Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-28
PROSPECTS OF PIERRE.
"A ROSY PICTURE OF SOUTH pASoTA,s
CAPITALS FUTURE.

The Sensational News About the Rcserya-
ton Eush-TheT True Situation of Affairs
Economy the Watchword, and Its Neces-
sity-Gratitudo to Eaiiroads-s.ate HI.
nances, Etc.
Especial Correspondence
This city has been the scene of great re-
joicing during the past week. The iov and
happiness seemed to be contagious. for
every citizen that your correspondent saw
had an illuminating smile on his face, The
city Is crowded with strangers. Thousands
OF people are hooking in here to invest in
Pierre property or secure a claim on the
reservation, and the general opinion is that
the future of Pierre Is now assured. The
millions of acres of land that stretch from
the river banks tothe distant mountains are
sure to attract thousands OF settlers. Rail-
roads will soon span the Missouri aud
speed across the new domain. Cities will
spring up within the next six months that
will be the wonder and surprise Of every
one. The location of Pierre is fortunate.
She VIII become the great iobb1ng center
OF all THIS section of the state.
Highly Colorcd.
The sensational accounts of the opening
of the reservation n the conflict between
the military and the settlers had no
existence outside of the brain
1t is true that there has been a steady
stream of people crossing the river at this
point, but we have failed to secure any
authentic account of a conflict with either
the Indian police or the regulars. The
new settlers have scattered along the river
bottom, and groups have pushed their way
along the valley of the Band river and
have squatted on lands that will
be worth money some day. On
the bluffs we have watched the
adventurous boomers carry up their lumber
and rear their claim shanties. Until their
lands are surveyed there will be trouble
between the settlers. No one appears to
pay any attention to the probable boun-
daries of q claim;la choice site is selected,
o shanty is built and the rest is left to
chance and the uncertainties of the sur
veyor's plats. Some of the counties are
already organized, but no one seems to pay
any attention to the self-constituted au-
thorities. For a while at least the adj
joining counties will be attached to
| Hughes.
Taxing Mortgages.
1t was generally expected that the legls-
lature would not favor the adoption of rad
ical legislation that might affect the tinau-
cial interests of the state. Those who
have nursed this hope have discovered that
their judgment IS sadly at fault. A bill
passed the house the other day that strikes
a direct blow at the capital invested in
farm mortgages. The intent of the bill is
to tax the holder of every mortgage for the
interest he claims in the land. This is one
Of the score Of measures introduced to tax
all the capital invested in the state. A
large lobby Of bankers and mortgage
men are here, working as hard
as men can work to arrest
the passage of what they term bad legisla-
ton. These gentlemen claim that the
present demand for money far exceeds the
supply; that a number Of farm mortgage
companies have retired from the state;
that at the present time it is difficult to
secur money to replace the loans that are
now due and unpaid; that radical leglsla-
ton on this subject will drive to other
fields all the companies now doing bust
ness here, and u panic IS inevitable, tina
must result III the foreclosure of thousand:
of farms and cause a general depreciation
in real estate values. What effect these
arguments will have on the members who
are pushing this kind Of legislation it is
impossible, at this time, to tell.
The Railroad Lobby.
The railroads during the present week
have sent representatives. to look after and
protect their interests. The leaders Of the
alliance are determined that strong legis-
lation must be passed by the present legis.
lature. and it is feared that if these men
have their way it will stop the building Of
all lines contemplated and under course of
construction. The railroad lobbyis some.
what surprised at the strong farmer ele-
ment that has rallied to their support,
These men are mostly from what
are now known as the destitute counties.
and they speak in the highest terms
and freely state that the prompt action OF
these corporations in shipping in. freight
free, coal. food, provisions and clothing,
prevented a great amount of suffering that
must of necessity have occurred this win
ter in these localities. They frankly state
that they are not insensible to these favors
and are opposed to radical railroad legisla-
ton. The true reason that underlies all
this kind of legislation is that the times
are hard and among the farmers there is a
desire to shift the burden of taxation and
place it on railroads and real and personal
securities.
The Appropriation Bills.
Much interest now centers in the bills
That tile apprOprlatlOn cOmmlCree Will sOon
report. The treasury at the present time
is exhausted, the constitution places a
limit on the indebtedness, and where the
money is to come from that is needed to
defray the expenses of the several depart
ments of the state government is a
conundrum that as vet none of the states
men at this place have been able to solve.
The various penal, charitable and
educational institutions are clamorine
for large sums of money, and
every institution has or has had
a lobby to impress the necessity of a large
appropriation on the several committees.
To use the pruning knife is an unpleasant
duty and the friends of the institutions
whose appeal for a large size appropriation
is not needed are sure to make war on the
committees who must perform this thank
less task. Reform is necessary, and every
department of the state must cut down ex-
penses.
Newspaper Legislation.
The newspaper fraternity are receiving
some recognition from this legislature.
The Rexfor1 bill defining what shall be q
legal newspaper passed the house by q
large vote. This bill provides that the
owner of every legal paper must file an
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