Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-01-16
Dacosah Territory.

| SO Dac0tah Territory.
We have been permitted to copy from a
private letter received by gentleman OF
this city the following extract concerning
tho Wild and uninhabited country northwest
Of Iowa called Dacotah Territory. Very
little being known concerning this country,
we think the letter will be interesting to
most of our readers: ssss..
?. al. .s- Sioux CITY, Dec. 30, 1857.
Ihave been up in Dacotah Ter
ritory for the last week. A few particulars
in regard to this new Territory may not be
uninteresting to you, as but short time
will elapse when it must claim large
hare of public attention. .sr4
Its boundaries include the entire country
south of the forty fifth parallel Of north lat
itude to the Mississippi river, and extend
ing east to the Big Sioux river. 1t includes
great part of the valley of the Sioux, the
valleys of the James and Vermillion rivers,
and large tracts of beautiful bottom lands
lying on the Missouri = particularly that
beautiful tract of country known as the Ver-
million prairie.
The mouth Of the Big Sioux river is two
miles north of Sioux City, and will be the
south east corner of the Territory. The
prevailing want Of this entire region is tim
Der. Its chief attractions are fertile soil,
pure air and water, and an unusually heal
thy climate, and it is believed also to 's-
sess an abundance of mineral iron
and lead That portion lyip ie Big
Sioux is an undulating prairie, vontaiaing
few tracts of hardwood timber.
1t is abundantly watered with springs and
small creeks, while the Sioux aDSs;ts larg-
or tributaries furnish ample wate wer.-
The falls Of the Sioux at the north-w Cor
ner of Iowa, in particular, offers one of the
finest watcr-powers in the West For the
last forty miles of its course the Sioux winds
its way through tract of bottom land Of
great extent and almost unsurpassed fertil-
ity, and in many places amply timbered.
This tract of country may be described as
triangle having its base on the Sioux and
its apex on the Missouri at a point few
miles below the mouth of L'Eaa. Qui Court
river, and must unquestiorS form the
seat of empire in the new Territory. Thith-
er the eyes Of spectators and adventures
are eagerly turned, and hundreds and thou
sands are only awaiting the purchase Of
these lands from the Indians by government, ,
to press its virgin soil and make it the the
atre Of new enterprise, and the certain means
Of acquiring wealth end advanced position.
The fact that 50 much Of this Territory is
accessible by navigable streams, adds great
lily to its value and to the prospect of its set
tlement Immediately after it is open to the
public. -< ea .'-. " =
Along its entire southern and western Dor.
Der the Missouri river, except during the
winter monthsyaffords an easy means of ac-
cess, while for considerable distance the
James and Big Sioux are navigable for
steamers Of light draught, during . large
portion Of the year. ,'. "a. ~,..,,s..tl
IN regard to the climate, tits we'll known
fact that westward it becomes milder, SO
much SO that the winters in the northwest
ern portion of Dacotah are probably not
more severe than northern Illinois.
| We hope the government may very soor
make such treaties with the Indians as will
lay open the best portion Of this Territory
for entry. - .,5...,.-...,.s,- G. W. B.