Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-24
LETTER FROM DAKOTA.
VIII Herman Describes the Yankee and
the Scandinavian Sections.

Will Herman Describes the Yankee and
the Scandinavian Sections.
Especial Correspondencel
BISMARCK, d. T, Oct. ls-The influx of
immigrants to Dakota during the last few
years has been something phenomenal, even
in the phenomenal history of the new north
west.
The territory now claims population OF
over half million. 1t had less than fifth
of that in 1SS2-an average increase of over
100. 600 per year for period of four success
sive years.
The newcomers in the north half of the
territory were principally Scandinavlans,
from Norway, while in the south the large
majority were Americans-lowa sending a
far larger quota than any of the other states
Thus two wholly different civilizations were
represented-one contending that the capital
should continue at YanktUn, 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 antagonlsm that led 10
the nominal secession of the southern half OF
the territory and threatened for few weeks
to preCipitate the people into the horrors OF
an intarnecine conflict After the southern
counties had proclaimed their independence
they organized phantom government, called
| il the state of Dakota selected Huron for the
capital and proceeded to elect full corps of
state officials. Congress refused to recognize
the new state. Thereupon the leaders OF the
revolution began to show their teeth in very
disagreeable manner. Secret consultations
were held Military companies were formed:
| Int owing to some reason unknown to out
! siders. the prospective rebellion suddenly col
Iapse,i. The old feeling of hostility is still al
! fever heat, however, and unless congress con
sents to dissolution of the territory / have
! little doubt that blood will flow before the
matter is finally settled
The south half of the territory is less fertile
than the north, but at the same time its
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, but
doubt whether both combined are more de-
structive to the crops than 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 lazy TO
make a fire-break by plowing round his home
frequently seeks the shorter way of protect
ing it by setting fire to sage grass and stub
bic, and burning a circle of safety round his
premises Such fires frequently leap beyond
control. however, and play havoc far and
wide,
l can conceive of no grander spectacle than
a prairie fire | have seen the town Of North
wood hemmed in by a Gordon of flames.
These flames would twist and writhe through
the low grass in places like glittering ser
penis then, as they touched a wheat field,
they would leap skyward with 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. \ panic followed.
A little army of men rushed out with coffee
sacks saturated 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 thi:
are common in Dakota.
Dakota No. hard wheat has the reputa
ton of being the best in the world At leaS
it commands higher price than any other il
the markets of the northwest
"I'Il tell you how l account for the superior
quality of our grain up here" said farmer
to me, one day i ne SfOunu never laChs IO
moisture. We may have drought of 81,
weeks, and the ground is still in splendid con
dition-"
"How's that!'
well, you see our long, hard winters freez
/, the earth to the depth Of several feet. wa
digging a well in .clly of last year and foun,
the earth frozen at the depth of over tw,
wards and half The heated condition o
. the surface in the summer time keeps draw
, ing the frost upward and melting it, and tn
crops are thus supplied with moisture in
manner best calculated to perfect the grain.
. The Greeley chestnut, go west, youn
man, etc. =" should be subjected to severa
: notifications. II the young man has littl
capital, and has the pluck to live rough
, lonesome life on q ranch or in the uncongeT
! ial society of frontier town, his chances c
making a fortune are better in the west-i
= Dakota, at least-than they are in the cas-
II he is sharp, unprincipled and has q turn fo
, speculation, he can make s. here where
can make 81 in the east But where on
A poor, high principled man succeeds in the ia
q west, at least two fail, and are only too happ
: to return to TIER friends and relatives in Il
q states WILL HUBBARD HERMAN.