Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-04-20
III: BIG FOUR.

Chemawa, Oregon, April 10Th, 1883
To the Press and Dskotalsn: My trip
from Yankton to Salem WAS ACROSS the
four proposed Kew ststes, and now l
look upon them from q new point OF
view or through q slightly different at
mosphere of daily news and habit of
thought. They are to be four big ones.
1t il not necessary to enlarge upon the
promising future Of the Dskotas in your
columns. South Dakota is every where
properly recognized as the leading state
of the four in all the mature elements of
a commonwealth. That is conceded on
both sides she Rocky Mountains. All
speak Of her institutions, people, educa-
ton end prosperity. II is worthy OF re-
mark that the Black Hills region is more
highly considered and better esteemed
ut it's true value and great promise than
it is farther east. Montana, Washing.
ton, Idaho and Oregon are all 10 greater
or less degree mining states and are
near rich mining interests, 80 the peo-
pie speak with intelligence OF the great
we alth OF the Hills. They know their
value and the great future they hold in
store and appreciate their importance
better than We Of the SOW counties have
been able o do. In that particular
physically and IN their high consIdera-
ton for the quality OF our people, our
constitution and Gus leadership III the
fight for statehood for all the northern
territories n gets from Montana,
Washington and Oregon people q higher
and broader view than at home. The
fsct also lifts mp o high standard by
which ous work is TO be tested. The
eyes OF the country are upon South Da-
kots.
~Journeying across these great com.
monweelths / met almost hundreds OF
citizens OF each. With many OF these I
talked long and carefully; with bankers,
merchants. miners and public men. For
oyer q month their papers and news of
them in che Oregon and California press
have passed under view. The effect of
all is TO materially change and greatly
improve the view.
From 7:30 p. m. till nesr midnight OF
the next day we rolled along constantly
on Montana soil. The eastern part, in
Guiding she Yellowstone valley and high
plains, 10 much like western Dakota, and
Is not now booming, to say the least. 1t
is that part Of Montana we have learned
most about or OF Helene, really
mot in the rich mining country
though o rich and prosperous city. and
near the mining censers. II you owned
all OF California and Montana and wish
ed to make g rich present 20 a son, give
him California; il you wished to confer
greater wealth upon his descendants give
him Montana In trust. The mountain
and mining parts OF Montana have
enormous updsveloped wealth. There
are incslculable amounts OF low grade
silver and lead ores, vast coal mine, and
iron mines and other mineral wsalsh of
great variety and abundance. The
Anaconda copper mines are known
throughout the world. There are al
ready four or five men OF many millions
and there will be hundreds. Statehood
NEAR more to Montana sven than 90
South Dakota. Study il. 1t began its
mining industry with wages at SIS 90 .
dsy for labor. II NOW pays about So so
per day. It shipped les ores long dis.
tances o single railroad at very high
rates. The COST OF living was great
The cost OF machinery and traneporta-
tion ives excessive. Now il hes three
great raslwsye. Each is aiming to strike
oil the centers possible. Each stands by
its patrons and great smelseEs and re.
dnction works are shns protected. The
reduced ores are now shipped ut a much
lower rate than were she crude ores
Wages decline as ffeights and other sx
penses are lowered. Living ~chespens
Money has been u and 10 per sent
With statehood and laws which are cer-
tain 90 be favorable 60 il vast supple,
OF capital will come ct one half OF che ole
rate. Then men Of great fortunes ar,
turning 90 these islds along with tn,
railroad end commerce.
ALI there forces will attack this nasura
wealth mor and more vigorously. Their,
lie iron and coal mines in adjacent noun
tains that can be bought for q few thou.
sand dollars. that In West Virginia aDt
Tennessee 8 y half million each
These facts are to now have their ful
force and play. There are whole noun
sains, as il we're, OF low grade ore, whici
will still be worked one hundred ant
two hundred years hence. There is ius
dc much future to them as to Soutl
Dakota soil. The need is rapidly Great
ing manufacturing interests. Evsr,
question 10 o solved aud the industria
wealth Of Montana 10 soon to be so mar
veleus that this generation will wonder
at it.. Butte Is the leading city an
Helena a close follower. TIL,
amount paid for wages ii
Butte IN Q month is 81
vast that I will not quote it, though m.
memory lie accurate upon it.. Helen,
will remain tne capital. The state vii
in ell probability be republican. but NO
without o fight The greater capitalist
are democrats.
30 with Washington. We do no
realize its area and varied wealth. minss