Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-01-19
DESCRIPTION OF SIOUX RIVER
LAND DISTRICT.
l. s. LAND OFFICE, Sioux CRY, !
January 10, 1851. (

letter, calling public attention to some of
the advantages of North, western Iowa to
those desiring to seek home in the west,
az we'll as to such as night wish to make
safe and profitable investments. In re,
spouse to this letter, | have received so
many applications for further information
that havs thought that could more fully
and satisfactorily answer them by the
publication Of a letter, giving such general
items as will enable the reader to form q
correct estimate of our resources and ad-
vsntsges. And in doing So | wish to say
that the facts which shall state are such
ouly as | have learned from personal Oh
servatien during residence here Of six
years, and after repeated and thorough
explorations Of the country.
TuG Sioux RIVER LAND DlsTRlcT
embraces the counties Ct Woodbury., Ida,
Sac, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Plymouth,
Sioux, O'Frien, Clay, Dickinson, Osceola
Buncombe, and the west one-third oil
Pochahortas, Pale Alto and Emmett,
which is about one eighth of the area OF
the State OF Iowa.
1t is prairie country, but unlike the
pralrles OF iIl'leis, the surface is generally
rolling. There can scarcely be found a
township that has not been supplied by
nature with thorough system Of drainage
in the ravines and depressions which ex-
tend to almost every quarter section
These prairies are divided into upland and
valley. Adjacent to the valleys the up
land is usually too abrupt aud rolling for
successful tillage, but as you recede from
, them the inequalities in the surface are
less marked, SO .hat generally at an aver
age distance of half mile we have simply
gentle installations, SO nearly perfect in
their adaptation to farming purposes as
that any Improvement in the surface coald
hardly be suggested.
The valleys are more nearly plain, are
generally above high water, varying in
width from half mile to ten miles, are
unsurpassed for beauty, and are excesd-
ingly fertile The soil is rich loan,
with such an adinixture of sand as to make
it reteutive Of moisture, while it is seldom
for any length of time SO wet as to inter-
rapt tie farmer in his attention to the
crops.
There is generally scarcity Of timber,
yet it is believed hat with proper dis
tribution, and with the exercise OF econo-
my in its use, there is a sutlieiency to sup
ply the farming lands with all that may
be needed. There is almost every variety
of timber. hard and soft, that can be found
in the temperate regions. The soil is wei
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 devise to avert the consequences
Of this annual scourge there is no doubt
that in a very few years this entire region
would be most profnsely supplied with
choice timber Experiments in propaga-
ting timber, both for use and ornament,
from the seed, have every where been at
tended with success, demonstrating that
with proper care and attention this great
est and almost only objection to this coun
try may be easily and readily overcome.
There have been no examinations that
would justify any conclusion as to our
Mineral resources. Appearances are album
dant that indicate the existence of coal.
Its presence, however, in any considerable
quantities is ye! to be demonstrated
Limestone and sandstone Of good quality
are abundant in most of the counties.
Besides the Missouri aud Big Sioux riv
ers, which bound the District on the west,
We have the following Rock river, Floyd
river, Little Sioux river, Maple river, BOB
err river Coon river AMI Des MONIES river,
all Of which are never failing streams of
considerable size, aiording, with their
numerous tributaries, an abundant supply
of water for farming, as well as manutac.
turing purposes. in all the counties.
The climate is milder than in the same
latitude on tho Atlantic The mercury
rarely sinks below zero in the winter, and |
it is very unusual to have more than six
inches Of snow, and this is generally of
short duration. We never have rain or
mud in the winter, but about such degree
Of cold as to keep the streams and roads
solid, without interfering with travel orAut
door labor.
The heat Of summer is tempered by pre-
vailing winds, which are almost as regu
ar as the trade winds of the tropics. We
nave much less rain than in the same
range east Of US, and an absence of hui
mildly in the atmosphere which j. largely |
conducive to health and comfort.
Upon some of our inland streams there |
are occasional cases of intermittent fevers. |
but | have no hesitation in saying that
or general heal,hfulness no country OK.
cells ours. No where else are children
more universally healthy, nor can there,
n my opinion, be found locality better
adapted to those who are predsposed to
pulmonary diseases. Our pure, dry at
nosphere our winds, and rapidly running
streams, with the absence of marshes or
.tagnaht water, are all indications OF |
nealth and q ne riauca hos uraran H.