The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-08-22
Plerre,s napx Act.~

Huronite:-The Pierre papers are try
ing to make the people of South Dakota
believe that Huron is responsible for the
popular impression that the reservation
is worthless for farming purposes. The
facts are that neither this city nor any
Of its papers originated the damaging
stories that are in circulation all over the
densely populated portions Of the state.
The Huronite has never "willfully" or
otherwise been guilty of the charge the
Pierre Press makes. It's policy has al
ways been to uphold the reputation of
the entire state and it has time and time
again defended Dakota from the william
GUS attacks Of her enemies and traducers.
We are not responsible in any way.
These stories are here, and the question
is. how did they get here. A large ma
jority Of the people living east Of the
Missouri river have never seen the reser-
Walton. They have formed what opinions
they have from what they have heard and
read. AS early as the gold rush to the
Hills in 1872 the report was current that
the Pie IRE trail ran through a "dreary
and worthless" section of country. The
delegates from the far western counties,
who attended the convention at Pierre in
1884, had no hesitation in expressing
their opinions, and were glad to spread
the impression that the whole country
frnn piarra fn fhn foot hilI, rrn, 90 nr1,,
to grow sage brush and cactus. All the
stories Of the arid character Of the reser-
walton lands can be traced directly to
either the people of Pierreo or their friends.
The discussions on the floor of the leg
islature last winter proved beyond doubt
that Pierre herself is responsible for call
ing in question the utilityof the reserva-
ton lands for farming purposes. Her
W senator, Col. Crawford, introduced
the new famous fence bill in the senate
and exerted himself by trades and COM
binations to secure its passage. The OBJ
ject Of the fence bill was to compel every
farmer who might fortunately find a
garden spot to build a fence around it.
The intent OF the bill was to keep out
settlers and turn the whole 100000
acres over to the cattle men. Pierre Wig
crously urged the passage Of this bill,
her best citizens filled the lobby and but
ton-holed the members. Her senator
fought for it in that house and her repre-
sentative, Hon. VIM. Summerside, used
all his persuasive powers on the members
in the lower house in his effort to make
the bill a law. The discussion that the
bill provoked brought to the surface the
fact that all members who were interested
in Pierre were favorable to its passage.
When objections were raised in the house
that a law of such a nature would impose
hardships on the farmer who was raising
small grain, Col. Parker, of Deadwood,
an avowcd champion of Pierre, stated
that the country opened for settlement
was not fit for farming purposes; that he
had passed over it scores Of times and
knew every foot of the ground. So from
the mouths Of Pierre's own representatives
and her leading citizens, from foolish ar
ticlcs published from time in her papers,
the report has passed into circulation
that the country tributary to Pierre OH
the west is totally unfit for agricultural
purposes. We are tired of the Pierre cry
that Huron is trying to injure q certain
portion Of the state, when tho truth is
that the origin of all these stories can be
traced directly to Pierre. The chickens
are fastening home to roost.