Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1884-03-19
ON THE 4eTH.
THE ApMIssI on BILL RRpoRrrp,

WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Har.
rison submitted his report on the bill to
admit Southern Dakota, and provided for
the organization of the Territory of
Lincoln. The report says;
IF Dakota Ia divided on the Forty
sixth parallel, as provided by the bill, the
State of Dakota would contain about IL
900 square miles. The proposed state
would be the eighth state in area, Califor-
mia, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada,
Oregon and Texas having larger area.
The proposed state would be twice as
large as Indiana, 1000 square miles larger
than Illinois, $4,000 square miles larger
than Arkansas, 5000 square miles larger
than six New England states combined
II the present Territory of Dakota is not
divided, but admitted as one state, only
the states of California and Texas would
exceed in area. Indeed If the area of cul-
tivatable land only is considered, the State
Of Texas alone would rank before IL. IL
would seem, then. that we have within the
proposed State of Dakota q remarkable
area FOR populous and prosperous state. '
The report discusses the remarkable
adaptation of Dokota to sustain large
agricultural population, and its excellent
milroad facilities for travel and commerce.
The committee assert their belief that the
general sentiment of the people Of Dako-
to is in favor Of division.
Large delegations OF leading men from
both sections appeared before the com
mittee and without any desenting voice,
urged division. The representatives from
the northern part Of the territory said
they did not care whether this division
was brought about by the admission Of
the southern portion as state. or by con-
stituting two territories, but division they
insis,ed upon as essential to the best in
terests OF ak the people"
The resolutions Of both political parties
in favor Of division were given in the
reports. Reference was made to the fact
that certain people from Bismarck wanted
the matter left the people or to vote OF
constitutional convention Of the whole
territory, but the committee do not believe
that congress should surrender its control
over these questions, and express the
belief that the legislation proposed is in
the line of wishes Of the people Of the
territory. II is their opinion that q prop
osition TO call constitutional convention
with the view OF admitting the whole ter
ritory as state, would be overwhelmingly
defeated. by the people. The report says:
1t would be unfair to judge the present
population by the census Of 1880. The
influx OF population since that time has
been unprecedented. BY that census the
whole territory had population Of 1885,
1T. The total number of homesteads
up to that time was 39,70A On the 3lst
day of December ii wss ~ 500, an increas
of 4S,096. There were, January 1, 1854,
765 postofiices in the territory, an increase
since January I, 1880, of 452. There are
over thirty national banks in the territory.
and larger number of private banks, and
there are 100 newspapers. 1t has out
grown its present form Of government.
Its judicial system Is inadequate. Two
thirds Of the population are located south
OF the forty sixth parallel. The present
population OF the territory numbers fully
350,000."
The bill Is SO framed that no political
considerations affecting the next presiden-
tial election are involved, as the state can
RQt bs admitted until after the eieotion,