Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-10-27
LETTER FROM X o

Especial correspondence.l

BISMARCK, D. t., Oct. 1s.-The influx of
immigrants to Dakota during the Lass few
years has been something phenomenal, even
in the phenomenal history of the new north
| west.
The territory now claims a population of
over half a million. 1t had less than a fifth
of that in 1SS2-an average increase o. over
100000 per year for a period of four success
sive years.
The newcomers in the north half of the
territory We're principally Scandinayians,
from Norway, while IN the south the large
majority were Americans-Iowa sending a
far larger quota than any of the other states
Thus two wholly different civilizations were
representations c~ontending that the capital
SHOULD continue at Yankton, in the south, the
other arguing that it be moved to Bismarck,
in the north. The Bismarck, or Scandi-
%nayian, faction prevailed; the capital was
moved, and this was the immediate cause of
the bitter ~antagonism that prevailed between
the two sections-an antagonism that led to
the nominal secession of the southern half of
the territory and threatened for a few weeks
to p~recipitate the people into the horrors of
an interlecine conflict. After the southern
counties had proclaimed their independence
they organized a phantom government, called
it the state of Dakota, selected Huron for the
capital and proceeded to elect a full corps of
I state officials. Congress refused to reeoen;za
the new state. Thereupon the leaders of, the
revolution began to show their teeth in a yerv
disagreeable manner. Secret consultations
were held, Military companies were formed:
but, owing to some reason unknown to out
siders, the prospective rebellion suddenly coli
lapsed. The old feeling of hostility is still al
fever heat, however, and unless congress CON
sents tea dissolution of the territory / have
little doubt that blood will flow, before the.
I metter is finally settled,
The south half of the territory is less fertile
| than the north, but at She same time ifs
! average production of crops is larger. owing
to the frequency of hail storms, cyclones and
| prairie fires in the higher ATTITUDES.
/ spoke of hail storms and cyclones. Int !
doubt whether both combined are more de
structiye to the crops chan the prairie fires.
These fires are. constantly burning in The
fall of the year. They are started in many
ways. Sparks from locomotives, portable
engines and cigars have frequently ignited
immense wheat fields. a farmer too law to
make a fre.breals by blowing round his home
frequently seeks the shorter way of project
ing it by setting fire to sage grass and st,,h-
Bile, and burning a circle of safety round his
| premises. Such fires frequently leap beyond
control, however, and play havoc far and
wide.
Lean conceive of no grander spectacle than
a prairie fire. / have seen the town of North
wood liemmed III by a Gordon of flames,
These flames would twist and writhe through
the low grass in places like glittering SER
pents, then, as they touchedAa wheat field,
they would leap sSyward with a hiss and
crackle, and the night sky would turn Grim
son with the light. Once the fire came to the
very verge of the town. A panic fo1lowed.
A1ittle army of men rushed out with coffee
sacks ~at,nsate with water and began to
fight the flames, and it was only after an hour
of fierce work that they succeeded in rescu-
ing the town from danger. Scenes like this
are common in Dakota.
Dakota No. / hard wheat has the reputa-
ton OF being the best in the world. AT least
it commands a higher price than any other in
the markets of the northwest.
r VIII Tell Won howl account for the ci1l,arfo,