The Dickinson press., 1885-01-24

willing to recommend more than was set
apart for this purpose by the legislature two
of $4,000, or SO much thereof as may be
necessary, will be appropriated, a full report
of all expenditures TO be made to the legis-
lature, n if it is found impossible to com
pletely close the accounts before the ad-
quent legislature. The Hon. W. H. McVay.
territorial treasurer, n A. R. Brown, ESD
OF Canton, were designated by me to act
temporarily in conjunction with the com
mission appointed by the president as a
well now for the legislature to provide for
such officials as may be deemed advisable,
who shall serve until the close of the ex-
position and the tinal settlement of all ac-
counts. A pamphlet has been prepared for
distribution at the exposition and elsewhere,
$4,000 of which will soon be issued. The
book is far from complete or satisfactory.
but it will enable the various officers of the
territory to respond to the many calls made
upon them for information and will thus
answer until something better is at hand
GRAIN n RAILWAY COMMISSION n AGn1-
CULTURAL AND AGENTS.
The territory needs an effective grain and
railway commission: and it needs an agent
OF immigration, and it needs an agricultural
bureau. II grain commission provided for
by the last legislature amounts to but very
little practically, not because the agents
W CL4G&O OOu1S u DcCAu lWllllnV.
or incompetent, but because they are pro
vided with no adequate means to carry out
the necessary improvements. The question
OF securing a fair grading of grain and
reasonable facilities for transporting it to
market is one of much moment and one
beset with many difficulties. The matter
has been widely discussed, and has no doubt
secured the careful consideration of MANY
members of the legislature who will have
measures OF relief to propose. I am glad
$, nv chat +1n loo-;,1nt,-. - p.
disposed to cooperate with the legislative
department of this territory in an effort to
devise means for the relief of the people of
both sections, andI hope committees OF con-
terence may be appointed by the two bodies,
and That their deliberations will bear salts
mission, reorganized and clothed with larger
powers, can be of service in this connec-
ton you will doubtless see fit to continne it.
AS constituted under the present law, how
ever, it might as well be abolished. The adj
vantage OF having an agricultural agent for
the territory is apparent. Dakota is pre-
emlnently an agricultural region. No body
OF men is more fairly entitled to a fair rcp-
resentation in the territorial government
than the farmer. Information regarding the
condltlo9 OF the crops, the acreage, aggre-
gate and average yield, experiments With
various seeds, success with divers crops,
and manner of cultivation, and many other
matters upon which it is desirable to have
full and now unobtainable in
anything like a reliable form. Experience
with such crops in other states, even those
Immediately adjoining us, is in many in
stances partially or wholly lnapplicable here.
The country and the conditions are new.
Success with any given crop in the territory.
cultivated in a different way or with some
new variety of grain, is a matter of great
Importance to the farmers of the territory,
and all information or this subject ought to
be speedily gathered and widely disscminat
ed. earnestly hope that provision will be
made for The appointment of such an agent,
to make a bureau of the character effective
and OF signal serviceto the farming interests
will be promptly furnished.
The states about us have commissioners of
immigration. and find them profitable ad-
juncts to the state governments. There is
certainly as much, and it seems to me more
room and more reason for the employment
OF such an agent in Dakota than in any of
the ~neighboring states. The creation of
three boards to look after the three interests
named seems hardly justiiable and scarcely
necessary. But it has occurred to me that
the three departments so closely allied
might be united in one effective board
through which the entire business coulu be
transacted. IT these three interests men
toned can be grouped together, each with a
member specially adapted to one of the de-
partlnents named, acting separately in their
collection of data, ETC., but together in their
final action on questions of moment. it might
prove to be economical as we'll as beneficial.
| believe that it is the experience that one
board properly constituted, with business
fairly pay for Its services, will accomplish
more than half q dozen assembled at long
intervals, possessing little authority and
handicapped by the fact that their own pri-
yate business must suffer while they give
their time to the public. practically without
cOTnnnncotiOp Iiffi on Itiac n h, fo,1nf1 IL,
the way of the practical application of this
suggestion, and 1 shall only be too glad to
have a better way pointed out to gain the
end in view.
ORGANIZING COUNTIES.
The organization OF new counties is beset
with many difficulties. believe that many
of them can be avoided by an intelligent
amendment of the law. When fifty voters
petition for the organization of q new county
the governor is required to appoint commits
sioners. The number is too small. At least
one hundred ought to be required. Again,
new county should not choose their own
commissioners decide upon their own coun-
ty seat and generally enjoy the privileges
and responsibilities of their fellow citizens in
other counties, l do not know what that rea-
son is. Surely there is nothing in the organic
law to prevent. If provision were made au-
thorizing a special election to be called on
he petition of one hundred persons posses
in G the qualifications OF voters, and sur
ound such special election with safeguards
o insure a fair vote and an honest count.
believe the interests of all parties would be
served. At any rate the present law de-
hands some rational amendment. It is
simply impossible for the executive to avoid
committing frequent mistakes. and he is liza
BILE to commit grave errors under the statute
as it now stand 1 have appointed com
missioners for but two counties since
my term of Office began. These are
Mcintosh and Buffalo, the latter with
much doubt as to the wisdom of organiza-
ton. The statute leaves the governor no
discretion, however, when satisfied that fifty
OF those p%etitioning are voters. l have re-
quircd sworn evidence that those asking fol-
organization possessed the qualification OF
of electors, but it still follows that fifty per
sons may secure the organization of a coun.
ty il the law is oheyed, though one hundred
and fifty protest against it. 1t is desirable
that new counties be organized as fast as
they possess the necessary population, but
the minimum number should be doubled a.
least Various difficulties and complication
exist in some counties organized in the past
year or two. In certain cases the people
complain that the commissioners lave not
done their duty, and these cases demand
attention and such remedy at you hands as
can be applied and which seems advisable.
In some of these cases 1 presume justice
would be advanced by undoing the work OF
organization if possible and taking the task OF
reorganization into your hands. Anumber OF
local quarrels growing out of The permanent
location of county seats have arisen, and in
two instances l ave been called upon fol
assistance to protect the officers of the Law
in the discharge of their duty.
THE TROUBLE IN SPHINX COUNTY.
On the 10th of December l received a dis.
patch from the mayor of Redtield. Oak an.
nouncing that the county records of Sphinx
county were in the hands of the sheriff, and
all persons had been enjoined by the Judge
| of the district COURT from remnyinr tho sa1ma.