
wasting itself on cataracts and wild
streams alive with undisturbed fish.
Capital and labor, eager as they are for
profitable employment, are embarrassed
by the extent of their unused oppOrtu-
mites In the great Northwest.
A letter from Portland, Oregon, gives
some idea of the rapidity with which
population is |. touring into that region
and preparing to work its unlimited
resources, and Of the impulse which
given to its development by the compile
ton of the great northern line of tran
sentimental communication. AS soon
as the main line is through it will begin
to throw out branches and feeders into
the adjacent territory and make con-
nections in every direction, he process
is destined to go forward Oh q scale and
with momentum unparalleled. From
the very nature of It's attractions this
region Is acquiring a population Of an
int sigent, sturdy and useful character.
1t has no use for idlers. Capital and in-
dustry are the sole means OF winning
the prize it cfers, and people are going
IN from the settled states as well as
from foreign lands, and they are of the
wide-awake and industrious kind.
For these territories census statistics
grow old in three years. The emu
meration of 1880 put the population of
Washington territory at rs 116. Our
correspondent believes that before the
end Of the present year it will be U.s.
900. and by the close of 1884 2s5 600
Dakota, on the east of this great range
of territories, had in 1880 population
of 1875 III, which was more than twice
that of the state of Nevada. It has
been growing with great rapidity since,
and probably does not at the present
moment fall far short of 200 600.
These two territories will probably sp-
ply next winter for admission to the
union of states. A movement looking
to that end has already begun in Da-
kota. Indeed, the question of the ad-
mission of the southern part of the
territory has already been agitated at
Washington, and it was opposed only
on the ground that Yankton county
had repuGiated certain bonds. That
stain has already been removed, new
location has been fixed for perma-
nent capital at Bismarck, and it is
probable that by the time congress
meets q state constitution will be pre-
sented for acceptance.
In Washington Territory action is 8
little more tardy, but is likely to come
very soon. Should these two Territor-
les apply for admission next Winter,
one as the 81 ter of Oregon and the
other as the next neighbor of Minneso-
ia, there is every reason why they
should take their places in the Union
in time to have part in the election of
the next President. Their population
will be more than sufficient to entitle
them to representative in Congress,
and their material development will
give them the right to full share in
the Governments of the country,of which
they will form an important and grow
ing part Their admission would add
st least six to the number of Presiden-
tial Electors. and the votes of their peo'
pie would represent an intelligence and
character equal to that of the best of
the younger states. Montana, Idaho
and Wyoming will soon be following
with equal strides in the race Of devel,
opment, and the great northern lines of
States will in few years be complete,
and they will uuquestionably add
greatly to the strength as well as to the
uoaItb of the TTpiOp