Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-04-13
CORRESPONDENTS.
From Dakota Territory.

EDITOR CHRONICLE The readers
of your valuable journal are perhaps
ignorant of the geographical situation
as well as regards the agricultural ad-
vantages possessed by Dakota Terri
tory, therefore brief outline or de-
scriptiOn relative thereto may not be
inappropriate. Five years residence
in Dakota, enables me to speak with
some degree of accuracy concerning
those facts in which the general pub
lie are to a greater or less extent in
terested.
Dakota Territory is bounded as fol-
lows: On the east by Iowa and Min
nesota; on the north by the British
Possessions, on the south by Nebras-
ka, and on the west by Wyoming and
MantOna. Its extreme length Is Ala
miles, and breadth $50 miles, contain
ing in area 150, ,931, As square miles, or
81, $50, ,125 acres. The surface of the
principal part of this vast territory is
elevated and gently yundulating prairie,
in some portions mountainous. The
average elevation above the level of
the sea is 1900 feet, hence the air is
dry, pure and healthful to a remarka-
BILE degree. 1t is especially beneficial
TO the invalid suffering from pulmon-
ary affections, in many cases affecting
permanent cure. 1t is nOtsurpassed
in salubrity and curative power by
the atmospheric condition of any 9TH
ef locality, in any of the States north
or south. The rolling character If the
prairies presents that condition of
moisture so essential in prOpagating
the noXious miasmas incident to the
low, fiat prairies of Indiana and Illi-
nois. The northern and eastern pOr-
tions of the territory are especially
adapted to tilIage and grazing, the soil
being exceedingly fertile, producing
spontaneously wild but nutriciOus
grasses in abundance. The supply of
water is plentiful, hence the great nat
ural meadows are peculiarly adapted
to wool growing and stock grazing.-
The Missouri river flOwsfor moret than
a thousand miles through the terrific
~, from Fort Buford to Sioux City.
Its principal tributaries from the west
are the Little Missouri, Big Knife,
Grand, White Earth, Big Sheyenne
and Morean rivers, and in the east,
the dakota, Vermillion and Big Siuox
rivers. Besides these the Red river of
verse, and flowing nOrtherly into the
British Possessions, discharges its
waters into Hudson Bay. Its chief
affiuents in Dakota are the Sheyenne,
Wild Rice, Turtle, Goose, Salt, Park,
Tongue and Pembina rivers. These
streams make the Red River region
especially desirable, it being the best
watered locality in the northwest.
A large number of lakes give diver
sity and beauty to the eastern portion
of the territory, principal ofwhich are
DEVILS, Skunk, Swan, Poinsett, Trav-
erse, Red and Big Stone. These lakes
abound in fish, and during the sum-
mer season are frequented by swarms
of aquatic birds of numerous varieties.
The Black Hills situated between
the north and south fork uf the Big
Sheyenne river, are known to be rich
in gold, silver, coal, iron and other
auriferOus deposits, besides being COW
cred in many places by vast bodies of
superior pine timber. These hills have
never been explored in the interior
owing to the hostility of the Teten
Sioux, who dispute with determined
persistence all attempts to settle or
explore them. They regard the lOcali-
ty as a favorite hunting ground and
hence we have one reason why it is
guarded with so much jealousy from
the encroacbments of civilization and
progress. This region is also included
within the limits of the northwest
Indian reserve. but Notwithstanding
all these obstacles to its DEVELOPMENT, |
it must ere long yield up its treasures
to the aggressive touch of enlightened
advance, which has ever moved for
ward with irresistible force and NIGH |
ty purpose in the face of all barriers !
that barbarism has been able to inter- |
pose. Westward the course of empire |
takes its way.
Dakotalands are open only to actual |
settlers, the Government Withholding |
them from market. The provisions of !
the Homestead and Presumption Laws 1
enable any citizen of the United States |
who is twenty-one years of age TO Sc
cure farm at the least possible price. |
A homestead only costs Sl4,00, and a |
pre-empJiOn claim requires six months !
residence and preliminary improve
ments, when upon payment of 81, ,25 |
per acre, the Government issues a 1
patent for the land. Under these /
benefcient conditions it is surprising |
that so many young men who are /
anxious to possess farms, toll on for 4
wears in the rocky and wooded hills of /
the east, when they might obtain the