Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-02-26

only in contour because a deep snow
covered the face of nature that in sum.
mer looks so beautiful.
Our special arrived in New York four
hoars late, but Colonel Stone had made
arrangements in advance for the entire
party and we landed at the spaulding,
q magnificent sky scraper of modern
design, where all were comfortably
cared for.
Next morning at $50, Mr.. J. j. Hill
and hie entire party of guests left for
New London on special train of eleven
coaches, and that train carried a great
many men of national reputation in
politics and finance. The Dakotans
were Joined by Senators marlborough
and McCumber, and Congressman
Spaulding and Marshall of North Da.
kota, Governor Herreid and Congress.
men Burke and Martin of South Da.
kota, these gentlemen coming over
from Washington to honor the event.
Senators Gamble and Kittredge were
detained in Washington by important
legislation. On the special we met
Ex-senator Pettigrew, Hon. Alexander
Mckenzie, Senator Clapp and Congress
man Lind Of Minnesota. The special
crossed the river Thames at New Lon.
don and landed Mr.. Hill and his guests
in the shipyard alongside the great
Dakota ready for her maiden plunge.
On the platform around the launch
ing stage were assembled q proud and
happy band of Dakota pioneers. and
the Minnesotans were equally happy
and proud because James J. Hill, the
master mind-the genius who planned
the gigantic scheme of land and ocean
transportation, was a resident of The
North Star state. On the launching
stage stood our noble Dakota girl, the
center of every eye in that expectant
crowd, holding magnificent bouquet
of roses. By her side stood Mr.. Hill
and his daughter Miss Clara, and Mr..
Hanscom, president of. the shipbuild.
ing company. Hundreds of men were
working underneath the great ship
where tons of tallow had been used to
grease the wayt, and at p. m she
moved a little, again the men with
jacks and bars were working like tro.
jams to put life into tho giant mass of
steel. At 1:01 she moved again and for
good, aud at the moment named Miss
Flemington hit the PROV of tho noble
ship at the Is foot water mark with a
bottle of wine and said: Il christen thee
Dakota " The wine baptised all within
six feet of where it broke, and as the
sponsor turned to face the cheering
crowd the wine dripped from her smil.
ing happy face. As she stood tall and
proud and conscious that new honor
had been conferred upon our loved
Dakota. Ten thousand voices and
hundreds of steam whistles Joined in
the grand chorus, and from the, para
pets of old Forts Griswold and Trum.
bull came an answering echo of joy to
meet midway the ancient Thames the
cheering voice from Groton that echoed
DER New London. The launching was
a complete success in every way. In q
few seconds $50 feet of steel had slipped
from the shore and foated gracefully
in the river, an emblem of commercial
expansion and the pride of the north.
west.
From the launching platform the
guests we're escorted to the great mould
loft Of the<shipyard which had been
converted into a magnificent dining
hall, decorated with flags, bunting and
flowers. President Hanscom of the
ship building company presided. On
his right sat Mr.. Hill. a perfect picture
Of health and happiness, on his left sat
our Dakota maid, modest, handsome
and self possessed. Senator Hans.
borough was the first speaker. He paid
beautiful tribute to Mr.. Hill and Miss
Pennington, and briefly covered the
important events that called the pion.
GERS of the northwest to the historic
banks of the Thames. Senator Nc.
Cunber followed with brilliant
twenty minute speech in which he re.
viewed the magnificent work of Mr..
Hill, through whose efforts a grand
country-a wilderness full of natures
wealth, had been converted into pro-
ductive empire reaching from the Red
River to the Pacific ocean. Senator
McCumber is an easy, graceful. fluent
speaker, and won rounds Of applause as
he pictured "the great work performed
by and through the indomitable energy
of Mr.. Hill. whose guest we are to.
day." Mr.. Hills health was drank
standing.
Mr.. Hill responded briefly. discussing
the problem of cheap transpor, alton
across the Pacific, as yet an unsolved
problem, and concluded by stating that
he might need the prayers of his friends
before he got through.
Congressman Martin of South Dako.
ia, followed Governor Chamberlain Of
Connecticut, who spoke for his state
and its interest in Mr.. Hills great work.
Mr.. Martins address was one in which
all Dakotans took pride. He spoke Of
our great inland empire and Of it's vast
resources, and the work Mr.. Hill was
doing to give US market both east and
west. We South Dakotans were
mighty proud of Congressman Martin,
as he was the only speaker from the