Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-15
NORTHERN. DAKOTA.
IF NOT STATE ADMISSION, TERRI
TORIAL DIVISION WANTED.
Interesting Facts and Figures Concerning
the New Candidate for Congressional
Favor-POpulation, Area, Products,
Climate and Resources,

with Colonel =. A. LounSDerry,
editor of the Bismarck Tribune,
The territory of Dakota has an area of
$4,000 square miles. That portion lying
north of the 10th parallel, for which S epa-
rate territorial government is asked, has
an area of $4,000 square miles, while Ohio
has but $4,000, Pennsylvania but 10000,
New York but AZ ,O00 and all of New Eng
land but $4,000.
The population of the proposed new
territory is 11O,436, distributed as follows:
Barnes county, 1900; Burleigh, 5000; Cass,
1866; Dickey, 1000; Griggs, 5000;
Grand Forks, $4,000; Kidder, 725; La
Mour, 500; Morton, $500; Pembina, 5000;
Ransem, $500; Richland, 5000; Stutsman,
1915; Trail, 10000; Walsh, 10000; unor-
ganized counties, $500. By the census of
1880 it was shown to be 34,663 and the
present estimate made by competent per-
sons in the several counties is justified by
the following comparative statistics:
The taxable valuation in June, 1880, was
S7,324,7 700; June, 1881, $15,338,S47; June,
1882, 1924, 764, 805.
The postal revenues for the year ending
June 80, 1880, amounted to $30,540.03; for
the year ending June 80, 1881, to $40, $780,
36, and for the year ending June 80, 1882,
to $75, 294.77.
In June, 1880, there were but two nation
al and five private banks in North Dakota,
Jan. l, 1880, there were fourteen national
and twenty-five private banks. In June,
1880, there were but nine church structures;
now there are seventy six, costing $196,000;
then but seventeen school buildings, now
254, costing 1868, 700; and there are
nd "a
schools. Then there were but one
there are eleven daily, forty weekly and
six monthly publications. Then but 1885,
357 acres were un1er cultivation; now
883, 1856, of which &c. 1926 acres are devoted
to wheat, 151,3S2 to oats, and S5,628 to
corn, barley and other miscellaneous
crops. The value of the wheat crop alone
will exceed $10,000,000 remarkable show
ing for region destitute of settlement,
even as late as 1871.
In June, 1880, there were 200 miles of
railroad in operation in North Dakota, now
there are 845 miles, and about $50 miles in
addition are under contract to be COM
pleted during the current year.
OF timber skirting the streams and
lakes there are 800 acres, exclusive of
the Turtle mountain region, where there
are $4,000 acres in one body. 1t is
principally cottonwood, although ash, oak
and elm are found in considerable bodies.
Coal is found in unlimited quantities in
the Missouri river region. 1t is fine
quality of Ignite and is in general use in
villages and on the railroad.
Within the proposed territory of North
Dakota there are one thousand miles of
navigable waters. On the Red river six
teen steamers having the capacity of 100
| to $50 tons each and twenty-one barges of
thirty tons each are employed. They run
down the Red river from Fargo and Grand
Forks to Pembina and Winnipeg. On the
Missouri river there are twenty-five steam
ers having their head of waters at Bismarck.
II sy carry $50 to $50 tons each, and run
up the Missouri 1,20o miles northwest to
Fort Benton, Montana, and up the Yellow
stone to Miles City and Billings, and some
seasons up the Big Horn to Fort Custer,
and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
The largest body of agricultural land
within the United States, open to settle
ment under the homestead, presumption
and tree culture laws, is found in Dakota.
Although the great bulk of these lands are
unsurveyed, through lack of appropria-
tions for the purpose, settlers are coming
from every state in the Union and from the
| old world, and are even pushing beyond
surveys and into unorganized counties to
occupy them. The soil is a rich loan, av
eraging not less than eighteen inches in
depth and in some instances from three to
five feet. The sub-soil is strongly impreg
mated with lime. The soil and climate are
peculiarly adapted to grain of all kinds,
and the grasses afford most excellent graz
| ing and abundant winter provision for
stock The climate is all that can be de-
sired. In winter there is no rain and the
snowfall is light. While the thermometer
frequently ranges in the vicinity of zero,
the weather is blight, clear and pleasant.
During the months of December, 1881,
and January and February, 1882, there
we're but five cloudy days, as shown by
the record of the signal Office at Bismarck,
and the total snow fall during those
months was but 279 inches, measured
as rain. In February the thermometer
reached II degrees above zero. The mean
| temperature at Bismarck for December,
1882, was 1215 degrees above zero; high
est, 3S above; lowest, % below; cloudy
| days, 5.
| Inc grasses mature D0lOE0 lIOSG anu re-
main in the condition of hay during the
entire winter, and as storms are seldom,
in the Missouri as in the Yellowstone val
ley, cattle live and grow fat on the prairies
during the entire winter.
| The stock interest for this reason is rap
idly increasing, and northwestern Dakota
will soon be as famous for its stock as
eastern Dakota has become for its wheat.
The manufacturing interest is also de-
veioping and thriving towns have sprung
up in every organized and in some unor-
ganized counties. Fargo has population
of 5000, with street cars, water works and
electric lights; Grand Forks has 5000; Bis
marck, $500; Jamestown, $500; Mandan
and Valley City, each $500; Pembina,
Wheatland, Casselton, Sanborn. Tower
City, Wapehton, Hillsboro, Hope, Lari-
more, Grafton and dozen other towns
range from 900 to 1900 each.
The interests of North Dakota would be
promoted by the establishment of the pro-
posed new territory. The people ask local
self-government, and no good reason can be
given why it should be refused. They de-
sire to lay the foundations for their public
institutions, and to build such as may now
be needed, making provision for the in
creasing demands of the future. North
Dakota has no bond of commerce with the
southern portion of the territory. The