Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-03
II Iron q. Is'sssh ooarlsr.l
The Territory Of Dasotah.

/ IOWA
the south. and the Rocky Mountains, the State
of Oregon and Territory of Washington on the
west. II is vast territory, embracing an area
of sufficient extent, and, perhaps, Of su6i-
cient variety and capacitypf soil, for halfa dozen
large States. The Red River of the North 10
the boundary between the new Territory and
Minnesota. and the Missouri, ,Niobrara or Run.
ming Water, and the Keha Paha or Turtle Hill
Rivers are on the Southern boundary. There
are other copious streams within tho limits of
the Territory, which water the country and af-
ford very considerable extent Of navigation.
Among these are the Mouse and Pembina Rlv--
ers, in the northerly part, the Shayenne In the
middle, and the jacques [tbe name Of whichis,
unfortunately, as We think, changed to Dacotah
by the organic act Of the new Territory,) the
Big Sioux, the Vermilion, and the head wat
ers Of the Sc. Peters. The lakes and ponds of
the country are likewise numerous gzb 4
The Red River Of the North is grand fea-
ture Of the country. II rises in Elbow Lake, In
Minnesota, and flows southerly'a distance Of
flfty miles or more, where 1t 10 met by the wa.
ters of big Stone Lake, and thence its course is
northerly to the British boundary line, crossing
which, ID empties into Lake Winnipeg. which
connects with Hudson's Bay by Nelson River
Il 10 muggy and sluggish stream, but is navl-
| gable for boats Of three feet draft for four
months In the year to the extent of perhaps four
hundred miles before it reaches the British ter
ritory. Its tributaries are numerous and copi-
Gus, abounding with game, and ekirted with
beautiful foliage and fne groves Of timber. The
valley is rich throughout almost its whole ex.
tent. Notwithstanding Ito high latitude, the
climate, In Its more northerly parts even, is ga.
lubrious. The settlements at present are chief.
| ly within the British dominions, but, within a
few years, they have been rapidly extending
southerly, within the limits Of Minnesota and
what's now Dacotah. l-7gp
The whole population of the valley Is esti-
mated at TWENTY-FIVE thousand-mostly half.
breeds, although there are many English, Scotch
and French farmers Of the first class. The prin.
cipal British settlement is about seventy miles
north of Pembina (the American settlement on
the llne), and lies on both sides Of the river,
with population of 10000 The settlement
was founded by the Hudson's Bay Company, and
now numbers many persons Of cultivation and
wealth. The fur traffic Is the principal business
Bufaloes still feed on the western bank OF the
river, and great numbers are taken by profession.
al hunters, In the summer and autumn, and In the
winter the smaller furs are procured. II has
been estimated that upwards of $500, 600 wefth
Of furs have been annually taken from our side
of the line, and sold to the Hudson's Bay Com
pany. The British subjects, however, are turn.
ing their attention south, and Minnesota has
derived considerable advantage from their trade.
They raise cattle. horses and sheep, and last
year thousand Red River carts came down
| from Selkirk, loaded with produce Of the coun-
try, and with money and furs to purchase sup
plies from our traders. These carts are pecull
ar, being put together without particle Of iron,
and drawn by one horse, or o single or |. they sre
well adapted to prairie travelling, and are driven
frequently thirty days. journey 10 the nearest
market town. The extensive and fertile valley
of the Red River of the North will present
strong inducements for immigration, and the
Ftime 10 not far distant, probably, when these
carts will give way to the railroad cars. iW
| The Big Sioux River is tributary Of the
Missouri, Into which 10 empties after a south
srly course Of about two hundred miles through
q beautiful and fertile country The Dacotah
10 also tributary of the Missouri Ittakes it's
rise on the plateau of the Missouri beyond the
parallel of al degrees north, and empties into
the Missouri below 43 degrees. Ills naviga-
Bile with hunting canoes for distance Of nearly
six hundred miles. It's shores are toletably well
wooded at intervals. II occasionally widens in.
to lakes, at which points many eligible situa-
tions for farms are found. M. Nioollet says Of
The immense prairie watered by the Dacotah,
that "it has been deemed by all the travellers to
those distant regions as perhaps the most beau
tiful within the territory Of the United States"
The Shayenne, which rises In small lake near
Minnivakau, or DEVILS Lake, In the north part
of the territory, and has course Of nearly three
hundred miles, Il an afiluent Of the Red River.
tits finely wooded stream, and has fertile
VALLEY. The Missouri traverses almost the whole
breadth of the Territory, In its western part.
The valley of the Missouri is narrow, and the
blulRs which border upon itare abrupt and high
The country In its vicinity Ia well adapted to
agriculture, and the climate is salubrions.
In the middle and northern parts Of the Ter.
ritory ID, an extensive plain, or plateau, which
goes by the name Of "Coteau des Prairies." It
Ice between the asa and 46th parallels, and is
about 200 miles long. The coteau itself is iso.
lated, In the midst Of boundless and fertile
praires, extending to the west, to the north, and
into the valley Of the st. Peters. Itis describ.
ed as 0 beautiful trac Of land, diversified by
hills, dalee, woodlands, and lakes-the latter
abounding in FISH. From its summit, proceed
ing from It's western 10 its eastern limits, grand
views are obtained. M. Nicollet, whom We
have already quoted, says: cat It's eastern
border, particularly, the prospect is magnificent
beyond description, extending over the i'm
lmense green turf that forms the basin Of the
Red River Of the North, the forest capped sum.
mits Of the kauteays dee teSfss that surround the
sources Of the Mississippi, the granite valley Of
the upper 81. Peters, and the depreseions Of
which are Lake Traverse and the Big Stone
lake, There can bs no doubt that IN future
times this region will be the summer resort oi
the wealthy Of the land" a'nN em y stsg
These are some of the geographical features
Of the new Territory Of Dacotah. The country
is yet but imperfectly explored; bnt there Is nc
doubt that Il contains the elements Of an i'm.
portant State. The climate, IN such high
northern latitude, must be severe. The NEAR
temperature Of January, in the observations oil
3 one year, was ~ degrees below zero; the hottest
day In July, So above, and the mean tempera-
tufe Of June and July So above. We have ne
data to enable us 70 speak of the number Of
character Of the present population q The Indi.
ans, called Dacotahs, which means united Of
allied people, are numerous and powerful, EN-
Ibtacing several bands under the general nam,
! Of Sioux. The government has agencies among
b them; but will no doubt be compelled by th
fadvance Of civilization to possess itself Of thei
lands, and pursue its general policy Of settling
them upon reservations. -a -.