St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-26
WESTERN DAKOTA.
Marvellous Increase of Population in
That Splendid Section.
Recent Happenings at Mandan--A
Band of Thieves.

MANDAN, OAK. June 25.-Ine land OF
the ancient and peaceful Mandans perhaps
never wore g more cheerful smile than at
present. The recent heavy rains through
cut the West Missouri country have so
thoroughly moiStaned the rich soil that the
crops are now an assured success. The
United States census of 1880 gave that por-
ton of Dakota west of the Missouri river
and north of the 46th parallel population
OF less than 200 white settlers. Now
Morton county alone has population of
over 5000. and there are twelve other cOun-
ties in addition to Morton in what is known
as the Upper West Missouri country. A
drive across the country at this season re-
veals wonderful transformation of what
was an unsettled wilderness only six years
ago. The landscape is thickly dotted with
settlers homes, surrounded with green
felix's. Where only few years ago the life
Of a white man was in danger outside
of Fort Lincoln, the Industrious settler now
tillS the soil and pursueS his peaceful av0-
cation, with no one to modest or disturb
him III his industrial pursuits. The red man
has retired from the scene, and TO the in
triOuS white man alone belong
The hills, roch-ribbed and ancient as tn e
sun; the wales,
Stretching in penSive GuietneSS between;
The venerable woods; rivers that move
In majesty, and the complaining brooks
That make the meadows green"
This part of Dakota bids fair to rival in a
short time the famous Red River valley as
q wheat-grOwing section. The acreage of
wheat this year is nearly so per cent.
greater than last year. and the crop is ex-
ceptionally fine. The corn crop, too, is
promising, A variety of corn. which is
h,Lx l,,li l. =,
Dent corn, is successfully grown here, and
large acreage has been set by our farmers
this season. The Mandan roller mill is
making extensive preparations to buy and
grind all the wheat grown
WEST OF THE MISSOURI.
The president and secretary OF the mill
company, William S. Crosby and c. H.
Souther of Boston. are here now, looking
the ground over. They are greatly encour-
aged with the outlook. They, with
Charles II. Hood. the manager. have just
left town for hundred-mile drive across
tie country north through the valleys of
the Square Butte and Big Knife rivers,
where there are a number of fine wheat
farms, and where there is still room to
open hundreds of as good farms as can be
found anywhere in the Northwest. The
authorities here have been busted during
the last few days in prosecuting band Of
thieves, who have for years made
their headquarters on the Old
Fort Rice military reservation, about forty
miles south of Mandan, near the mouth of
the Cannon Ball river. The leader of the
gang, William Harrison, was arrested by
Sheriff Harmon and prosecuted by District
Attorney Long about ten days ago on the
charge of grand larceny before Judge Bate
man, and was held to appear before the
grand jury. This prosecution revealed
number OF other crimes, and Major Nc
Laughlin, the Indian agent of Standing
Rock, at once preferred charges against
Harrison and his accomplices for stealing
government cattle and Indian ponies. The
Indians were brought into court to testify
and Harrison was again held to appear be-
fore the United States grand jury. A man
by the name of Kelly was also held
AS AN ACCoMPLICE
of Harrison. When Pawnee Tom, the In
dian who lost the ponies, was brought into
court to testify the question was raised that
he was not competent, on the ground that
an Indian could not give evidence against
white man, but the United States commits
sioner. A. N. McGindly. promptly over
ruled the objection, and Pawnee Tom, by
court that the defendants We're not guiltless.
Another interesting case will be tried here
at the August term of the district court. A
man by the name of Myers is accused of
stealing six ponies from Wolf Chief, Red
Drum and Charging Enemy OF
the Fort Berthold agency. The
Indians will appear in court
to testify, and will doubtless convict the
offender. These crimes against the Indians
have been altogether too frequent of late,
and the authorities are determined to put
stop to them, and they will in all proba-
bility succeed in doing so.
NOTES.
John ]. Luck left yesterday to attend the
meeting of the Republican central committee
at Aberdeen on the 22d inst.
The recent shooting trouble in Oliver
county, about thirty miles north of Mandan,
resulted in the arrest of c. P. Thurston, the
offender. He was given a hearing on the
18th inst, at Raymond, before Justice C. J.
Vanschravendyke, and waived examination.
His bond was fixed at $500 for his appearance
before the grand jury III August. Mr.. Frank
j. Williams was the prosecuting witness.
The Grand Army will have a grand cele-
bration here on the 3rd, 4th and 9Th of ,Iuiy.
Extensive preparations are being made for a
big time. Z. X. Long has been invited to
deliver an address on that occasion.