Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-10-30
A DAKOTA FISH o.
Some Remarkable Flgures-Catch-
Ing q PlckereI,

ing a Plckerel.
John c. Bunday, editor Of the Religio.
Philosophical Journal of Chicago, spent
several days in this city during August,
and from a long letter to his paper we
make the following extracts:
After breakfast I sit down to consider
the extent and of Dakota.
Here is IL territory-which ought to have
been admitted as II state ere this-con-
siderably more than twice as large as
all New England; leave out Maine, and
it is more than four times the combined
area of the other New England states.
Great Britain and Ireland could be
dropped into it and still leave room for
q half dozen German principalities. Its
area is nearly 10000 square miles. The
Missouri river is navigable throughout
the territory and the Red river affords
an eastern frontage of $50 miles. AL
though in 1870 Dakota only had 65 miles
of railroad, the metals now span 5000
miles and railroad building goes steadily
forward. She offers. us a whole, the
finest wheat growing country on the
continent and is rich in gold, silver, coal,
iron and manganese mines. In 1870 her
white population was only about $4,000,
in 1880 It had increased to 1876 900 and
now is considerably more than enough
to entitle her to admission us 4 state.
This country, which within my memory
was considered by the best authorities as
adesert and so designated, now produces
not far from 75,OOO,OOO bushels of cere-
ais. Twenty-seven years ago n soil
tary pioneer harvested the only wheat
field IN what is now Dakota it COM
prised 40 acres and yielded 945 bushels.
Dakota has more miles of railroad than
has the state where first the Pilgrims
and P%uritans landed, or any one CT two
dozen other old settled states. Three
hundred newspapers and nearly $500
schools are supported and the terri
tory paws more revenueto the postofice
department than any N Of thirty-two
of the states. She can with her present
wheat supply satisfy her own wants and
furnish enough to feed half of the states.
And yet her development has hardly be-
gun, the sod is still unbroken on, prob
ably, t~hree-four,hs Of her tillable land.
The morning slips away while / grow
enthusiastic over the country. The train
which is to take us back will soon be
here. We shall have to bid farewell,
possibly a long farewell, to Devils Lake
city, its enterprise, its churches, hotels
and brilliant hopes. BY the way, speak
ing of hotels, l heard a story this morn
which if true would indicate that hotel
keepers us we'll as ministers, are some,
times called to their vocation. The
story runs rs follows After the civil wa
was over, among those who returned
north with broken health. shattered con
situations, and pictures Of vile southern
prison pens burnt INTO their memories
was Major Benham, Of Michigan. In
stead of the stalwart, manly fellow she
had babe God speed and sent off with
ton of the Union, his sweetheart vel
coined back a lover whose appearance
was only a shadow Of his former self
But his soul was as bright and good a!
ever the tue hearted w.man recog
nized this, poured out her love upon hln
and by its health giving potency brough
him back to a fair degree of health. Unit
inc their lives with the bonds of low,
they started out to make a competency
But absence from the channels of bust
ness, while defending his country, mad
it hard for the returned soldier to get II
to the current, all the harder because Q
constitution weakened by the barbara
ties of Il Southern prison. lie saw anon,
his acquaintance men who had staid a
homo and fattened on the necessities @
the country while he was breastlng bul
let and bayonet. The harder he strov
to get alongside these, seemingly, NOR
fortunate mes in the struggle fora CON
potency the more he felt the burden c
his patriotic sacrifice.
AT last he determined to 20 west. sc
cure the bit of land he was entitled tc
and make Il new beginning, With wifi
and babies he finally reached the Weir
ity of Devils Lake, Dakota. The Ian
had not been surveyed, the railroad wa
a long way off, supplies hard to obtair
no society, only a wild country with mag
niicent possibilities to stimulate thei
hope. But with loving hearts and stron
purpose the young couple met the hard
ships Of pioneer life. \ cabin was bull
a few acres Of prairie sod turned, and
beginning made. The country taver
did not abound with any great frequenc
in that region, and S o it came to pa.
that the major and his wife were ofte
compelled to divide their scanty stor
with land hunters, emigants, and, late
on, with surveying parties taking wha
ever the guests saw fit to volunteer j
payment. At last this lay-what.yor
please style of business did its sure worl
1t wore out the housewife and still flu,
Their impoverished the struggling farm
er until one day or taking an accour
of stock, it was found that a bag of fou
another of salt, and a few potatoes con
pleted the inventory. \ COW of doub
full reputation 'milker," and a yoke {
rawboned but faithful oxen comprise
the breathing outdoor assets. The res
son Of this careful inspection was b
cause the major had received word Thu
q distinguished party of railroad ma,
mates had strayed from their suppl
wagons and must dine with him. VIII.
was to be done neither could tell tn
major looked at his wife, his eyes moi
tened, his great heart throbbed with To-
ing pity, while he almost cursed himse
that he had brought her and the babit
to such straits, to say nothing of the pc
picking dilema of how to provide for tt
railroad people. Visions Of a possib
pass over the road, when built, flitte
through his mind. II only he cou.
manage to provide for them, he Nigh
sometime. with their favor, be able
get back to Michigan and visit his O.
friends. But it was Of no use, not a b
of meat in the cabin, not even an ount
Of Goldfish or canned stuff. TO be SUI
there were nlentv of big Dickerel in II