New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-30
SENATOR CASEY ON DAKOTA.
HE RELATES ITS PROSPECTS AND ITS
NEEDS.
THE EAST NOT FULLY ACQUAINTED WITH THE
SITUATION IN THE GREAT
PLAINS" STATES

aud tbroucb and believes I'm the great principles OF the
party There is nothing ostentatious In MS maiie'
lie is plain, unassuming, always outspoAeh anu p"
teal lie Of those senators who was Ia ni'
seat every day during the discussions OH inc Ei1co
bill and the Free silver bill, and he voted Win 'Ae
Repui6can majority every time. He In no ScnSe
answer, the impression Of some concerning the Far
West statesman," but Is a man who ~ih his WIZ
descendant OF New England stock has travelled OK
tcnsvey in the Old World as well as III MS o"n
country and is wellinfornied upon all puohc quc9-
tons When asked to give his views upon the present
condition and future prospects OF his Sta'e "1'i
culturally, financially and politically. he SAID
North Dakota belongs to that list of states WHICH
occupies the Great Plains extending midway on the
continent from the Gulf of Mexico far into tho br''s
possessions The name given that region clearly Ill
dicate5 its superficial characteristics To most p3opo
in tho East Dakota Is just Dakota, as Rhode Isaha
Is Rhode Island. Many have not yet comprehended
the division Of what the territory Of Dakota in two
states Let yonr readers realize that the Of what
wa, that territory exceeds that Of New England AMI
that In It's extent Of nearly four hundred miles square
IL necessarily had various climatic characteristics
then they will be less likely to assume That state
ment as to a certain condition in one locality Is
necessarily statement TO all OF both Dakotas, or
| even as to one Of them The county where l live is
larger than Rhode Island but account Of conditions
in Rhode Island would not be accepted as Including
Maine, although both arr In New England
"To form the States If North Dakota and South
Dakota, Tie Territory divided very nearly in hall
on cas-, and west line. The Red River OF the North
FORMS North Dakotas eastern boundary. This valley
LONG since became celebrated for its fertility ana at
tractlvcncss In the annals Of the Hudson Bay Com
pany and has fully justified It's fame to thousands Of
prosperous settlers. The section now known as the
Red River Valley comprehends wide eApanSe, large
enough for several New England States Then u the
west there are the Cheyenne and the James valleys.
The Missouri runs nearly midway In the state, ana Is
central To the subhumd region. When million
peopo are engaged in agriculture east Of the Missouri
| there Will be room for more. All parts OF NOfth
Dakota but especially Of course, the more prosperous
eastern portion, have reputation. may almost say
fame from the production Of the best wheat grown
in the world the most nutrition, and the highest III
price, called commercially 40. l Hard" FlaX-seed
and barley also are OF extraordinary qualy ohu d'c
| profitable crops.
sheep hu,bandry Is likely TO find permanent and
distinct centre especially In the central and western
| portions The dry atmosphere and sandy loan arc
particularly favorable 10 the health Of the ANIMAL ana
the cold Of winter conduces t. heavy fleece. Under
the protection OF the present tariff law, herds are mul-
plync and the Industry Is becoming Of great value
IA the state To home-sechers North Dakota presents
rs attractive conditions to-day as any region In the
| Union open 10 settlement As to our general pros
pcritv it IS like that Of the various states In the
Great Plains very great, fair and lacking. 10 I'M
dcrstand this the wide cXpansc Of country under con
sidcraon must be kept IN New ana coiulllohS N"'S
| ing accordingly
The sub-humid region Is characterized by alter
patins period, Of abundant and diminished rainfall.
| In il, eastern part crops rarely. If ever. ia fpHl
| lack Of moi In certain portions drouh Is haoe
o prevail in recurring period, These several STATES
lave htcrIy been experiencing such period ana
where the drouth has fallen Encouragement ana some
tmeS min have resulted The people who settled IN
| tho r1..au, which have suffered I'm no sense to
| Ice blamed for doing So They were simply mlNicd "
| the Government. and they had fair cause for com
| plant After examination as u natural 'ohui'lo"'
.y the proper and authoritative department. the toy.
eminent rated all the subhumld region 'agrIcuiturH"
- di,ringui shed from arid and 50 offered them 10
tina pulc for settlement under the National lana laws
Naturally and properly land seekers accepted th'
| a. a guarantee that these lands were as deeH"ue "I
| homes a. were agricultural land further cast ann
| cagcrlv bought them In the several 9'''S "'"''
knowledge Of the lsk they ran IN gong too ar "''''
Vet existing Government records, scientific ana oher'
! .,,, a. roriod of forty years. should have led TIE
n,,rtu,eu AT least 10 warn the settlers OF It, " tNc
! transaction wa, conducted had it been between III,
dt,dua, the buyers would fairly have chafEeu II1"u
! upon the seller. - >,n,b
"Thc great influx Of immigrants occurred IN Nor'n
Dalol from 1875 to leo3, years oil aDu""'n'
/ il, tie whole state. Thousands of happy auu sau'"c"
settler, paid millions into the National treasury III
,.dcr to secure homes in this favored region. lIeh
l. u,riod Of diminished precipitation enSued, ana III
| those part, where the condition amouh'ed 10
drouth many men lost all they had m@'e' 'oh' al
| they had invested.
.Is # unnatural that settlers who have paid Tor
those lands feel that this iTeat Government has not
! ,.,, Thorn v.iue received Are they To be blamed
t,r ,tiny to 10. helped ont in the mnttcv Ihc sen
,tor, and Representatives of the state, IA tl' pains
area asked Congress for some ltle sympathy an" an
expression OF it in the way Of an Investigation OF water
resource, from streams or undcrhow, 30 lhdt II lH'
he learned If any artificial means might supply "
natural deficiency. They did not ask the construction
Of irrigation works, but & BE- supplied VITA su'h lu'.
knowledge Of what might be pra, cablc to do a. "ou"
warrant necessary expenditures IoF SUCH "oFNs oS
those Interested. Before division ana admission Da-
lota alone had paid upwards of twenty millions INTO
the Treasury OF the United states The whole pans
| ,cyion may he estimated tO have paid IN 3'oOOoOOo'
Tho states receive D PER cent on receipts fVh pub
lie land, within their limits. Had 1t been state,
Dakota would have received million dollars nom That
source being territory. OF course, 1t received hohS
Had a lavish Congress set aside mlod iJr uc pur-
pose, | namc would it have been al excess oil Scher
o.tyl For the entire plains REGION including "A third
of the AGRICULTURAL area Of the Nation We have sue
cceded IN getting a bcggary $4,000 granted upon con
| dlti9ns which seriously diminish the value OF the in
! vcstisaton
d. In some part, Of Dakota there exists the most
wonderful artcsian basin known IN the world But II
Is Il matter great cost to sink the wells, and eA-
| cent in limited localities. Of uncertainty. The Gov
eminent may fairly be asked to ascertain the definite
limits Of that basin, that individuals may be rea-
,onably sure they are not throwing away their money
when yenturlng from 5000 to $4,000 in boring Tor
| water
I'm Kansas and Nebraska other underfiow has been
determined, but how widely available is yet TO be As
! cortaincd Taken as Il whole. do not hesitate 70
claim that by surveys OF streams and adequate eNam
nation OF tie earth. the Government should find out
what sources OF watcr-suppy exist In the Sub-hdmd
rclon and to draw upon them for the relief of III
existing people whom 1t has induced by it, representa-
tons to occupy land, taKng their money therefor
North Dakota, as you know, has kept Itself we'll