Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-03-16
JOHN c. FLINT.
DTscEEP from OF THE SIOUX
EIs Err LAND DIsTRECI.
/. S. LAND OFFICE. Sioux CRY,
fopuarr ink iSf1

|. S. LAND OFFICE. Sioux City,
January 10th, iS0l
MR. EDToR In a recent number of
the Nsr York TibHna and Christian Id
roca'c and Jolvnai wero published short
letter, calling publis attention to some q
the advantages of North Wes.ern Iowa to
t3Ase desiring to seek home in the west.
as well as to such as might wish to make
safe and profitable investments. Ia res.
ponso to this letter, | have received SO
many applications for further information
that have thought that could more fully
and satisfactorily answer TIE N by the pub
licaion Of letter. giving such general
Items rs will enable the reader to form a
correct estimate of our resources and ad-
vantages. And in doing so, wish to say
that the facts which | shall state are snch
only as | have learned from personal Oh.
servatoh during residence here Of six
years, and after repeated and thorough
explorations of the country.
THE SIOUN RIVER LAND DIS
TRlCT embraces the counties of Wood
bury. Ida, Sac, Buena Vista, Cherokee,
Plymouth, Sioux, o Brien, Clay, Dickn,
son, Osceols, Buncombe, and the west
one-third of Pocahontas, Palo Alto and
Emmett, which is about one eight Of the
area OF the State Of Iowa.
I Tauutrv hnt uplila no
prairics OF Illinois, the surface is generally
rolling. There can scarcely be found
township that has not been supplied bv
nature with a thorough system OF drainage
in the ravines and depressions which ex-
tend to a,mes, every quarter sectp -
These prairies are divided into upiaA and
valley. Adjacent to the valleys the a,.iand
is usually too abrupt and rolling tor sue
cess!al t,lIage, but as you reeede from
them the inequalities in the surface are
less marked, so that generally at an aver
age distance OF half a mile We have simply
gentle undulations, so nearly perfect in
their adaptation to farming purposes as
that any Improvement III the surface could
hardly be sns Festcd
The valleys are more near plain, are
generally above high water, varying in
width from half mile to ten miles, are
unsurpassed for beauty, and are exceed,
ingy fertile. The soil is rich loan, with
such an aaniXtnre Of sand as to make it
reteniiye of moisture, while it is seldom
for ANY length of tune so wet rs to inter-
rup. the farmer IN his attention to the
crops.
There is generally a scarcity OF timber.
yet it is believed thG. with proper distri.
button, and with the exercise OF ECONOMY
in it. use, there is II suiiiciancy to ssoply
the farming lands with all that may be
needed. Thsre is almost every variety OF
timber, hard aud soft, that can be found
in the temperate regions. The soil is we'll
adapted to the growth of timber, and there
is every year vigorous growth, to be as
often sacrificed to the fury Of the burning
grass upon the prairies. If means were
devised to avert the consequences of this
annual scourge there is no doubt that in
a very few years this entire region would be
most proiusely supplied with choice timber.
Experiments in propagatng timber, both
Tor use and ornament, from the seed, have
everywhere been attended with success,
demonstrating that with proper care and
attention this greatest and almost only
objection to this country may be easily
and readily overcome.