The Progress., 1888-01-14
DAKoTA,s PROGRESS
Condensed Review Of the Wonderful ne.
velopnsent Made in 1887.

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tlShe area Of Dakota is $50. 932 souare
niles, her population is over 600, 600: the
number of miles of railroad within the
territorial limits are 1916; number of post-
Offices ], l,O39;. newspapers published in the
territory, 352;, expended for support of
public schools in 1856, $568, 700: cash in
treasury, treasurer's report for $50. 1890 :
972; wheat crop for 1885, 80, ,7O4, 600 bush
els. A careful estimate of the wheat cron
for 1887 places it at go, 900, 900 bushels:
assessed valuation, 1887, $157, ,OS4, 1855;
value OF farm products, 1885, $32, ,43O.-
$40; corn crop for 1886, Is, SO5, 900 BUSH
eA Corn crop for 1887, estimated at 3d.
oOO, 900 bushels value of Live stock, $43,-
l9o, ~; number of public schools, 8, 900:
number OF school teachers, 5,O55; capital
invested in banking, $40, ,OOO,O 600
Inc above Is brief but comprehensive
outline OF Dakota's wondrous wealth and
development The Territory has had
another year of unprecedented growth in
wealth and population. During the year
ended June 80, 1887, 2,O67, ,2s1 acres of
the public domain were newly fled on. and
tne population at that time, based on the
most careful estimates, was $4,000 I'M
mlgratlon during 1887 averaged about
I,OOO each month, which now gives Dakota
fully 100000 people The agrieultural.
manufacturing, commercial and mining in
terests are all receiving careful atten-
lon, and the outlook generally for the
iutuIe may be considered prosperous and
happy one.
Dakota, as compared with all the States
and Territories in regard to miles of rail-
road in 1887, leads all but twelve States,
Dakota's wheat crop, just harvested. is
greater than was ever credited to any one
State for seasons yield, and is equivalent
10 one-seVenth of the total wheat crop Of
tne Union in 1886, or about one-thirteenth
OF the wheat crop of the world The grand
to5al OF acres and number of bushels in
Klna produced in the Territory will give a
correct idea of the enormous Yield of
Ghe principal farm crops: Wheat-Acres.
3,S1S,754; bushels, 2,553, ,499: Corn
Acres, COS, ,SO7; bushels, "a, ,5l1, ,726; Oats
Acres, 1,172,2S9; bushels, 43. 26Z 47S.
Rye-Acres II. $50; bushels; 316. $685., Bar.
ley-Acres, 235, 155; bushels, 6, 400. $50.
Buckwheat-Acres, 5,749; bushels, 81, $50:
Flax-Acres, 4l2, 741; bushels, 3, 9IO. .944.
Inc quality and quantity of the yield of
vegetables of all kinds can not be excelIed.
onions are prolific and sure crop. Tur-
nlps, peas, beets, beans, parsnips. carrots.
squash, cabbage, cauli1lower, egg plant.
lettuce, melons, and in fact all field and
garden vegetables are wonderfully prolific.
The potato crop for 1SS5.was 1865, $50
bushels. For 1867 no reliable informa-
Ilon can be obtained The hay crop for
1887 will exceed 2, 100000 tons
Dakota has 227. 900 horses, valued at
Yl76l8, 1872; II, 964 mules, worth 81
1884, 622; AZ. .l76 hogs, worth So. 314,O ,O13;
oxen, mich COWS and other cattle valued
at $21, 445. .3O2 The wool industry is repre-
sented by 256, ,2O9' sheep, valued at $685.
LOO.
OF Government land subject to entry
there is still 23,S1l,445 acres. divided
among ten land districts. Even at present
but faint idea of the real extent and i'm
portance of the mineral wealth of the Terri
tory can be given Deposits of coal, pc
troleum, salt, tin, iron, copper, lead, mar
ole, granite, mica. asbestos, potters clay,
besides the precious metals, in fact, almost
all or earth's treasures, SO far discovered
and utilized by science, are known to exist
Within the boundaries of Dakota
The following summary of school statis-
tics must convince the reader that the
cause of education has not been overlooked:
Youth OF school age in the Territory, 1O9.-
475; enrolled in public schools, 81. l3l:
average daily attendance, $3.50: un-
graded schools, 1856; whole number Of
teachers, 4, 924; value of school property.
$3 265, $50. Amount expended, 81. .917.-
25P The school lands comprise 8, 900. 600
ac1es. School attendance is compulsory in
all children from ten to. fourteen wears OF
age, for at least twelve weeks in each
school year, six of which must be consee-
utlve unless excused by school authorities
for good reasons. The Territorial institu
tions are the Agricultural College, Brook :.
ings; University of North Dakota, Grand
Forks; the University of Dakota, Vermiil-
ioni the State Normal School, Madison; the
Normal School, Spearfsh; the School of
Mines, Rapid City, and the Dakota School
Tor Deaf Mutes, Sioux Falls Denomina-
tioial colleges, universities or academies
are located at Yankton. Mitchell.
Pierre, Sioux Falls, Groton, Scot
lana, Redfeld, Jamestown, Tower CITY.
Cation, Arvilla and Fargo. The Catholic
church has established parochial schools at
Fa1kton, Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks.
There are in Dakota about 500 ministers.
representing different denominations and
caring for more than 1000 separate
chages These religious organizations own
more than 600 churches, not including par
sonhges, schools, missions, ETC., and the
of all church property in the Ter
ritdy will exceed $63,OOO, 600 Twenty
six years ago the first Sunday-school was
at Vermillion, and to-day there
are fully 1000, with membership Of
10000
OF all the marvels of the Territory there
is hardly one more remarkable than the
press of Dakota Of the 352 newspapers
published at present 25 are dailies, 314
weeklies and the remainder, 13, ere pub
lished quarterly, monthly and semi-month-
ly. of the total 345 are printed in English,
three in Scandinavian, one in Dutch and
three in German.
The total capital invested in all classes of
is over $11, 600, 900. For
the last seven years the yearly increase in
the assessed valuation of taxable property
has averaged $2O,OOO,OOO, or an annual
growth in Dakota's wealth, if represented
in real value of about $40, 600, 900. In
1885 the treasurer's receipts amounted to
SS39s, 552; his expenditures to 1896, ,741.
a surplus in the treasury of $232, 9S2,
md an assessed valuation in 1887 of $751;
OS4,36o, representing real value of at
least twice this amount
The term Black Hills has, at various
times, been applied to different sections Of