The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-02
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal
Chamberlain S. D., Aug. 2.-Tuesday marked
an epoch in the history Of South Dakota. The
first train-a regular passenger train-crossed
the Missouri river. AT 6:15 am. the passenger
train left Chamberlain for Oacoma, to which
point the rails were several days ago laid
on the extension to the Black Hills. In conf
memoraton Of the event the people of Oacon,a
and surrounding country gathered to celebrate.
The afternoon was devoted to sports among them
being ball game by Plankinton and Oacoma
mines, music by the rlankinton band, tennis
match, footraces, sackraces and ladies' ball
throwing ma tch. In the evening the large crowd
met the first passenger train to arrive direct
irom the east In the open air an immense
! Lower had been erected where at 8 o'clock the
/ following program was carried OUT
Presentation of the keys of Oacoma by Mayor
E. Martin; address Of welcome, by W. e. Swee-
ny; response, by Division Superintendent W. w.
Collins of the Milwaukee railroad: 'Oacoma,
| Gateway of the West" by Judge j. G. Bartine;
1.-The Train by Division Freight mad Passenger
! Agent Warner; South Dakota, Land of Bread
! and Butter by William Williamson; t"rhe
| Bridge, a Connecting Link" by G. L. Brockway,
register of the United States land office at Cham
| berlain; THE Undeveloped West by Right of
| Way Agent Hewitt of the Milwaukee com.
pany; The LADIES' by DR.. $. D. Duncan .- Ct
| dance. President A ]. Earling Of the Milwaukee
| company wrote: -
II am sorry that I cannot accept your invita-.
ton One of the things that this event recalls
| to me is an old tradition that in Lyman county
| 1t never rained. Two months ago I visited Ly.
man county and In wagon went over the route
| of the new line. The trip occupied five days,
! and. on each one of those days we had rain III
| sheets. 1t was severe test of ones faith IL
| traditions At one point particularly care
| full piece of engineering work was required but
| while l was there this same rain prevented the
! engineers from attempting the delicate task.
month later, when I asked about the solution OF
the problem, I was Informed that it had beer
| raining ever since, and yet it never rains ii
Lyman county. If anyone had suggested ter
years ago thta South Dakota would ever sufe
| from too much moisture he would have been con
| sidered out Of his head Or prophet greater thai
| those of old. 2a-tt 49,
| "South Dakota has outlived her traditions.
was never disputed that her soil was fertile ant
! prolific. Today find that she has CLIMATE
| which adds the nourishment of moistuer. Will
the building Of railroads and the development o
| TRANSPORTATION facilities her future promise
| great things I see only one cloud on the hor1
zon. You will know that it has been propose'
to legislate into the hands of the interstate
| commerce commission the power to fix the carry
| ing rates on all freights passing over American
| railroads 1t is hard to estimate the result
| which would follow such a step. In the cas-
| of your own county and state the danger J
grave and immediate. The fabric OF America
| freight rates is so delicate and widespread on
rate ia so dependent on another that change /
q single rate requires that hundred or thou
sand other ates be at once altered 10 CONFORM
A commission of seven men sitting In Wasn!ns
ron could hardly cope with such task, In
naming of the first rate would start the ava
lanche and out Of the confusion there would
but one path open to such q BODY, ana tnat ID u
old-fashioned Idea of distance tarlH AS 70
know, distance tariff. means that the ool.
his wheat ito a market lsQ0o miles away than
paid by the mani whefHF Within A. hundred mile
: | of the same Market q He could not compete
he does today with the Ohio and Pennsylvan1