St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-27

uary, 1855. when it is expected the father
| less abortion will be convened to again adj
| journ for more time to consider. The
Fiftieth congress will without doubt pass
an s'enabllng act'' for the whole territory
to be voted upon at the annual election in
| 1888. At that election there will be 90, 900
more votes than in 1886. to
pass on the question of division
if submitted, but it is more than doubtful
if the division be an issue in the final pre-
liminaries to the admission of Dakota into
the Union. Proper and legitimate steps
will be taken, by permission of congress,
to fasten the glorious. Dakota star on the
grand old flag. / may be mistaken as to
the time. but firmly believe that Dakota
will not join the sisterhOod of states until
after the next presidential election, unless
contingency arises through which the
great and growing West would demand
the admission of the territories of Dakota,
Montana, New Mexico and Washington,
to balance the preponderance of Eastern
votes in the senate. Springer's new bill
for the admission of the territories above
named is not likely to get further. during
the present session, than reference to its
proper committee, where it will be carefully
guarded by the well-paid clerk. If the
| admission of these four territories, at any
place, their electoral vote would be very
uncertain quantity in the total. Dakota
would be Republican with at least seven
votes, Montana Democatic with three, and
possibly four votes, with Washington and
| New Mexico doubtful. The apparent
advantage in the election of president
would be with the Republicans. 1t is not
| likely that either party will care to shoulder
| this uncertain responsibility before the next
great party struggle is decided.
FIRST DIVISION EFFORTS.
The last possible chance for division has
passed. Hundreds of the first divisionists
have as earnestly opposed division during
the past four years as they favored division
sixteen years ago. At that time the south
east corner of the territory. about one
twentieth of the whole-eight counties
represented South Dakota. or Dakota
proper. with the exception of the northeast
corner, known as Pembina county, and
| designated as North Dakota. The first
and only real movement for division was
commenced after the election in 1870. The
prevailing desire for division then was as
aptly stated by Dr. Burleigh, that Jud
LaMoure and old man Roulette could vote
from one to million" half-breeds from
Manitoba and Minnesota, and thus render
the delegate election in ''South" Dakota
very uncertain issue. The returns from
Pembina were hard to get, and it took
long time for them to get to Yankton.
coming as they did by dog sleds and other
frontier cOnveyances to st. Paul, then by
Chicago to Dubuque Sioux City and stage
to Yankton. 1t used to be claimed. but I
think it doubtful, that the Pembina returns
were generally met in st. Paul by repre-
sentatives of the delegate who had
the most money. This state of affairs
continued up to and after the election in
1872, and to illustrate the uncertainty Of
elections will refer to that of 1872. Charles
Mix comfy began at point on the Mis-
souri, river sixty miles above YanktOn. and
extended to point near Fort Thompson.
Buffalo county was attached to Charles
Mix for election and other purposes. The
''other purposes consisted of hiding stolen
stock and selling whisky to Indians. Buff
falo county extended from the Charles Mix
line north to the British possessions. Dur
ing the election Of 1872 two members Of
the house were elected from Charles Mix
county. Bismarck was located in 1872.
The population during the election con-
sisted of railroad men and few settlers.
This was the first time Buffalo county cut
any figure the territorial elections The
Charles Mix men were declared duly elected
to the house and took their seats. Shortly
after the session commenced a couple Of
ambitious young men presented themselves
at Yankton and claimed to have been
elected from Bismarck. Nobody had heard
of any election OF candidates, but the Bis
marck claimants were well-known in 7 Yank-
ton, which gave them some hope: Their
opportunities became so troublesome that
Father Turner and Capt. Branch, a COM
mittee, reported in favor of unseating
the sitting members and letting the other
fellows in. The sitting members
Wheeler and 10 Langlois-dd't kick much,
but quietly went home. The BiSmarckers
pledged before high heaven and the other
country that they would do all that was
asked of them. One Of the Bismarckers
proved true to his pledge and the other
proved a traitor by his first vote, but he got
paid for it.
FIRST DIVISION BILLS.
The elections of 1902 determined the
division question. ''NOrth" Dakota was
regarded as st. Paul attachment, while
South" Dakota looked to Chicago for an
outlet. At that time no one in ''South'
Dakota believed that what is known as
Central Dakota would be settled in fifty
years as it now is. Politics prevailed in
South Dakota then as it does tO-day, and as
the Northern Pacific country, so designated
in 1872. was so distant and the political ele-
ments so mixed and uncertain, a bill was
finally introduced in congress by Senator
Ramsey, of Minnesota, we think, calling
the North half Ojibway territory. This name
did not suit any one. Delegate Armstrong
was asked to have the name changed to Penn
bina, which was done in new division bill.
The division question was never pressed
very hard until the territory got filled up''
from Pembina to the mouth of the raging
Sioux and from the roaring Red to the
Montana line. There is no need for division
now, and from present indications the ter
ritory will never be divided. Dakota un-
divided, ten years hence, will rank about
ninth as regards population anc votes in
congress. The above brief statement ex-
plains the original movement for division.
OUR RAILROAD SYSTEM.
The Northern Pacific crosses the terri
tory from east to west fOrty-eight miles
north of the center. Rail connection extends
south from Pembina to Sioux Falls, Elk
Point and up the Missouri to Yankton. A
recent connection between the Northern
Pacific and the Chicago. Milwaukee u st.
Paul gives us rail connection from Yank-
ton in the south to Devils Lake in the
north, through the beautiful valley of the
James river. Ten lines of rail cross the
territory to the James river and four extend
to the Missouri. with two other lines under
construction. Two lines of railroad are
being constructed towards Bismarck from
their present terminus OH the Jim. A line
of railroad from Yankton up the Missouri
valley to Bismarck is one of the certain
links Of our railroad system soon to be
built. The Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul & Northwestern will certainly
N1