, 1870-07-12

eats-Chnlk Rock for Is1s1lting~-Po
liticsAl Mnttcr.-An Exciting Meet
inE-A New Republican Pope
. &C.. &c.
| lFnou orR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS
.IAsK1oS, D. T., July 9.
In previous letter, I wrote you concerning
the general features Of this Territory-of ii,
relative advantages Of the bottom and bencl
lands for general farming and grazing pur
poses, and Of some Of the difficulties whicl
had to be met by early settlers, but which Lst
been. TO very great extent removed Is ths
country VAS opened up and the so,l cultivated
1h's season has been regarded. 10 a very great
extent, as test one for the Territory
Tho Increased confidence which has bee.
lnsp1ed in tho excellence OF tha eoil aut
climate during tho past two OF tbrse years. h.
led to very large immigration during tde
I present season. 4 failure Of crops, caused bv
| al absence Of rain and attendant calamities
| would have led to the belief, in1 Tho minds Of
great many, and especially with newcomers,
that tho promise Of tho past tvo years WAS
based upon An exception to tho general rule,
and it would have boon difficult to make many
OF them believe TINT anything good was in
store for tue country or its reeilcnts. The
season has 40 TAI advanced now, however, that
no more fears are felt for the safoty Of tho
crops, and. while there has not beun 80 heavy
rainfall as many might have Iesired. II in
quite evident that Dakota has not sutfered
near 70 much from this cause IS many other
o!aer settled sections. Within tie past fort
night refresling rains have fallen, and
yegetation OF every kind looks
bright and promising. The very hot weather
which preceded them had an excellent afYect
upon the corn crop, and a confidence has been
inspired IN this direction which has not been
letter, ! expressed doubts as to tn, successful
cultivation Of corr, indicating that grazing for
the bottom lands and the cultivation Of Wheat
and other smaller grains on the uplands, must
become the CHIEF reliance. The Promising ap-
pealance Of many Of the corn tlelts in tho bot |
well cultivated -sincc tho hot weather and tho
RAINS have brought them forward. has led mo |
10 change my opinion sotnewhat in this re- |
epect, and to takea much more hopeful view of |
the matter. There is certainly e7erythipg in |
the soil iteolf OF the bottom 1ands-Warntb |
and depth-which has made the bottom lands
OF Illinois, Indiana aud Ohio 80 valuable for |
corn-raiRing, and if there could to an aasur-
anco OF fewh nights in June in subeo-
guent years, as ne have had them this ycar.
there would be no doubt as to tha successful
@ Gro"tn Or thus important grain: Wheat gives
:
where it il short; while oats and barley viii
yield bounttfully. So we'll arc these now A.
eufed, that confidence has been still further
strengthened, and Dakota will not only keep
me Faat number Of settlerB who have como
lere the prcsentseason, but alargoly increased
immigration n may bo looked for next yearj
l4e scarcity Of timber has been much felt
mere more, however, with respect to tho fu-
tute than the present. There has been 10
doubt that the cottonwood, walnut, oak, ma
n a1Ys IN tEr,1- l. Al. !
creeks would meet the wants Of the sstt|eTs
for some years to come, il the proper care
Tas taken of it, but it was not 80 certain Tint
the wants of the next generation would be 80 |
well met. In this respect however, there
can DO no longer any reason for miagivings.
Kept out, than the cottonwoods spring up
spontaneously in places not far removed from
tho present wood lands. In other places, far
ther removed, the settler has only to get an |
armfni OF cottonwood sprouts, without roots,
and stick them into the ground. at tho proper
season, and they arc s1re to grow In a year
or two these shonld be trimmed, and be has an ;
olhef supply OF sprouts to set cut again. In
[our Or hEe years tho trees are lxrgo
enough to Shade his house and protect bis
md in eight or ten years he may cut ali TIC
Focd and rail timber that he needs, and may !
20 sure ot an unfailing supply for the future. 8
Rpeak Of the cottonwood, eapecially, on &C.
,ount Of its exceedingly rapid growth, and )
y afalaollty Tor nearly 81 the purposes for
fhich farmer Wanta timber. II will not an-
Wer Wer for fence posts, but nakos excellent | :
alis, light, and not liable to rot The soft b
naple may bo grown in the same way, and has |
'een successfully experlnented With. By cut \
ing sprouts so az to secure 8one Of the see- 2
nd years wood for the roots to start from, it | :
almost as suro growth as the cottonwood,
nd it is also rapidly y-growing tree. The |
ther varieties which hsvo mentioned, which | Il
1e indigenous to the soil, arc also very easily c
nltlTated' Within year or two past. thon-
amos OF chestnut trees have been act out,
nd have thrived wonderfully. These ha7e :,
cen brought from nurseries ia Ohio, md have !.
cen furnished at very small cost, including
:ansportation, the trees being small, and but
ne or TWO years growth from the seed. Like
,oes expenments Of this Kind very few per- d.
ersons Who first tried it were rather skeptical,
ut they hare been we'll rewarded, and there 9.
N be no doubt nov that chestnut timber can ! g
grown At small cost and with fine success. RI
he value Of this timber for fencing purposes, d,
Id its rapid growth arc we'll known, while the
lts themselves arc an exceedingly valuable ! n
op and lind ready sale at high prices. Thus
+ experiments have been tried almost excIu-
gely With varieties Of quick growth. Whether :,
to provide for the next genera
IN Will lead residents to start forests Of tim
# OF slower growth and harder wood, ia T.,
newhat doubtful, 40 far as making it at all ~ ~
neral is concerned, but there can be no NJ
tempted. In
Many OF the buildings Of the earlier sattiers ba
!ve been OF logs ; and, while they are most elt
bstant1a1 and comfortable, keeping out both Ut Ut
npsnd cold they may be made very comely in sa
tn external and&nternal appearance. The
oct OF the homes now erected are of frame,
q are Of that class known as balloon or on
Ike frame, upon which Eastern builders look IN
III horror and amazement. Tho frames arc
it up Of cottonwood timber, spiked together.
ough toards are then nailed on disgonAlly to | di
9 atuddmg, 60 z8 to act n braces to the 4 &C
anna; upon this building paper is fastened, "a
q Bine reather-boarding completes the out be
q Hf1{A h 2t%Ar ~ L.