The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-06-04

thorities at Washington. A petition
was drawn requesting Congress to
create a new territorial government
ern Minnesota. Sibley was chosen
as delegate to take the petition to
Congress. He succeeded in gaining
its approval. 1t was also partly
through Sibley's influence that i'm
portant treaties with the Indians
were made possible.
Sibley founded the village of
Hastings to which he gave his mid
die name. The village of Sibley,
Iowa, and Sibley County, Minneso-
ia, were also named after him.
Thus we honor this man who was
a great leader of our state.
Many people were attracted to
ST. Anthony's Falls by the water
power there. Principal of those
who staked claims in this locality
was Franklin Steele. By 1S47 he
owned enough land around the
Falls to control the water power
there. A saw mill was erected, and
soon st. Anthony became a busy
settlement.
Later is was merged into our
present city of Minneapolis. He
promoted many public enterprises
and gave lands to the State Univer-
sity. At the time of his death in
1880 he was a wealthy man and
would have been much weather.
but for his many gifts to Minneso-
ia.
In 1S49 the Organic Act, estab-
fishing Minnesota Territory, was
passed. Alexander Ramsey was APP
pointed as first governor. He divid-
ed the territory into three judicial
districts and seven council districts.
A census of the white population
was also taken. Under Ramsey's
directions treaties were made with
the Indians. Mr. Ramsey always
insisted that one of the essential
needs was education of the states
future citizens, and he did more
than anyone else to prevent the
destruction of school lands. Every
child attending school in Minneso-
ia today shares in the benefit of
his work. His name was given to
the county where the capitol is sit
uated and to one of our most beau
tiful state parks. In 1896 when
Minnesota's Capitol was begun,
Governor Ramsey laid the corner
stone with a silver trowel which
rrsr, 70 h i'm fnl ~ q
peoples love.
In 1847 Miss Harriet Bishop was
selected as one of the first teach
ers of our state because 1t was felt
that a woman could do more than
a man to promote education and
religion. Her task was made more
difficult by the fact that she had
such a mixture Of races to instruct
She had to bring with her all the
books which she considered neces-
sary as there was no bookstore
within three hundred miles. Her
first school house was a log cabin
which had formerly been used as a
blacksmith shop. At first attend
ance was small, but within two
years a new building was erected
to accommodate one hundred and
fifty pupils. Through the efforts
OF such persons as Miss Bishop
and Mr.. Ramsey. interest in edu-
cation increased as the population
grew.
James J. Hill is outstanding as
the man who had the foresight to
recognize the possibilities in open
ing western lands to railroad traf-
fic. He brought in foreign capital
and bought the Great Northern and
ether associated railroads. At pre-
Sc mt there are some twenty-five
railroads in this state and one can
easily see that Mr.. Hills influence
or railroads helped make Minneso-
ia a richer and more populous
area.
Since we are dwelling upon
means of communication it would
be we'll to mention one other who
had much influence along this
line. He is Charles M. Babcock and
his name is associated with the i'm
provement of our highways. He
served as Commissioner of Mime
sofa Highways for twenty-three
years. During this time he succeed
ed in having enacted to our State
Constitution what is commonly
called the Babcock Amendment
During the thirteen years after the
passage of this amendment, Mr.,
Babcock has put it into effective
operation so that it arouses enthus-
iasm of all her visitors.
1t is hoped that the preceding
paragraphs will accomplish the
purpose for which they were writ
ten, namely, to instill in our hearts
a greater appreciation for those
who were most outstanding in
making it so.
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