Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-26
THOMAS W. BlcKNELL.

South Oak ota-HI is F~avorably Im-
pressed and so Expresses Himself.
A reporter called on Thomas W..
Bicknell, the eastern secretary of the
Yankton board of trade, who for the last
five months has been doing missionary
work for this section at and around his
home in Boston.
Mr.. Bicknell was found at DR.. Jos.
Wards residence deeply engaged in read
ing to one of his hosts young hopefuls
out Of q book reciting the terrible ex-
perienoes OF uncle Remus," the eolored
hero of youthful literature. Mr.. Bick-
nell greeted the reporter cordially, re-
questing the privilege of finishing his
reading, in which he was almost as Deep
ly interested as the youth for whose
amusement he was laboring.
After the story had been finished Mr..
Bicknell closed the book, and anticipat-
ing the reporters desire for information,
he began q recital of his impressions of
south Dakota.
81 have travelled extensively IN the
northern portion OF Dakota, but T
am now making my first inspection of
the southern half OF this great territory.
l find that your as q country
adapted as the habitation of people
from all portions Of the globe are far In
excess of the advantages OF any other
portions Of Dakota. Your coil is adapted
particularly to general farming, and the
soil itself is the basis of great wealth for
this country. Its capacity for producing
grain and grass is great and as a matter
OF fact. this country has just begun to
develop. Grass and grain are the
foundation for all the wealth OF to-day,
and as time goes on and more soil is
occupied with their production this
country will increase in wealth and re.
sources until Dakota will stand alone in
its mighty strepRtt. 10 direct contrast
to New England is Dakota to-day.
There the have had ahundred
years IN which to be developed and that
time has we'll nigh served to exhaust
them. Here the country IL Just entering
the first periods of development and
the resources cannot be 'surmIsed. Your
country has q glorious future before il
and l am pleased to be able to state
that | I'M financially interested IN d.
kots."
"What are your Impressions of Yank-
ton Mr.. BicknellP" asked the reporter.
As far as location and natural adYan-
tages are concerned Yankton leads in
Dakota. But there is q need of an ex-
hibition of faith jim the town by local
| capitalists before the outside world can
be forcibly impressed With the advan-
tages of Yankton as q business location.
Your city is surrounded by o country of
richness 8 prolific that q very little en-.
-couragement on the part Of the people Of
the town will induce an influx of in
dnstries OF ell kinds. You need to de-
velop your CITY, as Dakota needs devel-
opment, and the people outstanding and
retaining q capital at home is what will
bring about the best results. The water
power of Yankton's artssian wells is
simply wonderful, and the fact that this
power is inexhaustabls convlnces me
that time will work industrial improve.
ments Tor this city il Its people fail to do
80. But time is money and money can
only be of service to mankind on earth.
/ My work in the east in the interest of
Yankton has not met with the results
which | had anticipated. The storm Of
January 18th seriously affected tho
plans OF a great many people whom had
interested themselves in this country.
Bat you will be benefited very materi-
ally by what / have doue, although per-
haps not Immediately. Years are required
by many people in making changes and
particularly among that class of people
which I have been directed to labor
with, the manufacturers. For instance,
Just now the wooden industry in Ameri-
ca, is threatened by tariff legislation
which is being agitated and as long q 9
these matters remain in the present I'M.
settled condition, wool dealers and
manufacturers are as unsettled. Other
peculiar conditions affect other manu-
featuring industries, and the work OF
getting the manufacturers 10 consider q
change of base is slow at best. 1 had
hoped to bring 100 families into Yank-
ton county from New England this
spring, but the blizzard placed a damper
upon that project. But there will be g
large influx of settlers from New Eng
land this year, in spite OF the blizzard,
In fact I have been placed upon the de-
%fensive for Dakota, and my work has
greatly disappointed me.
"Are you still interested in Hettinger
county 2" queried the scribe.
eyes," replied MIR. B. I'VE have a
very fine county and a very industrious
and thrifty colony there. The people
who went there from New England speah
very highly of Dakota and are vel
pleased with their new homes. The pas,
winter was not SO severe, they say, al
the winters in New England and all o.
them are happy and doing we'll"
Another caller was announced al thi.
i%uncture. and the reporter departed.
Arrival.
Madam Blanch the famous mind read
I a - 49, f-.k-.x k.Il.. ~