Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-02-09
ABOUT YaHkrex.
An Array q rrsts lsos, Pleasantly str..

ABOUT YAMkI0N. i
An Array u Ifstas lGoss Pleasantly strasE
Together. 9iI
Special Correspondence Chicago Inter Ocean,
Yankton. d. z. Feb. 3.-The railroad
Development Of Dakota, Of more recent
years, has LETT the oldest and largest
town in the southern half Of the territory
out in the cold. The tide ot immigra-
ton has poured, into the central and
northern portions Of Dakota, without .
glance at Or thought Of the extreme
southern or sontheaateEn section, where
Dakotaians are to be found Of genera
tlon's standing, and where An intelligent
and thrifty native-born population is
fast growing up. With the map before
him. one may we'll wonder Why these
fertile valleys have been overlooked, and
why Yankton, Q Missouri river town,
occupying q proud geographical pre-.
emihence, and situated at the natural
gateway to the heart of Dakota, has
been neglected.
Three, four, years ago the boom was
not upon Dakota as il is to-day. At
that time, with the foothold it had &C.
quired in Dakota by the purchase of
the railroad bstween Sioux City and
Yankton, the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul Railroad company had . golden
opportunity before it, which seemingly
it utterly failed to realize, as almost
within it, grasp. The. st. Paul did, pre-
sumsbly, run an imaginary line from
Yankton, on the Missouri, at about the
mouth of the James river, up through
the valley ef;the James to the Northern
Pacific country. In fact such Q line was
projected, and ct intervals since small
portions Of 1t have been constructed in
places.
But instead of building the James
River Valley line first, the st. Paul
essayed to gridiron Dakota by building
three east and west lines across its sur
face. The James River line was left
for q future, when it should have been
the present consideration of the 81
Paul management. Had the line from
Yankton to jamestown, on the Northern
Pacific, been built three years ago, the
James River valley would have been
rapidly settled. and would to-day be
paying tribute to the st. Paul. The line
would have been Q winter route, forever
free from snow blockades, and one Of
the very best railroad investments in the
Territory.
By building q connecting link between
Sioux City and point on its Iowa line
the through route to Chicago and Mil.
waukee would have avoided entirely the
snow belt Of Minnesota. This winter
with one of 5its east and west divisions
closed for the season, and the other twe
closed grea. part Of the time. the st
Paul may well reflect upon its mistaken
policy respecting the construction Of {
north and south road that would hav,
earned more than all its mileage in Da
kota. Eventually the st. Paul mus
complete the james river line, but it hal
now in its path powerful rival. in th,
shape Of the valley branch OF the North
western, which on reaching Huron, Of
the James river, saw at once the desira
bility of q line north, and at once con
structed such q line, now running at {
profit, to Ordway and Columbia. nearl,
100 miles above Huron. The st. Paul, ,
road that should itself have founded
town about where Huron stands q yea
or two before the advent of it's more en-
, terprising competitor, will be forced t
, make Huron ON important point on ii
own line.
What should have been done sewers
years ago, however, remains to be don,
and may be done to-day, and there is n
doubt but that the st. Paul is fnall
moving in the matter, with the view {
making Yankton commercial and mai
ufacturing center, and Of obtaining Il
itself q better hold upon the richer agr
cultural and Stock.raising portions !,
Dakota. It is understood that tf
building of line from O point on II
Council Bluffs division in Iowa TO Siou
City will be speedily undertaken, ar
that the line from Yankton north, COZ
pleted last fall to Scotland, distance
, thirty miles, will be pushsd forward b
fore the road west Of the Missouri
fgiven to the contractors. rs
Yankton, standing ready now az 81
has for the past ten years to do b
share towards securing additional RAJ
road facilities, is not unmindful
broken, faith and threadbare promie
, in the past, and while welcoming Or
overtures on the part of the st. Paul
lust now rather more interested in ma
ling overtures, on her part, to anoth
great railway. the Chicago and Mort
\ western, which is constructing lii
, through southeastern Dakota to come
its central Dakota and northern 10y
divisions.
At point in Turner county, where Il
Northwestern's new line curves to I
north, and where thrifty county &C
will probably be located next summer.
is distant only about thirty miles frc
Yankton, and the latter is desirous
securing spur. which will bring
- Northwestern within her gates.
There are many good reasons Why
would pay the Northwesta1n to COL
here. Not only is Ysnktods destined
become large and flourishing termiI
point, but il can be made the initial poi
for : railway enterprise second only
, the James river line itself.
On the divide between the Misso,
= and James river there is An agricultul
domain, already partially settled, that
! yet to become the tributary territory
The railroad. From Yankton . line I,
tendinR in 3 northwesterly directii
!. kesping back from the Missouri twel
M oEthirty miles, Pierre to be its object
.tyI 1S:-.--r'--.1