Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-10-22
DacOtah Territory. The best ROnte to
Sioux FalIs-via. Saint Paul.


Sioux Falls-via. Saint Paul.
We have just had the pleasure of CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Henry Masters, of Sioux
Falls, in Dacotah Territory, from whom we
have learned some matters which we desire
to lay before our readers.
Mr.. Masters is the son of the late Quasi
Governor of Dacotah Territory, who was, we
believe, the only purely Popular Sovereign
ty" Governor any territory of the United
States has ever had, having been elected to
that office by the people of the territory, after
Congress had failed and refused to provide
Territorial government. Mr.. NJ. was with his
father at Sioux Falls, at the time of the death
ofthe latter, and is now arranging to take
back with him from the East, his widowed
mother and sisters, to make their permanent
home at Sioux Falls.
Having previously tried the route to that
place both by the Missouri and Big Sioux
rivers, and also overland from Dubuque on
this trip he came from Dacotah overland, via.
New Ulm and st. Peters to ST. Paul The
result of his experience of the three rontes is,
that he gives the decided preference to the
last named, as by far the most comfortable
and expeditions, and for these reasonsI
First. On the Missouri river the steamboat
connections are very uncertain and unreliable,
but the sand-bars may always be relied upon
to detain every boat, and often, from the
changable nature of the channel, where least
expected! Then the Sioux river is navigable
but few months, even to within twenty
miles of the Falls.
Second. The overland route from Dubuque
is longer than from St Paul, and over re-
gion not nearly so favorable for road, the
sloughs being so mirey, as to form very Sc
rious obstacle to loaded teams. The usual
time from Dubuque to Sioux Falls, for a
horse team, is fifteen days.
Third. But, if emigrants should take the
route through from St. Paul, they find it but
an eight days drive through to the Falls
say three days to New Ulm; thence one to
Leavenworth Or beyond one thence to Sara
toga, at the Cottonwood crossing; and thence
three days sdrive over an unsettled prairie,
striking Sioux river finally at Flandrau, 45
miles above the Falls-the whole distance
from New Ulm to Sioux Falls being about
16O miles. Thus, it will be seen, that by this
route, it is necessary to "camp" only two
nights; and before another season closes; there
will doubtless be good places to stop. at noon
and nights, over the whole route.
The whole road presents no serious diff
Guilty of any description. Over the ssMoun-
tain Pass" so called, 90 miles east, on this
side of Sioux River, the rise is very gradual,
and the balance of the road is level prairie.
In addition to this information about the |
roads, We learn farther from Mr. Masters that
there are in the vicinity of Sioux Falls, some
twenty farm opened, and that the crops this
year are very fair. There will be no scarcity
of provisions, an. in fact the settlers have al |
ready sold some produce to go over to the
Missouri. Considerable immigration is com.
ing into Decotah this fall, and next spring, it
is thought, will witness quite a rush thther.
Sioux Falls is contending with Breckenridge
to be made the Capitol of the new TERRITORY.
The soil of that whole region is excellent,
being very much like that Of the Minnesota
valley. There is said to be timber along the
water cources sufficient to supply the wants
of the people, until railroads shall bring. them
Minnesota pine. Coal has already been found
on the banks of the Sioux, and limestone of
the best quality in great abundance, furnish
ing excellent building stone, and lime unsur-
passed in quality.
The water power of the Falls Is claimed to