Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-03-09
WESTWARD THE STAR OF EMPIRE.
The Gigantic Strides of Civilization In the
N~orthyyeat.


The proposition made in Congress
to charter a company to colonize q
large and fertile region in Montana is
one Of the significant events connected
with the growth of the West. AL
though organized as a Territory in
1864, almost the whole of Montana
until a recent period was an unbroken
wilderness except the strip traversed
by the Northern Pacific Railway and a
few spots occupied by mining towns.
The Territory is rapidly filling up
with immigrants. who push on through
Dakota to occupy and cultivate its
valleys Astounding in fertility. Like
progress in other Territories attests
the tremendous growth of the West.
In the absence of other reliable sta
tistical data the returns OF the General
Land Office show how gigantic have
been the onward strides of civilization
in that region during recent years.
During the fiscal year ended June 80,
1888. the Government disposed of 49,
3l9.076 acres OF the public domain
under the Homestead, Presumption,
Forest Land laws. This would make
more than one million new farms of
100 acres each!
In the last eight years not less than
l24, 900, 600 acres of the public domain
have been located for settlement, COM
prising m area Of 1913, $50 square miles,
or a greater extent of territory than is
covered by the States of Illinois. In
diana, Ohio, and Michigan. Of this
area Dakota contributed 30, 900, coo
acres; Kansas, / 5000. 900 acres. and
Nebraska more than 10, 900, 900 acres
-an extent of land opened 10 settle
ment and cultivation greater than the
whole of Ohio, South Carolina, and
Maine put together.
To Judge by the returns Of the Land
Office the greatest PROCESS has been
made in the Northwest during the last
eight years. In that period 30, 800. 900
acres (93,44O square miles) have been
occupied in Nebraska, Minnesota, Wis
@consin, and Iowa and in Dakota, Mon
tana, and Wyoming Territories. In
Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, and New
Mexico %. 16S, 900 acres (G4.52J square
milcs) have been sold and located. In
the States Of California, Oregon, and
Nevada, and in the Territories of
Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Arizo-
M 1900, 900 acres ore mus be added
to the account. During The same
period OF eight years Is, 1000, 600 acres
haze been opened to settlement in
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama. ana Florida.
THIS leaves out Of the calculations
the vast area OF railroad lands that
have been cold and occupied bv set
tiers during the last sight years. 1t is
estimated from the reports Of tae
managers Of the lsnd-crant railroads
that they hare sold 5000. 900 acres
since 1880. This makes a grand total
of l42, 900, 600 acres, or 222, 0J5 square
miles, Of the public domain disposed
of for occupation and settlement dur
ing the last eight years. Il comprises
an area greater thsn that of Germany
or France, aud twice as great as Great
Britain and Irelznd.
Notwithstanding the vast absorption
of the public domain for settlement,
there seems TO be 40 abatement in the
mighty onward movement. While
great Commonwealth spring up on
the Western plains as If summoned out
of space by the wand of enchantment,
there is no apparent drain of the popu-
lous States or the East On the IN
trary, the older States, while contri-
buting to the development Of new com
munities in the West, continue to
grow apace in population and wealth
az the tide of emigration from the Old
World pours upon the country's
shores.
Thatemigration from Europe has had
a mighty share in one of the most
wonderful phenomena in national de-
velopment and progress will hardly
be disputed by the most intense ma
twist. During the last eight years the
emigrants from Europe To the United
States have numbered 4,250,000. The
sturdiest, most industrious, and best
portion Of this immigration has not
halted until it has reached the prairie
homes in the West. No matter in
what spirit our laws shall be framed
for the restriction of undesirable inn
migration, a more potent restraint
will be found when our vast spaces OF
~unoccupied land shall no longer be
available to settlers. Unless we annex
Canada and Mexico our remaining
arabic lands will soon nave been dis
posed Of-PiiiddeHDhiQ n cord.