Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-12-31

only brief space of time since we be-
gan at the January end of the calendar.
The years contain just as many days and
hours and minutes as they did when the
world was younger, but there is so much
more work and 80 many more hopes and
disappointments crowded into them that
they go by unnoted until the annual
round up takes our thoughts back in a
hurried review OF the events of the dying
year.
Like its immediate predecessor, 1888
has beer year Of wonderful growth to
Dakota. -Four hundred miles of railroad
have been added to it's trackage and
nearly all its vacant public domain has
been occupied by industrious settlers.
This is substantial progress. In the
quantity and excellence of its agricul-
tural products Dakota takes Che lead,
proportioning the yield to the number
OF acres titled. This ensures future sub
stantial progress. The year has also
witnessed the first effective step towards
| the admission of the state of Dakota
into the union. The Sioux Falls consti-
tutional convention had its beginning
and its ending during 1883, and its work
was ratified by the people at the polls.
Though the enemies Of the movement
are endeavoring to belittle the results OF
the honest efforts Of true Dakotaians in
the direction of self government, the
historian of the future will write it down
that the movement inaugurated by the
people of Dakota in 1888 eliminated in
the creation OF new state aud ultimate
ly OF two new states. Things have oc.
Cured during this year which have
brought disgrace aud humiliation upon
the people of young Dakota. OF them
We need not speak at length
Dakota will not forget them We may
reasonably hope, however, that with the
waning year the power which brought
this disgrace and humiliation is also
waning and that early in 1884 relief may
come. But the good that has been in
Dakota during the past twelve months
| oNSA 1"AobSSS luC CSll. 4uo TO2O
honest prosperity is open before US and
it is broad and long.
The city of Yankton has kept pace IN
the march of progress and has made
substantial advancement in public and
private improvements during the year.
A system OF water works for fire pro.
lection has been completed, our streets
have been repaired, beautitied and
lighted, our sidewalks, crosswalks and
bridges made perfect and all that the
demands of the times could suggest has
been complied with by wise and enter.
prising municipal administration. In
private improvements the list ia long
one, involving the creation of manufactur.
lug establishments and an educational
Institution second to none in the west.
Property has advanced in value and in
the country around the city the demand
for real estate has fully doubled the
price. The products of the soil, the
herds and the dairy have been lavishly
bestowed and our importance as CON-
mercial center has been greatly aug
mented. The traffic of another railroad
reaching out into the northwest has in
creased our shipping facilities and given
US valuable feeder. We stand to-day
IN position to take advantage of the
bright prospects the immediate future
promises and which the record of 1854
will make good.
All things considered the year now
closing has been fraught with good gifts
which should bring to US all most
Happy New Year.