The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-22
GOV. piERcE,s REPORT.
Ee ssts Co..i, In CLOWN; Colors the Progress
tEo Great Territory.


WASHINGTON, Oct 12-Hon. Gilbert A
Pierce, governor of Dakota, in his annual re-
port to the secretary Of the interior, says;
The year has not been altogether as prosper
Gus as was desired. Dakota suffering In COM
mon with the rest of tho country from more OF
less business prostration and from the drouth,
which injured the small grains there by ma
terially lesscning the Weld. The drouth was
not general. however. but local in its character,
some parts OF the territory showing large Yields
while in others the failure was almost compiole.
1t is difficult to estimate correctly the shortage
in the crops over last year, but ! think Its
safe to say that in wheat and oats IL
will be at least one-third, l fear
but 10 what extent 1t is impossible to say. The
yie.d of potatoes and other roots will probabiy
be near up to the average. The cattle industry
has developed very rapidly during the year In
other parts of the territory 1t has been sup
posed that the large cattls ranches must be con-
fined to the weste Il part OF the territory: Where
the abundant grasses and limited sn0wtall en-
able cattle to Craze during the winter Late eS.
periments have demonstrated. however, that
cattle raising can be profitably pursued even IN
the extreme northern part OF ths territory anu
cattle ranches in various sections The bonued
debt of the territory sna remains ms the me- same as
one year ago, namely. Soos, 2oo; Inc assess aHsr
1855 of about $24, 600. 900. making the total as
sessment for the year about s l3O. 0OO. 600. Ihe
tax for territorial purposes for 1886 Is but =, =
mills The total county Indebtedness OF the
territory, bonded and floating, Is q little over
SIS, ,ooO.O 900. School statistics for the last year
have not been yet received, but there is no
doubt that the remarkable progress shown
during the fiscal year 1885 is continued. On
the subject of the growth and de-
of the Territory a6stS fram sns
report of the commissioner OF immigration as
follows: There were 22431 new filings on the
| public lands during the year under the three
general land laws, divided as follows: lo Home me
steads, 1906: prc-emptions. 1.Sol, and tree
claims, 7,O71. The area newly filed on during
the year was 8, 565, 800 acres; There were 1902
Northern Pacific Railroad company during the
year are estimated At $4,000 acres. The total
increase in population OF the territory for tho
year is estimated ut $4,000. giving Dakota a
population June 80. 1856. of fully 100000 The
| railroad building of 1856 bids fair to be much
greater than for any previous year in the history
of the territory The governor estimates the
total
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS
in the territory in 1856 at 500 miles In rela- Ia
rental, Of which ]. w. Scott offered a draft,
which was refused, corresp ondence growing out
! Of which was published at the time. Gov. Pierce
exact terms upon which the lands belonging
! to the school fund can be occupied and culti-
/ waited would operate to. the material advan-
| tage Of the territory. He thinks that those
| who enjoy the use OF these lands should
certainly turn in to the territory. which is the
| ultimate beneficiary, an amount equal to the
waste ana deterloratlon resulting from sucn oc-
! cupancy. He calls attention to the fact that
| Dakota has spent large sums in cash and lands
for the purpose of providing public buildings, in
| the hope that congress may see proper to do
something in this direction for the territory, cs-
pecially as the territorial officials representing
the government occupy offices paid for by private
subscription and furnished by the territorial leg
tslature, Bonds are an excellent investment. Many
( Of them will be paid during the coming year. he
thinks, unless the holders show willingness to
refund at a lower rate of interest He com
mends congress for passing the act restraining
! territorial and municipal inde debtedness, which he
! says was great relief to him. The governor
| discusses the admission of Dakota into the I'm
! ion, and adds: Il renew my recommendation
most earnestly that this great people be no
/ longer kept from their rightful heritage, but be
| permitted a share and voice in that government
/ they honor by their public spirit and sustain BY
| their industry.