Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-02
DacOtah Territory.

The following sketch of Dacotah is from
Mr.. Andrews Letters on Minnesota and
Dacotah y
In the northerly part, the Mouse and Penn
bina rivers are among its largest streams in
the middle flows the large and finely wooded
Shayenne "whose valley possesses a fertile
soil and offers many inducements to its set
tlement :" while towards the south it has the
Jacques, the Big Sioux, the Vermillion, and
the head waters of the st. Peters. In its
supply of copious streams, Nature seems
there to have been lavish.
! OF the Big Sioux river, NJ. Nicellet saws,
its Indian name means that it is continuously
lined with wood; that its length cannot be
less than three hundred and fifty miles 1t
flows through beautiful and fertile country
amidst which the Dacotahs inhabiting the
valleys of ST. Peters and Missouri, have al
ways kept up summer establishments on the
borders of the adjoining lakes, whilst they
hunted the river banks Buffalo herds are
confidently expected to be met with here at
all seasons of the year. The jacques (the
Indian mama of whic is Tchan.san SAM takes
its rise on the plateau of the Missouri beyond
the parallel of AZ deg. north and after pur-
suing nearly north and south course, emp
ties into the Missouri river below 43 deg 1t
is deemed navigable with small hunting ca,
noes for between five hundred and six hun
dred miles but below Otuhuoja, it will float
much larger boats. The shores of the river
are generally tolerably we'll wooded though
only at intervals. Along those portions
where it widens into lakes very eligible sit
uations for farms would be found. The same
explorer says, the most important tributary
of the Jacques is the Elm river, which might
not deserve any special mention as a naviga-
ble stream, but is very we'll worthy of notice
on account of the timber growing on its banks
and those of its forks. lie further observes
/ (report, p. 46) that the basin Of the river Jac-
ques, between the two coteaux and in the lat
itude of Otuhuoga, may be laid down as
having a breadth of eighty miles, sloping
gradually down from an elevation of seven
hundred to seven hundred and fifty feet.
These dimensions, of course, vary in the!dif
ferent parts Of the valley; but what have
said will convey some idea of the immense
prairie watered by the Tchan sansan which
has been deemed by all travellers to those
distant regions perhaps the most beautiful
within the territory of the United States
The middle and northern part comprises
an elevated plain, of average fertility and
tolerably wooded Towards the south it i:
characterized by bold undulatlons. Inc val
ley of the Missouri is narrow and the bluff,
which border upon it are abrupt and high
The country is adapted to agricultural pur
suits, and though inferior as a general thing
to much of Minnesota, affords promise o
thrift and prosperity in future. 1t is blessed
with a salubrious climate. Dr.. Suckley, who
accompanied the expedition of Governor
Stevens through that part of the West, as far
as Puget Sound, says in his official report
"On reviewing the whole route, the une
qualled and unparalleled good health of the
command during march of over eighteen
hundred miles appears remarkable especial
ly when we consider the hardships and ex
posures necessarily incident to such a trip
Not case of ague or fever occurred. Such
state of health could only be accounted for
by the great salubrity Of the countries passed
through, and their freedom from malarioui
or other endemic disease"