Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1888-12-07
The Great Territory.

NSW 1OIk Tribune some OF inc denis
ocratic lsadcrs seem to have heard from
the people. Mr.. Springer, who has dis
tinguished himself for years by using the
influence of his position as chairman of
the house committee on territories to
keep Dakota out of the Union, is now
reported as saying that the bill admitting
Washington, Montana, Dakota and New
Mexico will be passed as soon as possible :;
but he still insists upon taking in Dakota
as one state, and intimates that the desire
OF the senate to see the territory divided
may make trouble.
In fact, the injustice of the exclusion
of Dakota has become so glaring that not
even the democratic leaders can persist
in it any longer. The latest report of the
governor, just issued, shows that the total
of lands filed on and purchased by immi-
grants for settlement for the year ending
on the Both Of June last closely approx.
mates 100000 acres, or 5000 square
milcs-twlce the area of Delaware. That
is the rate at which this young giant is
adding to its stature year by year, and
still it is denied representation. It may
be worth while to go back little and
trace its astonishing growth. The census
OF 1860 showed population of less than
5000; ten years later it was 4,191. The
period of its development had not yet
come. But in 1880 the population was
shown to be 1885, or an addition of
sou per cent to the population shown by
the previous census. That taken in 1885
showed population of 415,61O--a gain
OF more than 200 per cent in five years.
Since that time there has been no official
enumeration, but estimates as to popula-
ton are made by the commissioner of I'M
migration, being based upon the public.
land entries reported by ten United States
land. offices within the territory. On this
basis the population was estimated IN
1885 to be 100000; in 1887, SOS, AT and
this year, 640,s23. Adding to these the
Indians, government employees and other
inhabitants of the numerous Indian and
military reservations, which occupy one
fifth of the entire territory, and the total
number of inhabitants approaches closely
to 100000. But, without these classes,
the population is sufficient to entitle Da-
kota to four seats IN the house of repre-.
scntatlves.
In every department OF enterprise the
development of the territory continues
at so rapid rate that the figures grow
old before they can be made public,
During the last year 716 miles of com.
pleted track were added to its railway
system, making the total mileage 4,2O7
Only thirteen states in the Union have d
larger railway mileage. But it is in the
agricultural development Of the territory
that the most astonishing results are
seen. In 1860 less than 1000 bushels OF
wheat were raised there, and in 1870 the
crop had mounted only to 170,682 bush.
els but in 1880 it had increased to $780,.
2S9 bushels, and in 1885 to 8s, ,1ee, 41s
bushels. AS to the crop of 1887 there IL
difference of opinion. The statlsticiar
of the national department of agriculture
estimates 52,4Oe,000 bushels, while the
territorial statistlcian claims 1858, ,49e
bushels. Either estimate gives Dakota q
much larger production Of wheat than
any state of the Union. Something like
the same development is seen in the corn
crop, which has increased in two years
from 1880, 593 bushels in 1ss5.to 24,511,,
72G bushels IN 1Ss7-a larger crop than
that of Minnesota or Michigan.
But, when we turn to consider the re.
sources of the territory that are yet un.
developed, its majestic possibilities in.
spire feeling almost of awe. The va.
cant public lands subject to entry under
the national land laws exceed 22, 900, 00C
acres, making an area about as large as
the state of Indiana. Nearly every acre
of this enormous tract is declared to be
as fertile, as easily titled, and with as nu.
tritious pasturage, as the land already
settled upon. About $4,000, 900 acres are
contained in Indian reservations. The
policy of the future will no doubt be to
break these up, giving members of the
tribes allotments IN severalty and sharing
among them the proceeds of the sale OF
the remainder, thus opening another vast