The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-05-18
An Editors Fur.

In a recent issue of the ST. Paul Pho
neer Press Gov. Pierce tells the following
amusing story. 1t is illustrative OF what
the press of Dakota has done and is now
dong to build up the great, territory:
After the war Major Adams was
prominent for some years in Iowa poll
tics, but finally determined to move to
Dakota. He settled in Day county, far
from the haunts of men, took up a claim
and built him u sod shanty. He was a
printer by trade and a newspaper man
by instinct, and having run a paper in
Iowa successfully. took a printing ontft
| with HIM on his claim. BE finally went
to amusing himself getting out a news
paper. He was twelve miles from u
postofice and tLi1ty-elght miles from a
railroad. but he issued a paper filled with
accounts of the occurrences which
would ordinarily take place in a town of
three or four thousand. He described
the f1remen's parade, the concert by the
band, lectures by prominent people in
the town hall, church sociables and Sc
on, drawing on his imagination and past
experiences indlscrminately. After
printing a few hundred copies OF these
papers, the major would drive over to
tho posteflce and mail them to various
offices in the East and West for general
%distributirn.
One day the editor of this strange
sheet was standing in front of hi. sod
shanty when he saw a horse and buggy
coming across the prairie. AS it drew
near he observed the figure of a man in
the buggy, ,and he noticed that every
now and then the vehicle stopped and
the man stood up i'll the buggy and
looked a%nyiously about him. This pro-
ceeding was repeated as he approached
the shack. and finally Adams made out
the man to be an elderly gentleman with
iron grey whiskers. and evidently a man
of business. AT last he stood up on his
seat, shaded his eyes with bis hands and
scanned the horizon in cveky direction
Then he sat down and drove to the SOC
shack.
'Hello!' said Adams. how are you?'
'Howdy do replied the stranger.
Won't you get out and come in and
rest said the major.
Yes, I WILL responded the traveller
and he did.
He took a stool and looked around tn,
shack curiously, taking in the printing
outfit with the other furniture. Then
an idea seemed to strike him.
Look here he said, do you print the
Western Chief heres'
Yes replied Adams. Would YOU
like to look at onef
Look at one! exclaimed the stranger
look at one! mol thank you! Iy'
looked at it a good many times
What do you think Of ity inquired
Adams.
You want me to tell YOU responded
the stranger.
Certainly replied the editor.
We'll. then. l think you are the d-es
liar | ever knew
Why, you didn't take my fun il
earnest, did your inquired Adams.
Fun nothing said the stranger
Why, | came olt to your inferna
place to start a hardware store
Adams tried to prevail on the stran
ger, whose name was Lawrence, to sta.
and start the store anyway, but 1t wa
no use. He went back to Iowa. Blu
four months from that time MIR. Adam
stood in the door of his shack IN
counted 1870 houses in sight. The boor
edition had brought others in VIII
stayed. Now railways traverse the re
gion, and a short distance from this
first dwelling stands the thriving tow
i, of Britton. in Marshal county. Day ha,
! ing been divided and a new count
formed of that name. If Lawrence ha
D stayed and started the hardware store
! said Adams. he would now be wort
J $50, 000.'"