davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

Some OF the aspirants for the Fargo
postotiicc seem to be very uncultured in
ways political. They are circulating
petitions, which are being signed lnd's
crimlnatsly, requesting the powers that
are to be in Washington 10 appoint so
and 30 postmaster at the Dakota gateway.
Those who imagine that such petitions
will ever be read by the powers that are
10 be at Washington should take the
earliest opportunity to disa5use their
minds of the hallucination. In the states
the member of congress, II in accord poll'
icaliy with the administration, controls
the postoflce appointments in his district
regardless Of petitions, and if he Is not OF
the political faith some other man way up
IN Washington circles controls them. In
the territories the d, legate in congress Is
the dispenser of these federal appoint
men,s. A. the delegate elect from thi
territory 10 q republican he will have ne
say in the matter. but that prestige vii
probably fall to Mr.. Wilson. his compet'
toe In shc la.e election, If he chooses t.
Use IL. Petitions for such positions,
any other of like souree for that matter
may be very lstterlng documents for pres
esvasiou to hand do IN to posterity IS
nsnorial Of the standing and embitio
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
THE TIDE OF PROSPERITY.

AS the gray slrcaks of light on the
eastern horizon nrnclaim the d""'"i~ q "s
the day so do the evidences of increasing
activity in the east proclaim the return Of
business prosperity. Economy, which IS
the great and potent remedy for hard
times, has done its work and the financial
system has recovered from the excesses
of speculation which ran through the
whole country a few years ago. When
business is active and money flows freely
everybody rushes into speculation, the
inevitable reaction of which is financial
crash. The abnormal conditions OF ex-
treme buoyancy or depression Can no
more continue in the financial system
than in the animal life. .
The remedy for Wild speculation and
extravaganza is in crash; the remedy
for extreme depression is economy. These
opposite conditions of the financial sys'
tenn come and go periodically. The last
two years have been period of extreme
depression and the people in all stations
of life have herolcally applied the remedy
OF economy, a specific for the III that
never has nor ever will fail to cure
The earnings by railroads for he month
Of January show large increase ove'
the corresponding month last year, which
indicates that the life blood of commerce
is increasing in circulation towards the
pormal condition. Double the amount
| Of wheat was exported the last montf
than the corresponding month last yea'
and in value about five million dollars
more, and of provisions nearly three
million dollars more.
TIE signs of the times are auspiciou
for good year in all lines OF business
and all classes of industry. This pros
perity will steadily increase until the ex
treme of extravaganza ard speculation
again reached when another crash viii
reverse the tide which will again ehb t.
the low water mark. The financial It'd
GIBBS and flows about every ten or twelv
years. That of 1878 recurred in 1871
and that in 1889 4. He who takes ad
vantage Of the flood and hedges agains
the crash is the successful business man
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
A Black Hills Cave.

Deadwood Pioneer: The Star No.
mine in Gelena district Is owned by Billy
Richardson and Leyi Dedebach. Mr..
Blood and partner took contract to run
tunnel, and after getting IN about
twenty five feet struck body Of sixty
ounce silver rock. They penetrated the
ore body but short distance when they
broke into large crevice two feet or
more in width, that is almost vertical.
A rope was procured and lighted
candle lowered lC0 feet where shelving
projection prevented 1t from going fur
ther down. Stones were dropped in al
the top and they could be heard striking
along the side for long distance below
the candle. The owners of the mine will
explore this natural shaft and will go to
the bottom of it as soon as wlnd-
lass can be erected to raise and lower the
miners.
A popularity of the hole In the rocks
is that there is q constant ebb and flow
of air through it. For two and 9 half
minutes the air comes up and then for
about the same length Of time it goes
down. 1t evidently connects with some
subterranean cavern, that has an outside
opening somewhere.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

The bill making an appropriation OF
CAS-. 90 for the erection Of ar agricultural
college building at Fargo has passed
the council. This is a movement towards
long deferred justice to the metropolis OF
the Red river valley and the Alert hopes
the bill will pass the house without oppo-
sition. The location of the college at
that place two years ago without an ap-
preparation was an ,ndignity which that
city magnan,mously pocketed withou, re-
sentiment, but further tantalizing with
the enp pity honor " ouId be to pass that
point where forbearsnce ceases to be a
virtue. Fargo, through her ent> rpr'slng
newspapers and citizens, has done more
to boom and make Dakota famous
throughe ut the world than any other city
or town IN the territory and has been
least favored by public institutions. Far
60 is and will continue to be to Dakots
what Omaha is to Nebraska, and 1t is nj
advantage to any other town or city II
the territory to clip the wings Of that en-
terprislng city.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

THE bill, which seems likely to pass,
taking range of townships from the
east side of Burleigh county and range
60 on the west side Of Stutsman and add.
ing them to Kldder county will probably
he supplemented in short time by bill
dividing Kidder into two counties where.
BY steele will be safe as the county seat
of one and Dawson and Tappan will
scramble for the other. This seems to be
the end in view At the beginning and
possibly at no very distant day the new
made county which will contain the two
latter towns will look with coyetous eye
upon about two more ranges of the west
side Of Stutsman. These results are only
a. yet conjectural, but guess work IS good
as any when IL hits.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
Another Chance for Dakota strife.

FARGO, Telegram, Feb. 16.-The an
nouncement in telegram from Mitchell,
OAK, that syndicate had teen formed
in South Dakota for the distribution of
territorial patronage, and that Mr.. .Cleve-
land had slgnified himself as satisfied with
the arrangement, is viewed here - IN
attem ot of the democrats to make terms
with John r. Wilson, as Deadwood, who
has the backing of nine-tenths OF the
democrats in Dakota, both for the next
governor of the territory and as dispenser
of patronage. The braves Of the south
Day, Liebach, lnman aud others-are the
same personages who left Mr.. Wilson TO-
make his fight single handed, and refused
to extend either financial or political aid
or comfort to him during the late canvass.
The north is unanimously in favor Of
Wilson for governor, and deternined TO
oppose the self-seeking south Dakota
gang OF democratic proselytes --Pioaees
Press.
The funeral of Mr.. John NcCafg took
place Saturday from Dr. brakes foA
about fourteen miles nosthWess q Janes-
town. The funeral services wets CO.
dncted BY Rev. N. d. FAnnlag, pasece a.
the Presbyter,an church of tins city. Tie
burial wss 1t HigAlasd Hoe eens1sy-
He died Of cancer, ard NJ ase - a1sus
seveaty years. He leasse . Win - nlDe
~. p~ee., ~e~eAv an
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

Of the father, but for political purposes
they are waste of tie stationery upon
which they are written. As Mr.. Cleve-
land has said, and says he means just
what he said when he said it, that he will
not dismiss republican Office holder just
because he is republican to give place
to another person who may happen to be
democrat, the probabilities are very
strongly IN favor of Col. Tyner holding
down the Fargo postotllce until the time
for which he was appointed expires-nu-
less he should be accidentally killed while
leading his militia warriors in some coun.
~ seat conflict.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

The somewhat pretentious and ambi-
tious town of Huron, Dak., is putting on
metropolitan airs by getting up dyna-
mite scare. Fifteen groups, each inde-
pendent OF and unknown to each other,
have been discovered. These groups are
ell said to owe allegiance to the higher
dynamite powers at Chicago. The euri
GUS thing about it is that these several
groups, of five members each should be-
c2me known to outsiders and not know
Of each other Possibly 1t may turn out,
after public attention has been attracted
to the place, that it is all hoax and some
schemer will take advantage of the noto'
r,ety to bring 10 the notice Of tho public
some rare bargains in the lots of a new
addition just plated to the town with a
block preserved" for the capitol building
IN the center. OF course no true Dako
tan would originate such sensation to1
mercensry purpose, but sone nigh
take advantage Of it to put new addl
ton on the market.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

THE proposed amendments to the ter
rltorssl public school laws, by Gen. Bea-
die, superintendent of public instruction,
are said to be voluminous,-sc much SO
that some good suggestions arc liable to
be lost for the want of time and inclina-
tion On the par, of the members to search
them out. The public school law should
be concise, and free from all surplusage
of words, 50 that the people can easily
understand it without the trouble or ex.
pense of conferrlng with lawyer to find
out what it means. The school law IS
the peoples law, and should not be mud
died with antiquities and technlcalitles.
It is the one law above all other. which
the common people should be able to
comprehend. Simplicity and perspicuity
are virtues in the school laws which
should on no account be neglected.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

THE Mandan Pioneer, after making ex.
tracts from objections urged against wo-
men suffrage by few exchanges. comes
back at them in kind as follows: "This
enumeration of manual employments as a
proposed qualification to female suffrage
strikes US as being about as sensible as it
would to require Of candidate for cleo
tion to the Dakota legislature, certlfi-
cate of ability to dig, hoe, saw wood, fill
water pals and wood boxes and get up
early in the morning to make the fires"
There is more point than poetry IN the
suggestions of the Pioneer, and it is bare.
ly possible that when the ladies come to
he voters they will inquire into the habits
of the candidate with reference to build.
ing fires and that many of them will be
found wanting in this exemplary dcmes
tic qualification.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
The James Valley Road.

The editor of the Sentinel has received
a long letter from member Of the Chi
cago Inter Ocean force in the course OF
which he says;
"Havlng seen various statements re
garding the recent sale of the~im River
Valley road, am tempted to give you
my impressions on this matter. President
Cable, of the Rock Island road, told me
the other day that the purchase of the
Jim River line had not been made in the
interest OF his company, and remarks OF
similar purport were made by President
Keep, of the Northwestern, and Roswell
Miller, Acting General Manager OF the
St. Paul road Mr.. Gable, how eyer, said
that in his opinion the purchase had been
made by a syndicate of capitalists with a
view to selling out to one of the roads
mentioned. Brown County Sentinel.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
nARsHALL MCCLURE. Proprietor
= wARNooX. Editor
THERE is vigorous kicking in the house

THERE is vigorous kicking in the house
Of the territorial legislature over the ex.
hibition OF gail on the part of the council
in amending house bills seemingly only
for the sake Of amendment. LII some
cases the amendment consists only in q
slight change of phraseology, without al
teripg the sense or meaning of the bill
Some Of the house members look upon II
~ "a ind,gnity and reflection uron the
intelligence Of that body. The spirit that
has bccn aroused Is not likely to inure to
the harmony of action between tn, two
bodies, and if it is not mollified in some
wsy. threatens to break out in retaliation
of like kind upon the council.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.

THE celebration cf Wasmn gton's birth.
day Is every year becoming more and
more an event Of increased and universal
interest. His life and public services are
models IN moral rectitude and political
purity held up to the rising generation,
and no character in American history
excites deeper patriotism or more loyal
spirit of devotion to country than that of
Washington. The name has lost Hone of
its luster through the changing scenes
and political strlfes that have taken place
since his voluntary retirement from the
head of the national government and his
death soon afterwards. Brilliant lights
have sprung up since, but instead of de-
tracing from the luster of til. name of
Washington they have only added to it,,
An old English writer said, "War has
made many great whom peace makes
small" and as rule this IS true, but
Washingtou's 8 erentnnea II" wa" "'"a made
still greater in npeace
Washington was born Feb. II, 1882,
but the change from old styleto the
new by striking out eleven days from the
month of September 1852 brought the
anniversary of his birth on the 22nd.
His father died when the future great
and greatest OF Americans was only
twelve years old, but his mother lived to
see him honored with the highest military
position, and afterwards the highest civil
office, in the nation. He was lnaugurated
president the first term April 30, 1889.
AS the end Of that term approached he
wrote the greater part of his memorable
farewell address, but was induced tc
Withhold it and accept another term a,
the earnest solicitation of his compatrio,s
of the struggle for independence. At the
close of his second term March 4, 1897
he retired as he hoped and expected per
manently from public life. Complication!
with France demanded his services at til.
head of the army again, however, ant
reluc' antly in personal feeling but ooedi
ent TO the call of his country be assumed
the duties. Severe exposure on the 18th
of December, 1899, Frustrated HIM from
which he died two days later leaving {
name and record that ls honored ant
revcred as far and wide as civilization
extends.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

the convention ssshall in such manner al
they may deem best, canse to be levied
and collected in the counties represented
in the conven ton special tax sufficient
10 pay all expenses OF the convention,
and when said tax ls collected it shall be
paid into the territorial treasury
That PROVISIONS looks well on paper
and presumes South Dakota to be a para
gon of honesty as body polite. We
have not the slightest doubt that when
this tax shall be cAectcd it will be
promptly paid over to reimburse the ter
ritorlal treasury, bat The finite mind of
man cannot comprehend the immeasura.
BILE cycles Of time that will elapse before
that tax will be collected. We can see in
the dim vista of the future the time when
the Rocky mountains shall be trodden
down to level plain ny the children of
men, and when the sturdy pioneers will
be taking homesteads ard planting tree
claims on the dry and arabic bed Of the
Pacific ocean, but the time when South
D0nOIb VIA bAC tACuSuSJ AoI
the expense Of this constitutional conyen-
ton is so far beyond these th no human
mind can grasp it.
1t is but giving honor to whom honor
is due to remark that Maj. Edwards, of
the Fargo Argus, IN his correspondence
to that paper from Bismarck, was the
first to expose the "true inwardness" Of
this lniquitous bill in Its candestine raid
upon the public treasury of the territory.
The probable cost of the convention is es-
timated at from $40, 900 to s25, 900, large
proportion of which will be paid out of
the taxes collected from the people of
North Dakota.
If this convention would accomplish
any good purpose, that would mitigate
the offensivencss OF the measure some-
what, but even this cannot be urged in
its favor. 1t will be political side show
for which the territory will be held up to
ridlcule by all the balance of the United
States because of ITS having the sanction
Of the territorial legislature,
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
RAILROAD LEGISLATION

The question of railroad legislation is
one upon which the people are either hot
or cold. The happy medium is scarcely
ever reached but TO be passed IN the swift
transition of public sentiment from one
extreme to the other. One year the people
will involve themselves in debt almost to
insolvency and give mortgage upon
their posterlty to secure railroads and
the next they will cry unto heaven under
real or imaginary expressions of these
corporations. One legislature will build
up the railroad interests by favorable leg
islation and the next will tear them down
as it we're rail by rail. Popular opinion
on the railroad question is as unstable as
the pendulum of clock whose most
rapid motion is in passing the medium
between the two extremes.
Railroads are the vanguards of civillza-
ton and development of the new coun-
tries. They carry to the frontier the
vim, the enterprise, the capital, the in
teliigence and the morality Of the east,
and their bridges furnish permanent and
substantial means Of "elevating'' outlaws
and desperadoes whose vocations do not
conform TO the new order of things, and
who stand in the way of che progress and
civilization of the age. But for the Pa
clfic railroads the Great American Desert
would still be desert "uninhabited and
nhabitable" except by the wandering
tribes Of "noble red men, whose nobility
would maintain its pristine purity by
scalping and robbing the unprotected
emlgrant who might venture beyond the
picket line of unprogressive civilization
Railroads should neither be pampere6
with legis'a s'a,ion on the one hand mol
clogged by it on the other. We neee
railroads to develop the unexpiored ant
iuexhaustitle agricultural and mineral re
sources of Dakota, which never will b'
fully developed until made accessible b,
railroad communication We need no
buy the railroads or give them heavy
bonuses to extend their lines into this ter
rltory. Neither should We throw ohsta
c.es of unfavorable legislation in thei
way. Railroad buildings purely busi
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

ness enterprise. They are not built fol
the love of people nor for glory. 1t is
q financial investment with view OF
realizlng profits from 1t. Any law that
hampers the successful operation of rail-
roads discouragcs their building. The
rights of the people should be protected
against imposition and extortion unit j.
competition comes, which will regulate
these things better than any statute law
and much more etfectualIy. Railroads
arc what Dakota needs now and needs
them badly In many parts of the territory
as yet unsettled, and for competition with
those alrc ady In operation.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

The boatu of education have decided
to ask the legislature to amend the city
charter so that the board may elect its
own treasurer from one of their number,
and to provide for the election of the
members of the board of education by the
people on the first Saturday lof May in
stead of their being appointed BY the city
council as at present, and without regard
to ward restriction of residence. On this
latter point Mr. Klaus ard Mr.. Lloyd are
understood to be opposed on the grounds
that it would be in the nature of polit-
zeal contest, those who work most for
election being most likely to be elected
while the best men for the position would
not work to secure election, .and on tie
further grounds that opposing sections
or both sides of the city would combine
together and make the contest sectional
one. Mr.. Chambers is dcputed by the
board to 60 to Bismarck and urge these
amendments with the legislature.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

THE amendment to the Oliver open
wheat market bill, offered IN the council
by Mr.. Richardson, of Barnes county,
seems upon its unexplained face very
suspicious movement, coming, as 1t does,
from the ranks of the very hot bed of ag-
itation on this subject. The amendment
was TO section ten in the following words:
"Nothing contained in this act shall be
construed to require any railroad company
to furnish cars to be loaded directly from
wagons and sleighs, when the effect Of so
doing would be to prevent the reception
of grain from the public by any public
elevator or warehouse upon he railroad
70 such c9mpanv."
This amendment was killed on the
spot, it is true, but the responsibility for
the motive which prompted 1t still at
tachcs to The mover. We can only judge
of the motive by the legitimate and rea
sonable effect of the amendment. This
purportcd to be an amendment to section
ten Of the act, but 1t made all parts OF
the act subordinate to 1t, and upon this
point it would govern the whole act
The effect of it would have been to shut
the farmers out from the privilege Of
shipping their own grain except there
was surplus of cars over and above what
were required by the elevators; because,
to furnish the farmers cars needed by the
elevators would be to 'prevent the recep-
ton of grain from the public" by the ele-
their not being able to obtain transporta-
.t,on facilities: The striking out of the
enacting clause would not have been
more fatal to the operation Of the farm
ers' pet measure than the Incorporation
in it of this amendment.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26
The Pre- .emptiOn Repeal Bill.

The bill which has. passed both houses
to repeal the prc-emption act contains g
provision important to recent pre-emptors
and those contemplating making pre-
emptlon CLAIMS. This provision was in
serted at the instance of delegate Ray
mond of Dakota, and provides that the
repeal shall not affect any valid rights
heretofore acqui red under the pre-emp
ton laws, nor any bona fide claims law
fully initiated before the lst day of July,
1885. The same reservation of the rights
of bona fide claimants IS incorporated in
those sections OF the bill repeating the
timber culture and desert land acts
Pioneer Press.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-02-26

In view Of president elect Cleveland's
letter on the civil service there is no
probability that Gov. Pierce will be re-
moved from his position as governor OF
this territory. Gov. Pierce certainly
does not come under the ban Of the 'of-
feusively partisan" nor under that 81
using his official position as personal cap
,tal. If he shall be displaced it will be
clear case of ssremoval because he Is a re.
publican to give place to some one else
w,o may happen to be democrat, .
| which Mr. Cleveland has declared he viii
| not do. Gov Pierce has conducted him
self and performed the duties of his Office
| in such On Intelligent, honest and con