Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-08-30
T6e 6lasgoto Gimes.

Character of the Missouri River and its
Canks to Fort Pierre, with some Ac-
count of that Post and its Position in K
Military Point of View,
Fort Pierre is situated on the southern
bank of the Missouri river, at point fifteen
hundred miles above st. Louis.
The country on both sides of the river is
rapidly filling up with settlers as high as
Sergeant Bluffs, or the mouth of the Big
Sioux river; up TO this point steamboats, car
purchase a sufficient amount of cord wood
for fuel, by paying an extra price for IT.
From the mouth of Big Sioux to Fort Pier
re, is four hundred and twen.y-one miles.
and in accomplishing this distance (Which
entirely destitute Of settlers )boa's have TO
be supplied with fuel by their owners
1t is from this circumstance that arises the
chief difficulty of navigating the upper por-
tion of the river, although there is'a suffi-
cient amount Of growing timber on the
banks yet, being green, it will not make
sufficient steam to enable a boat 10 stem the
current. Captains of boats are. therefore,
Obliged to depend upon such dead trees and
drift wood as they can pick up along the
| banks. This involves the necessity Of fire.
quent stoppages and protracted delays,
while the boats crew are collecting this
scanty and scattered fuel. AS even this
Indifferent fuel cannot well be found in the
night, boats are obliged to lose, in gathering
it, that daylight, during which alone, they
can prct end to run on river so little known
to pilots. 1t will be readily seen that this
want Of proper fuel, is at the present time
and has been during the most unusual sea.
son, the primary cause of difficulty TO al
B, those boats which have made the trip tc
Fort Pierre.
4 Had they been able to take on board goot
7 fuel at night whilst they were from wan
of knowledge OF the river, obliged to lay by
they could have taken advantage Of the rise
small as it was; to have reached their desti
nation before the river became so low as tc
force them to tighten by discharging por'
tions Of their cargoes.
1t is TO be hoped, however; that the diff
Guilty OF want Of fuel will soon be remedied
as there is every reason to believe that set
, tiers will be found ready to brave all thu
dangers and priyations Of an isolated life, It
gain the high prices which good fuel woulC
command in these remote regions, On m,
descent from Fort Pierre recently, learnet
of some individuals who contemplated es
tablishi:S wood yards during the comm!
winter. This being done, and the thorough
knowledge Of the river, obtained by pilots
the Upper Missouri will he found as cas-,
Of navigation for light d-aught boats, as an
portion of its length; these results, however
cannot be expected for year or two t
e come.
1t may now, however, be set down as
fixed fact, that any boats which can 90 frcI
Saint Louis to Fort Leavenworth; can cor
tinue on to the mouth of the Big Sioux, c
Sioux city, an enterprisirg company havin
recently laid out town there OF that nam,
SIOUX CITY.
{ This place is situated in the extrem
: northwest corner of Iowa, and is only SCI
arated from the Indian country by the Sion
river. 1t has good situation on hig
:, ground, and is surrounded by fertile, pr,
ductivc country, which is fast filling up wit
settlers, who already have large crops
corn and vegetables growing. Many tho,
sand bushels of corn can be contracted #
quantity Of potatoes and other vegetables
in passing, would remark that the Carr
X son at Fort Pierre having carried the seet
Of the disease with th,n from Carlisle Ba
racks, are suffering to some extent with Il
5. scurvy; it would therefore seem very ir
portant that some vegetables should be Sc
\ TO them at the earliest moment possible.
Taking into consideration the productiy
ness of the country surrounding Sioux cit
, together with its proximity to Fort P'err
r. and its high situation, it would seem 10 bt
:. good point for depot TO be established,
- which supplies could BE- accumulated at co
venent opportunities during the season, a
ce held in readiness to ship 10 the upper cou
H. IT, try on the first spring rise; and, if pos sill
~ at any time to ship by water stores can
e. SHY be sent by land TO Fort Pierre, as {
distance is only two hundred and fifty mil'
'r- over a good wagon road. A small detaC
III ment of troops could guard the depot, a
at the same time afford the means Of prot
ton to settlers, thus al he same time
swering the recent urgent demands of
- Governor of Nebraska.
The principal points between Sioux c
? and Fort Pierre, with the distances, are
y follows: From Sioux City
est To Old Port Vermilion, IS mil
ct :" Mouth of Vermilion River, Is :
ue- a" Riviere Jacques, 30
A." Isle an Boeuf, l5
4" Bon How me Island, II
- " Pratt Creek, ID
" BAIL Creek, 8
= Steau qui cOur, Running
y WalerO B
" Lower Fork, (Upper Yamton