3. Then there is a third reason why this work should be undertaken _at once_ on a much larger scale than at present. The attention of the outside world is turning to the wonderful resources of these mountains. It is becoming known that here is the richest undeveloped part of the United States. The great forests of valuable timber, the thick and easily-mined deposits of coal, the fine quality of iron ore close by the coal, and other undeveloped wealth, are already drawing men here in large numbers. The railroads are pushing their way among the mountains and immigration will add more and more to the population, and vastly more to the wealth. Villages are springing up, cities will soon follow, and before many years this region will be filled with an enterprising and well-to-do people. Now is the time for the Christian influences which are to mould the future history of this people for good, to be set in motion from strategic points. Cannot the Congregational churches, which have the lead in Christian work here, arise in faith and take possession of the land in the name of the Lord? There is one place which gives promise of being the future center of this whole region and the largest place in the mountains. It is now absolutely destitute of all elevating, religious and educational institutions. It is nearly one hundred miles from the nearest A. M. A. work. It is a village of three or four hundred inhabitants, with a thickly populated country all around it. A railroad is on the way to it, and it has such exceptional advantages that it can scarcely fail to become a large and important place. It ought to be occupied at once, for people are beginning to come in advance of the railroad and now is by far the easiest and cheapest time to start the work. Is there not some man of consecrated wealth who will assume the financial part of establishing at once a mission in this place? A neat, inexpensive little chapel, a school building, a young minister and his wife, a teacher and his wife, would make a beginning from which great things would be sure to result. Beginning with this place, there ought to be a church and a school placed one after another in the most promising places, until there shall be a center of mental and spiritual enlightenment within the reach of every person in this backwood, but promising region. FRANK E. JENKINS. * * * * * THE INDIANS. * * * * * SPEECH OF ELI ABRAHAM, A NATIVE INDIAN. DELIVERED BEFORE THE DAKOTA ASSOCIATION. _My Friends_: When I was fifteen years old I learned to read God’s Word; and from the time I learned to read it I have desired earnestly to know what was in it.