The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-27
DAKOTA'S EXHIBIT.
THE AMBITIOUS TERRITORY AT THE
WORLDS EXPOSITION.
Realistic Exhibition Of the Aboriginals-
A Triumph OF TaxidermicaI Art
The Bartholdi Monument-The
Territorial Products.
New Orleans Cor. Chicago Times.l

New Orleans Cor. Chicago Times.l
Dakota Is looking fright smart"-as the
oolored people say down here-after immi-
grafton and capital, and has put her very
best foot foremost at tho exposition. The
collective exhibit Of this ambitious terri
tory will not be complete until the LIST of
January, but enough is already shown to at
tract the attention Of the curious and to
render the Dakota space one OF the most
popular points In the government building
The United States commissioner for Dakota
and his assistants started in to give the
world comprehensive idea Of the resources
and productions of the territory, and as
among the most important Of the latter
they present, by way Of frontispiece, as It
were, few Indians. These are not good
Indians, either: at least they are not dead
ones. One OF them Is Goul, famous chief
Sitting Bulls major general and right
bower, and with him are his squaw and
pappoose-altogethe q very pleasing family
group Goul will feel perfectly at home,
although surrounded on all sides
by the evidences OF an advanced
civilization, for he has his skin topee
and collection Of tomahawks, battle axes,
and other weapons with which the aborig-
inals are wont TO vary the monotony Of ex-
istence on the frontier. With a view TO pro-
noting the Dakota boom, the commissioners
are considering the feasibility Of having
Goul and his amiable spouse give a daily
realistic" exhibition Of the scalping process,
in which they are experts. As illustrative of
Indian life and habits, collection Of relics
and curiosities is shown There is a stuffed
pony harnessed to a travels or sledge and a
stuffed dog harnessel to similar vehicle,
upon which is seated the figure of red
brave In all the glory OF war paint and feath-
ers. There are also pair of powders used
by ye gentle savage for grinding grain, and
many other old utensils Of similar character.
The next feature of the Dakota exhibit is q
circular park, sloping from the center In all
directions, wearing bright mantle Of living
green, and containing handsomely mounted
specimens Of the buffalo, white deer, ante
lUpe, elk, mountain sheep, and wild game of
all descriptions found In Dakota, which are
certainly triumphs Of taxidermical art. The
Indian group with its surroundings end the
park inhabited by wild animals are intended
TO afford an idea Of Dakota as II presented
itself TO the first settlers, and the primary
stage In its settlement Is illustrated by q
bark cabin hard by the park-an accurate
model of the pioneers home-which Is sur
mounted by the coat Of arms Of the territory
and the word Dakota" in rustic letters,
while above the entrance Is perched the
American eagle, his wings spread, and
boldly screeching defiance to the world.
In the center of the Dakota space Is a mon
ument of Liberty Enlightening the World"
after BartholdD. The design Of the monu-
ment Is somewhat elaborate Upon a base
Of earth, covered with fresh green sod, rests
the pedestal, the sides of which are decorated
with every variety and quality Of Dakota
grain In the straw, and above 8 rises the
figure Of an imposing creature constructed
by delft fingers Of wheat, oats, fax, barley,
rye, broom corn, and all the grasses, and
surmounted by an American eagle with an
eight-foot spread The distance from the
floor TO the eagles head is fifty feet, and the
monument, like tho territory in whose honor
IL has been named, must be pronounced
simply immense" Conspicuously displayed
upon the sides Of this unique granular struct-
ure are such legends as these: Dakota,
cas-, 900 school fund.- 3, 500 miles Of railroad;
5000, 900 acres of land for free homes for
actual settlers" etc, etc. On either side of
the monument is a pyramid containing twelve
tons of Dakota -four, and near by is sus-
pended in air q boat made OF Dakota grains
and grasses.
Dakota ingenuity has not yet exhausted
itself, however II has devised, among other
things, model OF a grain elevator, showing
through Its glass sides the engine and all the
machinery for cleaning and clevating wheat
In actual operation; models Of grain fields.
showing wheat, oats, barley, etc, as they
appear when ready to harvest; q corn crib,
with matched roof and cornice Of the yellow
grain; a lofty pyramid Of hay, surmounted
by a mammoth stuffed OK, weight Z. $50
pounds; highly ornamental pagoda, in the
center Of which are attractively displayed
heaps of small sacks, each filed with gilt
edged Dakota grain, TO be given away as
souvenirs, a number Of glass-like cylinders,
from five TO eight feet high, and pyramid Of
bottles also containing grain, and lofty
pyramid Of sacks Of the best Dakota grain
For the rest there are specimens Of Dakota
timber, among them the trunk OF an oak
four feet in diameter; gold, silver, lead, and
tin from the Black hills; coal in abundance;
building stones, rough and polished; pumice
stone; vegetables In great variety, etc. That
the fine arts have gained foothold in the
territory IL proved by the display Of women's
work in the gallery, which comprises pictures,
carvings, needlework, hammered brass, etc
Among the curiosities worthy OF notice are
the petriications; one Of which, found near
Bismarck, weighs 1000 pounds; the stones
from Cannon Ball river, the weight and
shape OF which gave that stream It's name,
and the trunk of u tree gnawed Off by beav-
ers All In all, Dakota presents big adj
vertisement, and her eagles have perfect
right TO scream. The territorial Legislature
made an appropriation Of 10000 for this ex-
hibit, In addition TO the $4,000 appropriated
70 the territory by the exposition manage
ment