Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-11-14

they are denied. But if for any reason
the admission of Dakota az two separate
commonwealth or as u whole should be
postponed, the ~advisability Of some ac-
ton on the part of congress for the
further protection Of the people is APP.
parent. The organic law is made up of
various and fragmentary acts of congress
passed at various times and not ade-
quate to the necessities Of a populous
territory with great property interests.
1t would be regarded as unwise to con-
duct the affairs of a state with only the
safeguards afforded by 70 incomplete an
instrument. There is no limit to taxa
ton, to ex penditnres, to the debts which
may be contracted, territorial and NUM-
cipal. The legislature is at perfect
liberty to pass special laws on almost
any subject, and there is a constant
temptation to do it. In another respect
the territory needs the protection of
congress against what may result in
great financial discredit if not loss. The
recent exposure Of enormous frauds in
the issue of school warrants or bonds i'm
Indiana, calls attention to the fact that
similar frauds might be perpetrated in
this territory and the people be without
redress or remedy. School bonds are
limited in Dakota, but warrants may be
issued indefinitely as there is no sufi-
cient penalty for the abuse of the power
This may seem to be "a local matter to
be provided for by legislation, but it
must aforementioned that fourteen
months intervene to the next meeting
Of the territorial legislature. If a law
were passed by congress making it a
felony to issue shoot warrants while
81 800 Of such warrants were outstand-
ing, and hat no warrants should be is
sued except for debt, / believe the
dangerous oversight in our statutes
would be ~remedied."
Till INDIAN RESERVATIONS.
In regard TO the large Indian reserva-
tons, which Gov. Pierce says are a con
slant obstacle in the progress of civiliza-
ton in the territory, he made the fol-
lowing statement:
ut is scarcely my provision to discuss
this question, but in view of the facts |
venture to suggest that it would seem
the part of wisdom to strongly encourage
the dissolution Of tribal relations and
granting of lands to the Indians in
seyeralty. A reasonable quantity of
land, held by direct grant from the gov
eminent, would not become such an
object of complaint or greed as enorm
GUS tracts occupied by tribes and claim
ed by no definite individual. Even If
these reservations were thus cut up and
divided among the Indians it is believ-
ed the result would he better than TO
continue the present system"
AS a striking instance Of what the
Indians can do for themselves, Gov.
Pierce alludes to the progress Of the
Sissetons. The recommendation is made
that the recent settlers who went on the
Crow Creek and Winnebago reserva-
.tions be reimbursed for their losses.
which have been severe, and were
caused directly by the government.
The bonded debt of the territory is
$685. 200. The last legislature authoriz
ed a Loan of $4,000, and the bonds
were sold at $l.03. Gov. Pierce a
this fact was not a cause for congratula-
ton to him. With such a small debt
and vast resources, he thinks Dakota
bonds should bring Sl.l0. The tax levy
is three mills, less than half that levied
by Minnesota. Nineteen mills would
pay the territorial dept and all its ex-
penses for a year. immigration has
been steady during the year. In August
the land Office reports 651 homestead
entries, and in September 9l2. The
Northern Pacific railroad in six months
shows a gain in its land sales over the
same six months of last year of 5000
acres. The government and the rail
roads have disposed Of 700, 900 acres in
VIC Past year. NoN. IicTCt ueVOteb a
very hattering paragraph to President
Hill, Of the Manitoba road, who, he
says, has done more than any influence
to turn Dakota farmer to stock raising.
Mr.. Hill has placed along the road $50
Angus, Galloway and Shorthorn bulls,
and settlers are rapidly turning their
attention to cattle. Tho manufacturing
industries of the territory are increas-
ing as rapidly MS could be expected.
The counties Of Cass, Grand Forks,
Walsh, Stutsnan, Billings. Minnehaha
and Yankton show S2,GOO,OOO invested
in manufactures.
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS