St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-13
their only means OF communlcatlcn

their only means OF communication
with tue Eastern world.
Thirty-five years ago the few thou
sand had multiplied by accessions
from adventurous spirits. drawn
hither by the stories of great
resources to be developed and
of wealth to be gained in the process,
until the number justified the bestowal
of sovereignty, and she took her place
in the galaxy of states which compose
the federal unlon. More striking than
tables of figures and easier of grasp are
the outline maps given herewith, show
ing the spread of population over the
prairies and among the forests of the
state at each successive decade since
1850 The rapid growth furnishes the
best of proof shat the young state did
not fail to redeem her promises of splen-
did opportunities for the Industrious
and energetic among her virgin re-
sources.
While the nations are pausing In
this four-hundredth year since Column
bus opened the doors of the Western
| continent to the people of the old
| world, to recount their history as shown
in the evidences OF their material aud
intellectual growth gathered in the in-
ternational exhibition. Minnesota may
be permitted on this, her day among the
nations. to tell something of the story
of her growth. The briefness OF her
life briefens the narrative, but
short as it is. thin as Is the volume in
which it may be written. it presents In
epitome the whole story of the nations
growth and development. 1t tells of
the Innate spirit of adventure, the i'm
patience of obstacles, the dauntless en-
ergy. the unreSting activities which
cbaiacteri2e the races whose blood and
temperaments are coInmingling here to
the production of newer, and. let Us
hope. better race.
That Inherent capacity for self-gov-
ernment, which evolved the Witenage-
notes in the twilight of our race, was
again illustrated in the beginnings of
Minnesota. Prior to 1913 what is now
Minnesota was portion of the territory
of Wisconsin, or Ouisconsin. as the old
maps had it. In May of that year bound
aries of Wisconsin were defined in the
act admitting her to statehood, but by
some singular mischance no provi
sion was made for the severed territory,
either as to name or government limits.
It's thousand people were left without
organization or government. No Off
GERS, no laws, no courts having au-
thority existed. Society was re-
duced to its primal ele ments. In
stinctively and Immediately the lm-
pulse of organization began its work.
In August convention was held
at Saltwater to provide for separate
territorial government. 1t provided for
the election of delegate to present to
congress the needs of the people. In
October Gen. Ii. II. Sibley was chosen
There were those in congress who
looked on this independent action as
something presumptuous and to be re-
buked. but finally on January, 1919,
Gen. SibIey was admitted to
a seat, AMI in March bill
passed organizing the territory
OF Minnesota. The president appointed
Hon. Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsyl-
vania. governor of the territory. with
other officers provided for in its act of
organization. The census of the follow
ing year gave population of 6,O77. but
of these 1,13+ were for the most part
half-breeds living along the Red River
of the North, and engaged in the fur
trade for the Hudson's Bay company.
A legislature was speedily chosen
and met, organized counties. located the
state capital at st. Paul and passed such
laws as were needed to complete the
social organism. The most important
event of the first years of territorial life
was the extinguishment of the title of
the Indians. The Sioux ceded all that
part of the state claimed by them be-
tween the Sioux river and Lac Traverse
on the western boundary of the state
and the Mississippi river on the east,
embracing the most fertile, and DOW
the most densely populated. portion of
the state, and covering 2l,00O.0OO acres. /
Subsequent treaties gave still greater
cessions. and restricted the Indian titles
to small reservations. which have been
since acquired and thrown open to
settlement.
THE REAL ESTATE SPECULATION.
The new territory offered tempting |
fields for the operation of those Infected |
with the land fever which began IN !
1858 and eliminated In the financial |
crash of 1857. We have had repetitions