Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-02-03
TERRITORY OF DAKOTA.
ITS POPULATION AND RESOURCES

AND hkoOOhCEos
1t seems highly probable that at the
coming session of Congress. a territory
will be organized west of the State of
Minnesota; comprising The large extent
o. territory cut off from the State by the
act Of Congress authorizing the people
Of Minnesota to form n State Constitution,
but over which the authority Of the
Territorial Government of Minnesota ex-
tended. This comprises tho area lying
between the western boundry of the
State Of Minnesota and the Missouri and
White Earth Rivers: which streams
from the eastern boundary of Nebraska.
Many of The residents CT Dakota-men
who have been prominent in taking
measures to secu e a terri,orirl organ
iza,ion-urge boundaries differing from
the above.
As 10 the present population of D akota,
supposingi: i: to consist of the residue OF
Minnesota. no very definite in'orma-
ton can be procured. 1t is estimated at
four thousand-giving fifteen hundred
to the Red River region and the remain
der 10 the country open to settlement,
contiguous to the Big Sioux. On the
Biz Sioux th,re are several thriving set
Elements. the principal one being at the
Fslls-Sioux Falls City is the nam. it
boasts. Here there are about thirty
houses, a steam sawmill, and several
stone buildings. We saw letter from this
place the other day, which stated that
such was the demand for lumber that the
mill was running night and day, and
that settlers were hauling their logs to
the mill. and readily paying twenty dol
lars per one thousand feet for saw
ins.
At Eminj,. few miles below the
Falls, and the head of steamboat navi
galion On the Big Sioux, there are sew
eral houses. At Medaay, sky miles
from the Falls by the toruous course of
the river. there is thriving settlement.
boas,ing upwards of twenty houses. and
probably as many families.
Settlements have been made by clam
seekers at different points onthe EmiuiJa
and Rock Rivers, both Ct which streams
empty into the Big Sioux. AT various
poi MS on the valley Of the Sioux. clims
have been made. The character Of the
soil in this valley is represented as being
peculiarly adapted to agriculture; the Ell
tire valley is suscept bla Of the highest
degree of cultivation, and will snslain a
dense pc pcpuiation.
The only ceded land lying within Da.
koia Territory is that situated east of the
Big Sioux and west of the Minnesota -
This stripe will probably average twen-
ty-fve miles in width, and is about one
hundred and sky miles in length
This is The only land open to settlement,
urlil treaty is made for the cessiou Of
the territory lying between the Big Sioux
and Missouri, now mostly occupied and
claimed by the Yankton Sioux. 1t is
probable that such treaty will be FORM
ed the ensuing year. as the Indians are
willing. and the government, as expert
ence has demonstrated, seldom hesitates
to deal in real estate.
The title ofihe Red River country is
in dispute. Ii is claimed by the half
breeds wko occupy it and when the time
arrives for the government to treat for it,
their title will probably be recognized.
The great drawback 10 the prosperity
Of Dakota is the scarcity of timber
Exec pit in the valleys of Tie rivers and
o. the borders of some of the large lakes
none caa be found, and where it does
exist it is found in quantities sufficient
merely to meet the wants of settlers in
the immediate locality. On The Big
Sioux. on the James River, and on th e
banks of smaller streams emptying into
those rivers, and into The Missouri and
Red Rivers, timber is found amply suf-
ticient 10 meet he wants OF those who
may settle on those streams; but not in
sufi ;ient quantity to afford supply to
settlers on the prairies.
II seems 10 US that for many years,
at least until system of speedy COM
munication in the territory, either by
land or water. is perfected, ihe settle
ment in Dakota will be confined almost
exclusively to the valleys OF the
rivers.
Dakota is not destitute, as many sup
pose, Of navigable streams. The Mis-
souri, is navigable far beyond the point
where it ceases to form the western
boundary of the territory. The Big
Sioux is navigable fer one hundred
miles, and James river nearly three hun
dred. The Red river is nayigsble from
the mouth of the Sheyenne 10 Lake
Winnipeg, in British America. There
are other streams which enter into the
Missouri. north Of the mouth OF James
river, which are said 10 be nsvigable for
short distance.
There is a portion IF Dakota, situated
principally, we believe. on The high table
lands between the James and Missouri
Rivers. which abounds ia salt springs and