Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-11-29
Dakota's Growth.

| Ol l1e territory, giving an SStliiate U
the wheat crop Of the present year al
30000,000 bushels, and states that the
growth and shipping of live stock Is
rapidly increasing, as is shown 10y ship
ments Of 20, 600 head during the present
season from western Dakota. The ex-
perience of the past year has also shown
that northern Dakota is valuable as a
corn growing region, though its especial
importance as a wheat field is still
| recognized. The cultivation Of fax,
barley and rye, as well as the raising OF
stock, is now receiving more attention,
because of the extreme low prices of
wheat: FRUIT raising has also proven
very satisfactory SO far as experiments
have been conducted. The amount Of
| land disposed of in Dakota by the gov
ernment during the year was about
| 100000 acres 10 private parties, and
| 100000 on claims 10 railroads hereaf-
ter to be adjudicated. The Northern
Pacific railroad has also sold 10000
acres in the territory during the year.
Regarding the pub ic buildings he
said 'The wing to the hospital at
Iaukton, has been completed in the
last year also the new asylum 100 Mills
east OF Bismarck, for fifty patients. a
new wing has been erected for the
penitentiary at Sioux Falls, and a new
prison has been erected at Bismarck, as
has also deaf mute asylum at Sioux
Falls"
Educational facilities are remarkably
good. the territory having 1000 school
houses, with 10000 children of school
age, an increase of 80 per cent oyer last
year. The amount expended for schools
during the year is over one million, five
hundred thousand dollars. A large
number of building intended to foster
higher education have been opened
during the year, among them the agri-
cultural colleges, University Of Dakota,
and the normal school Agriculture
and stock raising are being largely de-
| veloped in the Black Hills district. The
shipments Of gold the past year amount
ed to 81, 100000 from the same district.
ADMISSION.
Estimating the population upon the
| supposed vote of So, 800 av the last cleo
! ton, at All 500 for delegate, the governor
| believes that careful census would
show a population Of 450,O00-South
Dakota 270,GG0, and North Dakota $780,
00O. Both the population and area of
North and South Dakota will more than
fill the measure required for admission
| into The union. He adds:
"Ier people are not raw and unused
to belfgovernment, but citizens who
have served an apprenticeship in the
character and experience for the duties
of citizenship, but fairly entitled to its
privileges by all the principle and trad
itions of the government. There is
something incongruous in keeping half
million of people, comprising the most
independent if not the richest agricul-
all the disadvantages of territorial
condition, have reared schools and col
leges, churches and other public institu-
tons which compare in design, finish
and general conduct and discipline, with
the states half a century old, in a condi-
ton of practical vassalage. The senti-
ment in favor of division is practical
unanimous, but very few in either Sec
ton of the territory oppose it.
THE CAPITAL QUESTION.
Regarding the capital question, he
briefly reviews the history of the matter
in the legislature and in the courts, and
says:
"Steps had been taken to bring the
matter before the supreme court of the
United States when assumed the du-
ties of the governors Office. Recogniz-
ing the binding force of the decision OF
the territorial supreme court until snch
decision wa modified or reversed, es-
tablished my Office at Bismarck, where
il now remains. was since really graft
lfied at finding my action cheerfully &C,
Icepted, and to see disposition mani
tested in all parts of the territory tc
abide by the law, and to leave the settle
ment Of the question to the courts, or tC
the future action ofthe legislature. The
history of capital removals is history
of contests more or less bitter, and Da
kota is not an exception. But fortuna
tely this contest is legal and not per
sonal one, an has been carried on will
out interrupting the social relations o
these two sections Of the territory
Division is not sought, therefore, be
cause of any temporary estrangemen
over the transfer Of the seat Of govern
ment, but is desired as a matter O
political and commercial convenience.
The report shows the territorial deb
to he but 1894 900, and that the assesse
: valuation Of fproperty has increased fror
500, ,l54, ,905 year ago, to SS4.597 ,40S.
-
According to the report Of the civ
p .ar,,;.a commission thare ara in a