Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1867-06-01


We are indebted to Hon. Enos Stutsman,
whose recent return from the Red River OF
the North was noted in these columns, for
some interesting information in regard to
that far.of country. -
The Red River country in Dakota was first
settled by Lord Selkirk and people about
the year 1917. The settlement was then
made nearly one hundred and twenty miles
south Of the present town Of Pembna. Sub
seauently, the Indians becoming troublesome
the settlement moved down the Red River to
the mouth Of the Pembina river, where the
town of PEN bna now stands At that time
the Iludson's Bay company, under thei,
charter, claimed the Red river country ~
far south as Lake Traverse; bot when, in
1916, the ~ degree of north latitude was
finally agreed upon as the international
boundary between the United States and
British America, the Pembins settlem; n;
the line, whereupon most Of the European
portion Of the population moved down the
Red river some 65 miles, leaving on the
American side many of the French and hall.
breed settlers.
The British Red river settlement mum
boring at the nresent time from ten to fifteen
thousand souls, is composed 0! English
Scotch, French, Yankees, Germans, Cana
dams, and Cree and Chippewa half breeds,
the latter of all shades between white and
copper. Their laws are decreed by the
Council OF Assinaboine, which, however, is
under the control of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany. The title to the soil is also in the
Company, by whom it is sold or leased to
individuals.
The farms have river frontage Of abou,
a quarter Of mile, and extend back from
the liver two miles. The houses are erect d
near the river, on beth sides, which gives
the se,temen at III uch the appearance of long
irregular street.
The fur trade is the principal hran,h OF
industry, and in it's pursuit many OF the Old
settlers have acquired large tor,unes, and
live in The creates ease aud luxury.
The people axe about equally divided in
religions sentiment between the Episcepa.
lions, Catholics and Presby erians, each OF
which denominations have comm Cd Gus
churches and good schools. Til, Catholics
have n Convent, Containing from fifteen &c
twenty sisters, where the lit,!s ones are ed
ucated and brought up in The faith Of the
church. The Episcopal bishop sports the
title of Lord Bish"p," which sounds odd to
Yankee who hss drit,t d to that re- mote and
isolated RECON.
A few years back the Hudson's Pay Com
rapy eufor~d . complete monopoly of III.
far trade, which, under their charter, the,
have the power to do now, bat through the
persistent encroacLnents of Yankee and
Canadian enterprise TINS monopoly has beer,
destroyed, aad now all trade is open to free
competition.
The Red river country south Of the British
line is far superior to that north of it, and
the timber more abundant.
North. eastern Dakota comprises a belt OF
land on the Red river from 20 to 40 miles
wide by over $50 miles long, and cannot be
surpassed in beauty aud fertility. 1t is con-
veniently wasered by the led, cheyenne.
Wild Rice, Elm, Turtle, Goose. b.. Sal;
Little Salt aud Pembina rivers, and then
numerous tributaries There il an ample
amour, of timber-pr.ne'!ai!y oak, ash and
elm. The pemb,na is well tmber.d for so
miles t:om il, IN nth. No country will pro
duce better wheat, barley and potatoes, or a
better yield.
The present settlements in Dakota on the
Red river commence at the mouth Of the
Pembina and extend up said ri.er to st. 10
serh, Il distance OF 81 miles. The ropula
ton is about 1900, misty half breeds, who
are engaged in agriculture, stock growing,
aud the fur trade.
There is a United States Custom House
At the town OF Penbina, situas1 on the wes,
bank Of the Rid river, just below the mou,h
Of the Pembina river. and two miles south
OF The international boundary line. To show
that it is not, like many eastern custom
houses, source of expense to the govern
ment. We APPEND statement Of imports and
collections for the Two years last past:
Year. Value o. Imports. Quite. Collected