Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-10
Sioux FALLS CRY, DAKOTA,
February 2s' 1859.

N. KNOX BRowN, ESQ, SIR In compliance
| with your request, asking for Information IN
reference to this territory, herewith transmit
| you a slight description of the same.
Dakota Territory, so justly celebrated for its
! fine soil, aud extensive natural advantages, is
/ bounded on the north by the British pos ses-
sions, south by the Missouri river, east 10y the
States of Minnesota and Iowa; and west by
the Missouri river and the Rocky mountains.
An aboriginal tradition informs us that at
the close of a severe warfare, involving several
Iudlan tribes, the red men met here IN council,
to smoke the Calumet over the buried hatchet;
and amid the curling smoke, which was en-
b ematic Of the peace. was heard the word "Di-
kota," uniting its influence of sound with the
symbol OF sight to intensity upon their hearts,
The peace which they were now celebrating
Thus the word Dakota, is made to signify
friendly; and in more respects than one, is ap-
p icable to thisteuitory. The atmosphere is pure
and bracing, giving strength and health, while
its SOIL a rich loan, made up to about one
fourth Of sand, is unsurpassed for its depth, ca
sy tillage and great fertility; yielding an abun
dance Of superior natural grass, atiOIding great
facilities for stock raising to a good adyan-
tage.
There is but one opinion expressed by tray-
elers who are intimate with the character Of
of Dakota; and that is, that they never have
seen lands so well adapted to agriculture. The
valley ofthe Big Sioux which in point offertilily
might bear a respectable comparison with the
banks of the Nile, is destined in a short time,
to become one of the most popular sections OF
the West
The falls Of the Big Sioux river, which has
given the name to the town Of Sioux Falls,
located near them, is considered in availability,
for mauuiac urirg purposes, superior to any
falls in the West, and Is made up of a series Of
falls varying from ten to twenty feet, making
an aggregate OF one hundred feet in height and
extending about half mile on the river.
The town Of Sioux Falls, which will proba.
bly, be the capital of tho Territory, is growing
faster at the present time than any other place
in d. kota. 1t is surrounded by large amount
of goyd soil 1t would be almost impossible TO
select a bad quarter section, within the dis
tance Of ten miles, in any direction from the
town site.
Here is found great abundance of good
stone suitable for building purposes The face
Of country in this vicinity warrants the belief
hat coal will be discovered, when it is further
explored. Coal has already been found on the
banks of the Big Sioux in a range of country,
simiar in its geological features, to that in the
ueighborhooi of Sioux Falls.
There is already at this place, a saw mill, and
grist mill, and a company are contemplating es
Jablishing mills on "a more extensive scale.
A very few years will present great i'm
provement in the settlement of this locality
The country abounds with game. The Buffalo
and Elk make frequent visits, while the Otter,
Beaver and host Of smaller game, are ever
ready to reward the toll of the hunter The
Sioux river abounds in a great variety of excel
lent fsh-such as pike, pickerel, buffalo, cat
fish, &C. which are taken in great quantities
for about half the year.
There is a sufhciency of timber on the mar
gins of the streams to supply the requirements
Of settlers for twenty years to Gomez by which
time the Land Grant Rail Roads will be in op-
Grafton throughout the territory, bringing us
into easy communication with the immense
pneries of Minnesota. Il. r. Surveys are al
ready completed to various points on the Sioux
liver. Settlers are generally sowing locust
seed around their TesideUses, and in ten years,
locust grove will be found on every farm.
In conclusion | would state, that land monop-
olists have not yet made their appearance here,
and in consequences every quarter section of
land is open to preempton and settlement, thus
presenting advantages that many of the older
settled portions of the west do not afford
When spectators enter land by the township,
practically excluding men who would cultivate
the soil and make homes for themselves and
families, they do an injury to a new country
that the spse Of a score of years will rot re-
pair Yours, DC,
N. ALLYN.