The Washington herald., 1910-12-18
BY JAMES b. MORROW.
STAT Correspmdencr The Washington Herald-

-~~-+- NN-+Nli@-@cIOE Auo " A-Lli4iu4 Herald
New York. Dec H-Rurned into pow
erty by the hot winds of summer-mys-
teries and monsters suddenly loosened
from nowhere-and brought to the dull
borderland OF death by the narcotic cold
or winter, the villagers and farmers OF
South Dakota fought TO save themselves,
and in so 1glsting saved their state. Liter
allure as yet has failed to describe their
heroic struggle.
The years were filled with strange and
Isolated tragedies. far out upon the scared
and wind-swept prairies-with hunger and
rags and a sluggish rage against an UNI
merciful destiny. In the morning the
wheat or corn was green with life and
glistened in the sunlight Before night
II was shriveled and yellow, and dispair
came to the tOilers who had planted but
were not 10 reap.
But the winds of mystery blow no more.
South Dakota. seemingly condemned to be
desert, is happy land OF sound con-
tent, and cattle feed knee-deep among its
grasses. The soldiers who battled and
were SCARED by the war, now live in
peace and plenty.
The delivery OF a State, equal In area
10 Ohio and Indiana, from the fortunes of
heat and the blight OF famine-cbscured
at the time by other great events-was
one OF the unnoticed victories OF the
American people. While the farmers and
villagers did the hand-to-hand fighting
and endured the physical suffering, mer
from the outside. having millions invest
ed, gave them spirit and assistance So
blood and money conquered.
BattIed ia the Trenches.
In the larger and less human matters
that have made him famous Roswell
Miller's part in the liberation OF South
Dakota from the tyranny OF starvation
has had but scant recognition. Yet he
batued in the trenches with the natives
President Of the Chicago. Milwaukee and
St. Paul Railway Company his object
was TO save 1900 miles OF trackage that
laced the State north and south and
penetrated the West as far as the Black
Hills and the Missouri River.
he flight of the Tartars rnodernfzed
and in miniature. was likely 10 be ini-
lated by gaunt men and women on the
American continent. Millions of money
would have been lost in the exodus. Ros-
well Miller Is not a philanthropist He
has built no hospitals. I dare saw he IS
but vaguely interested in slums and set
Elements. However. his net results have
counted tremendously for humanity even
though he is a business mana silent
factor IN the practical political economy
that gives honest credit to the employers
OF labor and the administrators Of prop
erty. The farmers stood their ground.
The merchants did not run awav A
new generation finds South Dakota filed
with the grapes OF Caleb and Joshua.
In the building Of the West, as the
phrase goes. Roswell Miuer-a voiceIess
man IN the riOtOus noise OF self-glorifi-
eation-has wrought with energy. intelli-
gence, and vision. He and Marvin Hug
httt and james J. Hill have helped to
shape a wilderness into the beauty and
utility Of civilization. His biography
never 70 be wrftten-it would have been
were he a politicians contained In the
history OF the Northwest during twenty
seven years Of marvellous development
Borrowed s5O,OOO,OO in France.
The st. Paul road-the Granger road it
Is called in Wall street-was Us miles
long in 1850 To-day il has 1895 miles of
main track. It's revenues amount to $50
OOo,0O0 annually For many years Mr..
Miller had the honor of being president
of the largest railway in the world. His
lines entered or crossed eight States, run
ming west from Lake Michigan TO the
Black Hills, and south from Lake Su-
perior 10 Kansas City.
Mr.. Miller has ceased personally to d.
rect the operation Of trains. the getting
of freight and the repair OF bridges and
tracks He is chairman of the board of
directors and the financier of the Chicago,
Milwaukee. and Puget Sound Railway, an
extension of the St Paul road, that is
being built from South Dakota through
North Dakota and Montana, over the