The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-18
TERRITORIAL NEWS.
1854.

The opening paragraph Of the report FOL
1888 of the governor of Dakota sets forth in
language that is none too strong the wonder
full change that a year has wrought in the
great Territory of the Northwest: "The
progress and DEVELOPMENT of Dakota during
the past year have been almost phenomenal.
The tide of immigration which setin strongly
in 1880 has been constantly increasing, until
during the past year, I think, a fair estimate
of the increase in population would reach
loo, 900, while the increase of assessable
property has even been more marked than
the increase in he number of inhabitants"
Year by year, as its resources and capa-
bilities are proved more fully by the practi-
cal test of experience, as we cease to rely
upon the vague reports of travellers and sur
veyors and come to the proved results of
settlement, the horizon of Dakota's future is
extended, and a more adequate idea of what
the Territory is, and is to be, may be OBJ
tanned. Agricultu1nlly the outlook is annn-
ally improving; and now, instead of the vast
desert tract through which the Missouri
was once supposed to flow, nm inviting
and prosperous section lies e~ncouragingly
open to the thousands who are seeking
a free and independent life. "There is very
little waste or entirely valueless land in Dako-
ia" says Gov. Ordwny. Even the bad lands
of the Little Missouri are found to be excel
lently adapted to stock-raising, and with the
rapid development of the Territory as a
whole, new directions in which industry
may proftably exert itself are CONSTANT, be-
ing discovered. The production of gold and
| silver continues to advance. and the compile
| ton of new railroad facilities is expected IL
| give a great impulse to the Black Hills, as
well as to other regions. The school rev.
enues of the Territory for the last year re-
ported were nearly $500. 900, and under
the recognized system adopted by. the
last Legislature great improvement in edu.
%cational facilities is expected. 1t is est.
mated that a tax of three and a half mills or
the dollar of the assessed valuation vii
meet all obligations, and the financial con,
dition Of the Territory is summed up rs
follows: -Four years ago the Territor,
owed some 100000 in warrants, which
securities, bearing 10 per cent interest, TO
want of funds, were selling at n large dis
count. These warrants have all been pait
Off from current revenues, leaving a hand
some surplus in the treasury, and the Ter
ritory will have an outstanding indebted,
ness, when all the bonds provided for b,
thu last two legislatures are issued
o 1894, 500, bearing but s and 6 per cent an
nual interest" To offset these inconsider
able liabilities. the Territory has public insti
%tutions costing S400, 900, and it is estimate
that its total Indebtedness could be paid an,
every bond retired by a five-min levy upol
the assessable property. These. figures Civ
some index of that great development whicl
only those who have witnessed it or been
part of it can fully comprehend. The foun
dations of Dakota's prosperityare firmly laid
and the time is not SO far distant when thi
great region will take honorable place anon
the most prosperous agricultural States o
the Union.