The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-14
TYPOGRAPHY OF NORTH DAKOTA;
HER WONDERFUL RESOURCES
TIMELY REFERENCES TO HER EARLY HISTORY
HER TRANSITION PERIOD AND HER PRESENT
DAY PRosPERITY-A SHORT SKETCH OF THE
TYPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RE-
SURCEs


has total area of 70.795 square miles
of which 660 square miles are taken
up by water. The total number of
acres is estimated at 44,924,S0O, there
being but twelve states in the union
with a greater acreage.
March q, 1861 marks the real be-
ginning of the Dakota territory, for
on that date President Buchanan APP
proved the act providing for the ter
ritorial organization which passed the
senate the last week in February and
the house on the LIST of March. The
formal existence of the territory be-
gan on May q, 1861 when Governor
Jaynes arrived at Yankton and as
sumed the toga Of the chief officer of
the territory. The following persons
subsequently served the territory on
the gubernatorial chair: Newton
Edmonds, Andrew Foulk, John Pen
nington, John Burbank, VIM. Howard,
Nehiamiah Ordway, Gilbert Pierce,
Louis Church and Arthur Millette.
In 1883 the territorial capital was
removed from Yankton to Bismarck,
the present capital of North Dakota.
The delegates to congress from the
newly organized territory were as
follows: J. S. Todd, A. Burleigh, 8.
L. Sphinx, NJ. X. Armstrong. J. P.
Kidder, G. G.. Bennett, R. F. Petit
grew, ]. B. Raymond, Oscar Clifford
and Geo. A. Matthews.
The enabling act which authorized
North Dakota to draw up constitution
was signed by President Cleveland
on Feb. %, 1889. The people of the
state adopted constitution on Oct.
by vote of 27,441 to S,1O7 and the
proclamation of admission was signed
the following month on the second
day.
The initial movement for statehood
took tangible form through conven-
ton in Sioux Falls in 1883. Follow
ing this convention there were no less
than fifty measures introduced into
congress having in prospect the adj
mission into statehood of North Da-
kota.
History Of the State.
One hundred years ago the present
acres of North Dakota were bare save
for the roaming bands of marauding
Indians and for herds of wild horses
and buffalo. Originally in the white
settlements it was included on the
map as portion of the Louisiana
purchase and was pictured on the en-
terprising mind of the easterner as a
barren waste where cactus plants
abounded in luxurious growth. From
the Louisiana purchase until its sep
aration as part of the Dakotas the
area was included as a part of the
state of Missouri and of Minnesota,
Iowa and Nebraska but during this
stage of its life it was generally
known as Indian stamping grounds"
or some similar sign of desolate
waste. When the territory was Or
ganized it reached from the present
state of Minnesota to the Rocky
mountains, but subsequently the state
of Idaho was cut off and forced into
the state of Montana. Wyoming was
later clipped off but even then ter
ritory now embracing the two Da-
kotas was left with fertile acres and
healthful cline.
The first actual settlement within
the present borders of the state was
made at Pembina in the year 1880 by
French traders. In 1872, the year of
the great war between the United
States and Great Britain, Lord Sell
kirk, Britisher, built fort at that
point and located a settlement with
the belief that the territory surround
ing was British soil. Lewis and
Clark spent long winter in the year
1904 near the present site of Mandan
in the western portion of the state.
Various trade companies were also
located at different points in the state
carrying on fur and pelt traffic with
the redskins.
At present these redskins are en-
compassed by reservation limits.
There are four of these reservations,
one in the Turtle mountains, one on
the south shore of Devils Lake, and
two others at Forts Berthold and
Yates. These latter forts are in what
is known as the Standing Rock In
dian reservation. The large majority
of Indians are engaged in useful oc-
equations such as filling of the soil.
There are in all but 1000 Indians in
the state.
Healthfulness of Climate.
North Dakota ranks high up in the
states in regard to invigorating and
healthful climatic conditions, and
eastern physicians recommend the
state to persons afflicted with malar-
ial and lung troubles. DR.. H. H.
Healy of this city is secretary of the
state board of health and in this capa-
city is constantly On the go investi-
eating causes and cures of epidemics
throughout the state. He, 1t is, COL
lects statistics of the births and
deaths and gathers and tabulates
other valuable data. In the large
cities of the state plan is being car
ried out that will eventually prove of
much value for the future welfare of
the state. At frequent and stated in
tervals specialists visit the schools
and thoroughly examine every eye
and throat in search for durable af-
flictions.
Governors.
The state of North Dakota has been
blessed with the following chief exc
cutives.
John Miller, 1SS9-1S9O.
Andrew H. Burke. 1S91-1S92.
Eli c. D. Shortridge, 1S93-1S94.