Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1866-06-02
sio11x City &egister
SATURDAY r..:...........jUNE 2, 1896.
An Interesting Paper.
Towns, Soil and RcsOurCes OF
Northwestern Iowa.
Ba hiking and Agency Office OF
" L ARE r. ALLISON.
Sioux Cry, Iowa, June 2, 1866

Sioux Cry, Iowa, June 2, 1866.
We are constantly receiving so many
letters asking for information in rega,d to
the resources, advantages, character Of
soil and climate Of North Western Iowa,
that we have thought that we could more
fully and sati~f f.ctoriIy answer them by the
publication of circular giving such gen.
eral items as would enable our correspon-
dents to form \ correct estimate Of the
inducements offered by this section Of the
country TO those seeking homes in the
West, as we'll as to such as might wish to
make safe aud profitable investments.
As the space in circular of this kind
is necessarily limited, wha. we have to
say will refe. more particularly to the
counties Of Woodbury., Ida, Sac, Buena-
Vista, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux,
O'Brien and Clay, which embrace about
one-eighlh of the area of the State of
Iowa.
It. is prairie country, bat unlike the
prairies Of Illinois, the surface is gencr-
ally rolling. There can scarcely be found
a township that has not been supplied by
nature with a thorough system Of drain
age in the ravines and depressons which
extend to almost every quarter section
These prairies are divided int, upland
and valley. Adjacent to the valleys the
upland is usually too abrupt and rollin,
for successful tilIage but as yon receie
from them the inequalities in the sur
flce are less marked, 80 that general
ly at an average distance Of half
mile we have simply gentle unlu'a-
tions, so nearly perfect in their aday-
tation to farming purposes a, that any
improvement in the surface could hardly
be suggested.
The valleys are more nearly a plsin.
are generally above high water, varying
in width from half mile to ten miles
are unsurpassed for beauty, and are ex-
ceedingly fertile The soil is a rich loam,
with such an sdmixture Of sa,i as 10
make it reten,ive 0! moisture, while it is
seldom for any length of time 50 we, as
to interrupt the farmer in bis attention to
the crops.
There is generally a scarcity of timber
yet i. is believed that with a proper dis
tribution, and with the exercise Of econo-
my in its use, there is a suffi cheney to
supply the farming lands with all that
may be needed. There is almost every
variety of timber, hard ani soft, That can
be found in the temperate regions. The
soil is well adapted to, the growth Of tim
Der, and there is every year a vigorous
growth, to be as, often sacrificed to the
fury Of the burning grass upon the pra l.
ries It means were devised to avert the
consequences Of this annual scourge there
is no doubt tha. in q very few years this
entire region would be most profusely
supplied with choice timber. Expert
'nents in propagating timber, both for
use and ornament, from the seed, have ev-
erywhere been attended with success, de-
monstrating that with proper care and
attention this greatest and almost only
objection to this country may be easily
and readily overcome.
There hare. been no examinations that
would justify any conclusion as TO our
Mineral resources. Appearances are
abundant that indicate the existence OF
coal. It&presence, however, in any con.
siderable quantities is yet to DO dem on
strated. Limestone and sandstone Of
good quality are abundant in most of the
counties. -~.4@s .s....~ -..s. ...
Besides the Missouri and Big Sioux
rivers, on the west, we have the follow
ng:-Rock- river, Floyd river. Little
Sioux river. Maple river, Boyer river,
and Coon river, all of which are never
failing streams Of considerable size, af-
fording, with their numerous tributaries,
an abundant supply Of water for farming,
A. we'll a. manufacturing purposes, in oil
the counties.
The climate is milder than in the same
latitude on the Atlantic. The mercury
rarely sinks below zero in tho winter, and