M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-02-11
Territory OF Dakota.
ITS POPULATIONS AND RESOURCES.

i
large extent of territory cut off from
tho State by the act of Congress .au-
thorizing the people of Minnesota to
form a State Constitution, but over
which the authority of the Territorial
Government of Minnesota extended.
This comprises the area lying between
the western boundary of the State of
Minnesota and the Missouri and
White Earth Rivers, which streams
form the eastern boundary of Nebras-
ka. Many OF the residents of Dakota
men who have been prominent in
taking measures to secure q territorial
organization-urge boundaries differ
ing from the above.
AS to the present population of
Dakota, supposing it to consist of the
residue Of Minnesota, no very definite
information can be procured. 1t is
estimated at four thousand-giving
fifteen hundred to the Red River re-
gion and the remainder to the country
open to the settlement, contiguous to
the Big Sioux. On the Big Sioux
there are several thriving settlements,
the principal one being at the Falls
Sioux Falls City is the name it boasts.
Here there are about thirty houses, a
steam saw.mill, and several stone
buildings. We saw a letter from this
place the other day, which stated that
such was the demand for lumber that
the mill running night and day, and
that settlers were hauling their logs to
the mill, and readily paying twenty
dollars per one thousand for saving.
At Eminija, a few miles below the
Falls, and the head Of steamboat nav
igation on the Big Sioux, there are
several houses. At Medary, sixty
miles from the Falls by the tortuous
course Of the river, there is thriving
settlement, boasting upwards OF twcn-
ty houses, and probably as many FAM
lilies.
Settlements have been made by
claim seekers at different points on
the Eminija and Rock Rivers, both of
which streams empty into the Big
Sioux. At various points on the val
ley of the Sioux, claims have been
made. The character of the soil in
this valley is represented as being pc
culiarly adapted to agriculture the
entire valley is susceptible Of the
highest degree Of ofcultivation, and will
sustain dense population.
The Only ceded land lying within
Dakota Territory is that situated east
of the Big Sioux and west Of the Min
nesota. ShiS strip will probably av-
erage twenty-five miles in width, and
is about one hundred and sixty miles
in length. This is the only land open
to settlement, until a treaty is mado
for the cession Of the territory lying
between the Big Sioux and Missouri,
now mostly occupied and claimed by
the Yankton Sioux. 1t is probable
that such a treaty will be formed the
ensuing year, as the Indians are will
ing, and the government, as expert
ence has demonstrated, seldom hest
tates to deal in real estate.
The title to the Red River country
is in dispute. 1t is claimed by the
half breeds who occupy it, and when
the time arrives for the government
to treat for it, their title will probably
be recognized.
The great drawback to the prosper
ity of Dakota is the scarcity of timber.
Except in the valleys Of the rivers and
on the borders of some of the large
lakes no timber can be found, and
where it does exist it is found IN
quantities sufficient merely to meet
the wants ofsettlers in the immediate
locality. On the Big Sioux, on the
James Biver, ard on the banks of
smaller streams emptying into those
rivers, and into the Missouri and Red
Rivers, timber is found amply suffi-
cient to meet the wants Of those who
may settle on those streams; but not
in sufficient quantity to afford supply
to settlers on the prairies.
1t seems to us that for many years,
at least until system Of speedy conf
munication in the territory, either by
land OR water, is perfected, the settle
ment in Dakota will be confined al
most exclusively to the valleys of the
rivers.
Dakota is not destitute, as many
suppose, of navigablc streams. The
Missouri is navigable far beyond the
point where it ceases to form the west
ern boundary of the territory. The
Big Sioux is navigable for one hun
dred miles, and James river nearly
three hundred. The Red river IS
navigable from the mouth of the
Sheycnne to Lake Winnepeg, in Brit,