The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-08
Territorial statistics.

The Press Is Just in receipt Of the
report OF the bureau Ol statistics Of
the treasury department for 1889,
giving the internal commerce for that
part OF the United States included in
Arkansas, Colorado, Dakota, Indian
territory, Kansas, Missouri, Monta.
ma, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas and
Wyoming, That part pertaining to
Dakota territory was prepared by
Hon L. +. Mcclure Of Pierre, former.
Iy commissioner OF immigration and
territorial statistician, who was ap-
pointed to that task by the treasury
department, and who had just been
succeeded by Col A. b. Smedley OF
Milbank. Mr.. McClure's presentation
OF the resources and Developments OF
Dakota, in the concluding year Of
its territorial existence, is admira-
bly made-as all who are ac-
quainted With his capabilities for such
work we're satisfied would be the case
He opens with the early history of the
territory, giving also it's geography,
geology, and topography, it's soil and
climate, its population, it's newspa.
pers, its staple vegetable products
and agricultural possibilities, its wa.
ter and fuel resources, its pasturage
facilities and statistics concerning its
live stock industries, It's mining devel-
opments and capabilities, it's manu-
featuring enterprises, its deposits OF
building material, its lumber and for
estry, the transactions in various
lines OF business, its railroad develop
ment and the chief cities which have
been planted or promoted thereby
in fact such an accumulation Of sta
tistlcs as will remain a permanent
monument 20 the industry and abiIi-
ty Of Mr.. Mcclure, and ready source
OF information concerning the mater
iai possessions OF the great territory
which has now become two states.
Following is synopsis OF some OF
the facts recorded:
In 1885 Dakota had 207 mechanic
al and manufacturing establishments,
with capital OF over $4,000, 900,
paying annually in wages 81, 100000
and turning out So, 6,593,2lS worth OF
products. Among these industries
were S5 Touring and grIst mills, 80
sawmills, l6 creamerles, II breweries,
and 10 gold mining and stamping
mills. Two years later those had
grown to 5S4 establishments, includ.
ing ia Touring mills, 27 creameries.
80 feed mills, ~ sawmllls and l02
wagon and carriage fac tories. Sixteen
Of these flour mills have q capacity
each OF from 200 TO 800 and 500 bar.
rels q day. producing annually nearly
80, 100000 worth Of goods, while
there are 90 mills under 200 barrels
capacity. In 1880, 2, 900, 600 pounds
OF butter were manufactured, against
10. .000, 900 in 1883. Pork packing is
rapidly growing industry in South
Dakota. An establishment at Yank-
ton invests $75 900 in the business,
one at Sioux Falls, $4,000, and
smaller ones are operating at Mitchell,
Woonsocket, Grafton and Pierre. In
1883 less than $l.00O,O00 worth OF
hogs were computed for Dakota. In
1883 the value OF hogs was $3,24S.-
36s. Hog ch 'lera is unknown. The
largest bodies of timber in Dakota
are along the Red River OF the North,
and in the Black Hills, and at both OF
these sections there are q number OF
sash, door and blind TACT ories, plan.
ing and saw mills. but at the present
rate of consumption it is believed hat
the timber in the Black Hills will be
- n a -
timated that about 10000, 900 feet
Of lumber have been manufactured
h re since the country set tied. About
lO0.0OO,000 feet remains OF the for
est IN timber trees.