The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-03

at q point pointed out BY NIcoLLEr
where the river breaks through remarka-
bic formation Of massive quartz-aud forms
. series Of falls, one Of which is twenty-one
feet, another eighteen, and third ten feet
in height, the entire descent in four hundred
yards being one hundred feet. The Sioux
is navigabls to Eminja, four miles below
SiounFalls City, according to Lieut. A.. J.
Donaldson, Of Gov. STEVENS railroad
survey.
The whole Sioux valley ID described as
very beautiful, and dotted with charming
lakes, with soil Of excellent quality.
vRRxrLLroS VALLEY.
The Siou1 is separated from the Vermil-
lion by an extensive prairie, about fifty
miles long, resembling the bottom opposite
st. Louis. Belonging to this" says MIC
coLEr, is beautiful grove, called by the
French Posnis au eerf. The Sioux name
for the prairie is Huppan.kutey-msaning
where they hit the elk"
The Vermillion river is about sixty miles
long-a mere brook. 1t issues from two
lakes which the French have named Laes aux
DO" lsg~s-Lightwoed Lakes. Near its
entrance into the Missouri it fsrks-owing
to Il remarkable promontory that puts out
OF the prairie. to which are attached many
romantic traditions. The river is sparsely
wooded. 1t is navigable by canoes q por.
ton Of its length. 1t is the last OF the
streams issuing from the western side of the
Coteau des Prairies. Ignite was observed
in the vicinity of this stream-and other
geological indications of coal were noticed
by NIcoLLEr.
THE JAMES RIVER.
The james River-the Jacques, as it is
called on old maps-is the great interior ar.
terry Of Southern Dakota. The valley OF
the james seen from the Eastern verge of
the Coteau des Missouri, presented mag
n6cent spectacle to NICoILrr. His guide
Dixon, having led him to the most advan.
tageous point of vision, enjoyed bis admira-
ton and surprise exclaiming, well, come
now, you want geography. Here's geog.
raphy for you"
The basin Of this river, between the Co.
teau du Missouri and the Coteau des Prair-
ries, is estimated by NrcoLLEr as having
breadth of eighty miles, slopiDg down to the
river BANK from an elevation Of seven
hundred or seven hundred and fifty
feet. These dimensions vary in different
parts OF the valley, but they will convey
some idea of the immense prairie watered
by the Tchan san.san, as the Dakotas call
the james River. We quote the language
of NIcoLLET
It's only necessary to cast glance over the
map tc fern IN idea Of the importance of the
lchan-san. san river. II takes its rise on the
plateau OF the Missouri beyond the parallel of
II deg. North, and after pursuing nearly Q
North and South course, empties into the Mis-.
sour River below ~ deg. II il deemed nayi-
gable for small hunting canoes for between
five and six hundred miles, but, below Otuhuo.
ia 1t will float much larger boats, and there
are no other obstacles to il navigation than
few RATS. The shores Of the river are gener.
ally tolsrably we'll wooded, though only at
intervals; the trees consisting principally Of
elm, ash, burr oak, poplar and willow. Along
these portions where IL widens int lakes very
eligible situations for farms could be found
and II the Indian traders have hitherto selected
positions south OF the Otuhuoju. it was doubt.
less in consequence Of its more easy navigation
into the Missouri.
Elm river might not deserve any especial
mention As 9 navigabls stream, but IL il very
well worthy Of notice on account Of she timber
growing on its own banks and that Of lis forks.
Hence il is that Indian hunting parties proceed.
ing upon their winter chase from the Cotesu
des Piarie., to thu Coteau du Missouri. al
ways take this route.
We have no proof that the james is nayi-
gable for steamboats,, and notwithstanding
its large volume, we have the testiu ony OF
Lieut.. DONALDSON that it is not navigable
except BY canoes and small boats. This il
probably not true, however, Of tina, por
ton nearest the mouth Of the river. The
absence of timber in any considerable guam
ties along the valley will be the greatest
obstacle TO settlement, for which there is
every inducemsnt in the character OF the
soil. In paper furnished by .'Axrs w.
TAYLOR, Esq, TO the Advertiser, two years
ago, We find several plausible arguments in
favor of the supposed existence Of q coal
formation between the courses OF the Upper
Minnesota and Missouri. We cannot re-
produce the argument here, hat it will be
sufficient to say ,ha, the theory has been
verified by ocular evidences Of the existence
OF coal as traced by actual observers.
THE corEAVX.
The two Coteaux to which We have allud.
eias forming the outer walls Of the great ba.
sin Of the james. are the most striking tea.
lures OF this region. Their general direction
:. .a..Ix ,,a-a ilai f-Csp Nor.k .. CT