Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-24
DAKOTA NEWS.
Address Delivered by Congress.
man Hill at the Territorial
Fair at Huron.
Reports of Auditor Caldwell and Su.
perintendent Jones-Miscella-
neous Notes.


Fair was the address delivered by Congress-
man w. d. Hill, of Ohio, on the 9th inst.
His address, in substance, was us follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN You will appreci-
ate the difficulty labor under i'll attempting to
address you on this occasion. am visiting your
giant territory, not for the purpose OF speech
making, but for sightseeing, and to learn the
true condition OF affairs l visit Huron Mt this
time as afording the best opportunity to learn
the agricultural resources of the country. My
father was q farmer, and worked on farm my
self until the age of - years. and own a small
farm now. The first State Fair was held in Ohio
in 1850, when the State had population of 1,75O-
600, and was i'll no wise superior, but inferior to
the fair which you are holding to-day. From
that beginning there has developed u fair, and in
some cases two, in every county in Ohio. At
that time there was no thoroughbred stock in
Ohio. The first importation by DIR. Mat
thews, and to-day it is doubtful whether there is
any animal in the State that has no improved
blood. The improvement increased the wealth
OF the State until the people have learned what
the people of Dakota will learn in tin1e that it is
easier to feed the world by raising fine stock
without hard labor than it is to feed it wheat
with hard labor But observe the right spirit
here. have seen us fine stock ON these grounds
as ever saw IN Ohio had no iden you could
raise such corn, melons, and vegetables. etc,
here. saw Cheyenne melon weighing sixty
pounds, which is twice as large as they raise in
Ohio | will now go home and tell my people
what 1 have seen, but I do not know
not agree to do this, for am afraid have a
lots OF soreheaded people in my county, and they
would say it was Wing lie. A short time since
pectus with a view of visiting New Mexico.
From the glowing articles I expected booming
cities, Wholesale houses, great prosperity
When came i'll sight of Santa Fe I Thought 7
saw great lot OF unburned brick kilns7-the
adobe houses built of mud, none Of them over
twenty feet high; the streets eleven feet wide
f 5i with ragged children dogs and dust. Don
keys were the principal means OF transportation
for both freight and passengers. My dream of
prosperity vanished like mist. 1 thought I
might be deceived in the same manner IN On
kotn. examined statistics, learned of the vast
amount of money invested in schools, churches
court houses and other buildings and thought
there was something behind it all. When
came to Mitchell l saw substantial buildings
there: When came to Huron and observed
your fine brick buildings here, your street cars,
electric lights and your vast system of railway in
here blindfolded and placed among you could
not have told you whether was in Dakota or
people before me know they are from the best
among the States Mr.. jefferson, speaking OF
Louisiana Territory said the south half was
populated with frogs and alligators and the
north half was a vast barren plain, across which
crow could not fly without carrying his dinner
with him, and our Government paid less for the
whole Territory OF Louisiana than it now received
from the tax receipts Of three of the largest coun-
ties OF Dakota. 1t is the heart of the continent
In a few short years you have grown and devel-
eleven different States. am glad came here re-
and have seen your excellent country, and am
sorry cannot 60 over the whole Territory, for
if it is like the rest I should like to see it,
II suppose it is expected that I should say
word in regard to the prospects of admission
l think you ought to be admitted, because YOU
came from the old states. l find among YOU ex-
governors, congressman and other officers, who
were accustomed to conduct the affairs of the
states OF which they formed u part.
that he lived in the best county in the Territory
When arrived ut Mitchell found old friends
who declared Dawson County was the best il,
Dakota. there found 800 families from nv own
state. When got to Woonsocket asked what
kind of county they had. They replied: a
laundering sight better than Davison' When
came here was informed that Huron was the
best town and Beadle the best county. So
have heard the same Of Vermllion, in the south
Brookiegs, to the east and many other counties
This idea alone has given me the greatest conf
dence in Dakota. Show mo man who is moi
proud of his homo and l will show YOU a mar
devoid of thrift, enterprise and patriotism. The
love OF home begets patriotism, and it was the
love of home that caused the revolution l am
in favor OF the admission of Dakota whether
Democratic or Republican. There is no sucl
thing as political favor. No nun can tell wha1
the future will be. I do not care whether Won
come whole or divided I thought it my duty as
citizen to learn your wants. I have asked tt
have the matter submitted to vote.
II cannot close what have to say without
thanking the people of Huron and Dakota for the
hearty manner in which have been received
everywhere. When return to Washington
shall do SO with greatly enlarged views as t.
your real merits. 1 shall labor with all m,
might to secure the rights which SO justly be
long to you"