Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-08
FROM DACOTA TERRITORY.


Sioux FALLS, March 4, 1872.
Editor BueAana4 County Bulletin.
My DEAR SIR:-As l frequently
receive letters from persons rcsid-
ing in your county making inquiry
about this region. If you will al
low me the privilege of SO doing, l
will through the columns of your
paper advise its many readers as to
the many advantages this county
affords to those who would seek
cheap homes, on the frontier.
In order to secure homes on the
public domain, persons must expect
to relinquish for a time the many
Injuries to which they have been
accustomed in their former homes
in the eastern States, and which it
has taken years of toll and care to
secure to them. TO derive the full
benefits from the settlement and
growth Of region Of country it is
necessary to get in advance of the
great tide of emigration make your
selection of a farm, and thus be
able to get one that will suit you
(what few ever dog for farm and
a future home.
The county of Minnehaha, d.
r., lies between the ARD and 44th
parallels; is bounded on the north by
Brookings county, D. T., and on the
east by Pipestone and Rock counties,
MINI. on the south by Lyon county
Iowa and Lincoln county, d. I. on
the west by Hanson county D. L.
The county is SO miles north and
south, by 81 miles east and west.
The tier of towns bordering on the
MINI. line being but four miles
wide. This county is well supplied
with water from the Big Sioux river
which runs centrally through the
county, from north to south and by
the many small streams emptying
into the Sioux, from the east of
which are Splitrock creek, Beaver
creek, Plumb creek and Slipup
creek, from the west is Spring
creek, Skunk creek, which is the
outlet of Skunk Lakes, which sup
ply large portion of the western
part of the county with water,
Beaver creek and Otter creek.
The bottom land along the Sioux
is from one to three miles in width,
and along the river is quite a body
of timber; principal kinds of which
are Ash, Elm, Maple, Oak, Cotton
wood and blackberry. There is al
SO quite quantity of timber at
Skunk lake, of as good quality as
is found any place in the northwest.
The soil is black loan, on the
high lands much resembling the soil
in Buchanan county. The bottom
land is similar to that found along
all the large streams in Iowa and
Illinois. The lands arc not so roll
ing as those of Buchanan county.
There is an abundance of meadow
land which produces an ample sup
ply Of Red top and Bluestem, on
which stock have for the past three
winters kept wholly upon it, and
come out in good condition. This
county has as much water-power as
the whole southern portion of Da-
kota, besides. At Dell City about
20 miles above Sioux Falls and at
which place q mill is now being
constructed, there is about 10
feet Of natural fall. At Gibralter 8
miles southeast from Sioux Falls,
and at which place mill is now in
running order, there is l24 feet
natural fall. At Sioux Falls the
county scat of Minnehaha county,
in distance Of less than one mile
there is one hundred and fourteen
and three fourth feet natural fall.
The natural scenery at this place is
grand, beyond description. Our
town now has three good hotels,
something which all travelling men
consider, land justly so too) Of i'm.
p0rtance, FIVE stores, one saloon, all
Of these buildings having been
erected within one year. The coun.
ty now contains about two thousand
inhabitants, and is being rapidly
settled. Yet there is an abundance
Of vacant land to be had rs home
steads, by paying $l4 and residing
upon it FIVE years,or pre.cmpting and
paving $l.25 per acre. Claims can
he had from four to six miles from