Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-08-19

avoid the sand at The junction OF the Nj
obrara and Turtle Hill rivers, and cross
the latter where there il better ford o:
narrower stream TO bridge. Turning then
towards the Niobrara, this river must be
crossed in long. l0l' 20> 10 avoid the Sand
hills, and the route must continue on the
south side to about long. l02o, when i.
should again cross to the rorth side
These crossings for wagon road could
easily bs mado at q ford or by bridsing,
but proper bridge for a railroad crossing
at these places would be q stupcndous un.
derIaking; for on account OF the nature ol
the banks and ravincs good approaches
could not be found SO as to descend to the
level Of the stream, and the bridge would
have to 6e built very high. From long.
1922 west there are no difficulties beyond
IL scarcity of wood in reaching Fort Lar.
annie, Or continuing direct to the South
Pass, and in this course abundance of cx-
cellent pine would Ge found near RawhiIe
peak.
A preferable road might be found By
continuing up Turtle Hill river to its source,
and then along the divide between Mo
brara and White rivers, striking the for.
mcr stream in long. l02' but these divides
are generally bad for wagon routes on ac-
count Of scarcity Of water, and it is not
certain that we would by that route avoid
the sand hills.
Whitc riref or White earth river Man.
kisiia Wakpa or smoking earth riyerl is Il
more beautiful stream than the Niobrara,
having generally an open well wooded
valley, with q fine soil and luxuriant grass.
The road between Forts Laramie & Pierre
follows the valley from its source to the
Bad Lands, where the river enters diff
cult section bounded with precipices like
the Niobrara, but this is Of much less ex.
tent. Any one who travels III Nebraska,
will always feel rejoiccd when he reaches
the banks Of this beautiful stream. Ii has
numerous small branches, the largest OF
which is called the South Fork. The pine
on White river and its tributaries is nearly
equal in extent to that on the Niobrara.
The Big .Shyenae is a most important
river, and takes its source west of the
Black hills, which its two main branches
enclose. These forks are supplied by nu
merous streams from the mountains, and
they unite in about long. 1922 20 =, tn river
49,. This river drains country through
out of an entirely different character from
that along the Niobrara, and it in many
respects resembles the Missouri. In its
lower course am informed there is fertile
land on its banks, and there are consider
| able areas in and around the Black hills.
The Shyenne river can probably be RATED,
and the streams that come from the hills
could be used to drive the logs down to the
main stream. 1t must be borne in mind
that the pine growing on the Black hills is
difficult Of access, and the expense attend.
ing this may render this fine supply OF
timber unavailable to the Lower Missouri.
This ] shall make a subject Of close cal
eulation, ard present the results in my
report. Some persons have expressed an
| opinion that the Missouri could not be
used for rafting, but in this do not con.
cur.
| have now described the only streams
flowing into the Missouri from the west
that are specially interesting at this time.
On the cast side it has in its upper portion
but few tributaries. James river, or as il
is proposed to call it Dakota river, rises in
latitude LIZ 20, and flows throughout its
lower portion in a rich valley, but subject
to overflow. The land between it and the
Big Sioux river is generally fertile. The
prairie bottom of the Missouri, from five
to ten miles wide, lying between it a nd the
Big Sioux, is unsurpassed in the richness
of its soil, and abounds with cotton wood
timber along the Missouri. The Big Sioux
a fine stream, susceptible Of navigation by
small steamboats, in its high stages, is toe
well known Tor me to speak of here and
Sioux City situated at its junction with the
Missouri in the centre Of fertile country
only needs the title Of the Yanktons te
the lands lying ives. Of it to be extinguish
ed, to make it one Of the most desirable
locations on the Missouri river.
An interesting point to be determined i.
the boundary Of the future State of Ne
braska. AS have before stated, an ire
claimable desert Of 200 to 400 miles il
width, separates the points capable of set
tlcment in the east from those in the noun
tains on the west, and they should there
fore have separate and distinct territora
or State governments. On this accoun
the State Of Nebraska should not be ex
tended west of the l02 meridian, nor should
that Of Kansas. In framing territorial
governments, legislation should keep il
view the future settlements in the noun
tains, rs largo areas exist there equal te
that occupied by the Mormons in fertility
and much better supplied with wood, a
bounding in mineral resources, and capa'
Bile OF maintaining large communities
The Territory Of Utah is much too large
and the present sottlements there arc sep
arated by the deserts Of the Green and
Colorado rivers from the fertile parts o.
the mountains to the east. THIS mountain
section, known as the Rocky mountains