Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-04-27
From the Boston Courier.
TERRITORY OF DAKOTA.

the British dominions on the north, the
States of Minnesota and Iowa on the east
the Territory Of Nebraska on the South,
and the Rocky Mountains, the State of
Oregon and Territory Of Washington on
the west. 1t is vast territory, mbracing
an area of sufficient extent, and, perhaps,
Of sufficient variety and capacity of soil
for half dozen large States. The Red
River Of the North is the boundary between
the new Territory and Minnesota, and the
Missouri, Niobrarah or Running Water,
and kehn Paha or Turtle Hill Rivers are
on the Southern boundary. There are
other copious streams within the limits of
the Territory, which water the country
and afford e very considerable extent of
navigation. Among these are the Mouse
Pembina Rivers, in northerly part the
Shayenna in the middle, and the Jacquese
(the name of which is, unfortunately, as
We think changed to Dakota by the organ.
ic act of the new Territory the Big
Sioux, the ermilion, and the head waters
Of the St. Peters. The lakes and ponds
OF the country are likewise numerous.
The Red River of the No tn is a grand
feature OF the country. 1t rises in Elbow
Lake, in Minnesota, and flows southerly
distance Of fifty miles or more, where tits
met by the waters Of the Big Stone Lake.
and thence its course is northerly to the
British boundary line, crossing which, it
cmpties into Lake Winncpeg, which con-
meets with lIudson's Bay by Nelson River
II is q muddy and sluggish stream, but is
navlsahIe for boats OF three feet draft for
four months in the year to the extent Of
perhaps four hundred miles before it reach
es the British Territory Its tributaries
are numerous and copious, abounding
with game. and skirted with beautitu! toll
age aud fine groves of timber. The val.
ley is rich throughout almost its whole
extent. Notwithstanding its high latitude
INC climate, III ltS more bnfthFrly parts
even, is saintrious. The settlements at
present a:e chiefly within The British do
miuions, bat, within a few years, they
have been rapidly extending southerly,
within the limits OF Minnesota and whA,
is now Dakota.
he whole population Of the valley is
estimated twenty-five thousand mostly
half, breeds, although there are many En-
gii#h, Scotch and French, farmers Of the
first class. The principal British settle
ment is abou: seventy miles north Of Pem.
bina, (the American settlement on the line
and lies on both sides Of the river, with IL
hent was founded by the Hudson's Bay
Company, and now numbers many per.
traffic is the principle business. Buflnloes
still feed on the western bank of the river,
and great numbers are taken by proics-
sional hunters, and in the wiuter the small
lers turs are procured. 1t has been cs,-
mated that upwards Of 100000 worth of
.urs have beau annually taken from our
side Of the line, and sold to the Hud on's
Bay Company. The British subjects,
however. are turning their attention south,
and Minnesota has derived considerable
advantage from their trade. They raise
cattle, horses and sheep; and las, year
thousand Red River carts came down from
Selkirk, loaded with produce Of the coun,
try and with money and iurs to purchase
supplies from our traders. These carts
are peculiar, being put together withou, a
particle of iron. and drawn by one horse,
or a single OK they are well adapted to
prairie travelling, and are driven frequently
a thirty days journey to the nearest mar.
ket town. The extensive and fertile val.
ley of the Red River of the North will
present strong inducements for immigra-
ton, and the time is not far distant pro-
badly, when these carts will give way to
railroad cars.
The Big Sioux River is tributary OF
the Missouri into which it empties after
sou'hrrly course Of about two hundred
miles trough n beautiful and fertile coun-
try. The Dakota is also tributary of
the Missouri 1t takes its rise on the plea.
teau Of the Missouri, beyond the parallel
OF II degrees north aud emp'ies into the
Missouri below 10 degrees. 1t is naviga-
bic with hunting canoes for distance of
near y six hundred miles. Its shores are
well wooaod at intervals. 1t occasionally
widens into lakes, at which points many
eligible situations for farms are found, NJ.
Ncolles says Of the immense prairie wa
tered by the Dakota, that " it has been
deemed by all the travellers TO those dis
tant regions as perhaps the most beautiful
within the territory Of the United States
near Mnniwakan, or Devils Lake, in the
north part of the territory, and has a
course of nearly three hundred miles, is
an afluent OF the Red River 1t is Il fine
ly wooded stream, and has fertile valley
The Missouri tfaverscs almost the Whole
breath Of the Territory, in its western part.
The valley of the Missouri is narrow, and
TIE bluffs which bordo upon it are abrupt
and high The country in its vicinity is
well adapted to agriculture, and the eli