National Republican., 1883-11-23
DAKOTAS GROWTH.
What Gov. Ordway Says Of the Condition Of
That Territory.
Rapid Increase Both in Population and
Wealth.
The Good Glass Of People Who Have Settled in That
Country.
The Proposed Change OF the Capital from
YanI4ton 10 Bismarck.

GLOW is Dakota booming, governorP
queried an inquisitivc REPUBLICAN, reporter
upon meeting Gov. Ordway, of that terri
tory, in the Riggs house last night. Ho re-
piled, "Therc has probably been an increase
in tho population during the year 1888 of
nearly 100000 people, and fair estimate
of the population to-day would place IT be-
tween 350,0O0 and 100000. The assessed
value of fproporty, AS returned by tho asses
sors last year, ranges from SiS,OO0,OOO in
1852 to $75,O0O00O in 1883; and the latter
amount does not show more than ono-half the
value of property in the territory. Tho class
of settlers of late have beon largely
and adjoining states. They left comfortable
homes in most instances to secure the benefits
of homestead and other land laws. In other
words, they left tho thickly settled portions
to secure moro land and give their children n
fair start in life. Whole communities have
cmigrated together, chartering whole railway
trains in ordor to bring their household
effects and their nocks and herds. The re-
cent emigrants arc very largely Americans"
"What are you going to do in regard to hav-
ing Dakota admitted into the union as q
stateY asked the reporter.
II have recommended n my report, recently
submitted to Secretary Teller" he replied
that congress be asked to pass an act author
izing the election of delegates from all the
counties in the territory to a constitutional
convention, with provision that the dele
gates, when assembled may prepare and pre-
sent to congress u constitution for one state,
or for a division which will ultimately make
two states out of the present largo area en-
braced in the territory. All of the people
will thus have an opportunity to express
themselves on tho subject. l have made this
nnln ID, nf I'm fa hut
the presidential election is so near at hand,
and that tho two houses of congress will be
hardly able to agree on any bill for division or
admission. Dakota is now entitled to imme-
diate admission under former precedents
but the fact remains that the political COM
plcxion of tho territory is such that the
majority in ono house of congress, Mt least,
will not be likely to change the decision
made near tho close Of tho last congress, when
all action upon the question of division and
admission was refused"
what have you to say about the constitu-
tional conventionW
"At the close of the last legislative assem-
bly, bill was passed authorizing the election
of delegates from certain counties south of
tho 10th parallel for q constitutional conven-
tion for that part of the territory, entirely
ignoring the section north of the 10th
parallel, which pays more than half Of the
territorial taxes. As the bill provided for
taking the expenses from the general fund,
and contained other unconstitutional pro-
visions, l withheld my signature from the
measure. was willing, however, to approve
n law making specified appropriation for
q constitutional convention, provided all the
organized counties should be allowed q fair
and just representation The sectional feud
caused by the proposed removal of the capi-
tal made tho members from the southern
portion of tho territory hostile to this meas
ure and it was not passed, and Immediately
after the legislative assembly had adjourned
certain persons styling themselves executive
committees got up a convention of delegates
selected in this informal manner, and met at
Sioux Falls and formulated com
stitution for the southern portion of
the territory. This action, which was
but the result of mass meetings was submit
ted in many Of the precincts in southern
Dakota at the November election. A very
small proportion of the voters in southern
Dakota voted on the proposed constitution,
and of those who did about twO-ifths voted
against its adoption. Many of those who fa-
VOred it were persons who felt aggrieved by
the action of the legislature in removing the
seat of government, through tho commission,
from YanKton to Bismarck. Some of these
self-constitutCd architects of the new state
openly advocated overthrOwing the federal au-
thority, tho setting up of u state government
assessing taxes, and forcing their way into the
union. These extreme and almost revolu-
tiOnary utterances undoubtedly alarmed
many people in the southern part of the ter
ritOry who would cordially support legaliZed
| and proper movements Tor division of the
territory and tho admission of the southern
half. Hence it was n well-defined antago
nism to the men and methods that moved the
opposition, rather than to the main question
of division and the ultimate admission of the
| southern half as n state"
In regard to the removal of the capital
| from Yankton to Bismarck he said "The
legislative assembly, after having provided
for the erection of penal, charitable, and edu-
cational institutions at its last session, passed
an act by II two.thirds vote providing for the
removal Of tho scat of government from
Nankton. and relocating it at some more ac'
cessible and central point, provided that O
| fund of at least 100000 and 100 acres of land
| were guaranteed by some town, the land tc
| be subdividcd, and after taking out enough
for the capitol grounds and suitable parks
the lots were to be sold, and, with
| tho 100000, used in erecting a
capitol building, which should be given to the
territory without cost. The act also provided
for the election by the legislature of nine
commissioners to carry out the project, and
in fact, remove tho capital from Yankton
| The commissioners gave bonds in the sum OF
$4,000 each for the faithful performance Of
their duty, also that they would not become
| interested in any land within ten miles Of
the point selected. Bismarck being almost
| in the exact center east and west and within
| fifty miles of the geographical center of the
| territory, aud situated on the Northern
| Pacific railroad and Missouri rivel
guaranteed double tho amount of lant
required 800 acres, within the city limits, ant
100000 in cash The offer was accepted, ant
tho cornerstone laid Sept 8. The building il
now nearly completed. 1t will be unde
cover by New Years day. Work is going oil
day and at night by electric light. 1t will
be equal in size to the main building of tn
Minnesota state capitol, and one of the mos
solid and substantial structures ever erected
in the west Ii will be faced with handsom
white bricks, and trimmed with Joliet ston
and terra Gotta"
Referring TO the legal complications tina
are likely to arise, the governor said he hat
no fears in that direction. The only question
appeared to be whether the nine commits
sioners should have been elected by the legis
lature or appointed by tho governor. TIL
decision was not made public until after tn
departure of Judge Edgerton, who heard tn
cause, with the Willard party for the pacii
coast, aud rs sent out by the Associated Pres
declared the capital removal bill unconstitu
tional and ousted tho commissioner
after they had gotten the capitol buildin
half completed. An examination
the records of the court, however, prove
that no such decision was rendered, but ha
been prepared by Yankton attorneys for th
judge to sign. Before signing it, all that pal
declaring the law unconstitutional or invali
was erased, and the order ousting tho con
missioners presumably made, although n
| H. m.