The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-29
LETTER FROM THE NORTH.
WEST.

not labor lost.
LETTER FROM THE NORTH
WEST.
The New Town OF Bismarck, ON the
N. r. r. r.
Correspondence Of tho IntelNgeneer)
BISMARCK, July 81.
Perchance no part OF our country Is 80
little known as is this territory. Before
the commencement Of operations on the
line OF the Northern Pacific Railway,
notwithstanding portions Of it are nearer
to tho east than any other Territory, Da-
kota was really \ terra frcogHitd. No
precious melals had been discovered; 80
10 the absence Of railroads to connect 1t
with civilization, its wealth lay all hidden
and undeyelOped; but now it iS feeling the
touch that is quickeniDg the whole north
west, and claims the attention Of all who
are DESTROYS Of being fully acquainted
with the resources OF their country.
Here Is an empire oil 150,9S6 square
miles, as large as New York, Pennsylva-
mia, and the New England States cOmbln'
ed, an unusual proportion (which Is not
only tillable, bat highly productive. The
Northeastern portion has been quickened
into life and activity, and measurably
brought 70 public notice, by the Northern
Pacific Railway, which now spans $50
miles Of its area. Much has been said
about the wonderful fertility Of the Red
River Valley in Minnesota, and the gene
raj impression is that that valley Is con-
fined TO our sister State, but the truth Is,
il also embraces a portion Of this Terrific
~, 200 miles long BY 40 miles wide, fully
equal to that portion east Of Red river.
With the exception Of the northwestern
quarter Of this Territory, and the Black
Hills, with their abundant pine, agricul-
ture must be our main reliance; and for
this, notwithstanding some portions may
depend upon irrigation, and some portions
be less valuable because Of the presence Of
alEali in the soil, few Of equal extent are
80 well adapted. The remarkable net
work Of living brooks, lake streams
and navigable rivers with which
this region is supplied is perhaps It's
most striking feature, and furnishes
the basis for q simple, natural and
economical system Of irrigation for the
fertile farming lands Of the interior,
Where systematic irrigation has been
practiced, Il seems to be the uniform tes-
timony that the greatly increased yield,
the absolute certainty oil regular crops,
and exemptions from risk oil damage by
bad weather in harvest time, none Of them
compensates for the cost Of irrigating
bitches. -.
Minnesota has outliVed the reputation
OF being an inhospItable hyperborean re-
gion, and itI fertility and producuvenesS
are now admitted by all. With an aver
age temperature considerably milder than
that Of its sister, nothing can prevent Da-
kolA taking an equally high agricultural
rank II 1t be established that there Is
sufficient amount oil moisture 70 ensure
success 10 the labOrs OF the farmer. On
this subject Professor Bladgett, the great
est Of living authorities'DDyS: II have
no doubtthere ia as much,rain fall on the
Upper Missouri, to the very foot Of the
mountains, as there is on the great
wheat growing plains Of Hussia, And that
ultimately these American plains in the
"NeW Northwest" will exceed even that
grAnsry Of Europe in productiVeness. The
quantity Of sixteen inches Of rain. fall Tor
the growing season Is Is ample there for
the purpose OF agriculture as tWenty.iour
inches would be al the 40th parallel"
OF this part Of Dakota between the Bed
river and the Missouri, Chief Engineer
Roberts says: 1.-THE whole country iS o
gently undulating plain, afording ample
drainage, interpreted with occasional
lakes, some OF which are brackish and
others oil fresh water. The rainfall the
present season (l8T2), through all this re-
gion, has been abundant, and ct times
supersbundant. The whole region from
the Red river to The Missouri and beyond,
At the time | passed over il, was clothed
with nutritious grass, af0rdiug nne pas.
turage without exception along the whole,
two hundred miles. For . large portion
q the distance the soil Is very superior,
equa! tothe best portion Of Bny land"
The Secretary Of Dakota writes THE
genera! surface Of the country, east and
north OF the Missouri, Is q beautiful, rich,
undulating prairie, free from marsh,
swamp, or slough. The upland soil Of
Dakota cannot 10 surpassed Tor fertility
and the luxurisnce Of It's vegetation. The
Missouri valley Of this Territory between
the 42d and 47th degree Of north latitude,
ID one Of the finest agricultural regions Of
the norlhWest The bottom lands, Dor
dering on the great rivers and their tribu.
tAries, possess most singular natural
meadows oil luxurious grasses, while the
adjoining prairies, clothed with nutritious
heritage, are high and rolling and free
from malaria 800 .-..
Here, where the Northern Pacific Rail.
way crosses the Missouri River, is the nu.
cleus OF an important city. Already 1t
numbers more than 1900 inhabitants. To
the cast, and on every hand but the north
and west, lie rich praiTieS, and those eX-
ceptional portions ate rich In iron, coal
and timber. Distant but thirty.flve miles
west, coal OF asuperior quality can be oh.
tanned. .-.- 49,
Where agriculture and manufacture
shake hands, as they do at this point, the
growth Of o large city may reasonably be
predicted. When 10 thai commerce adds
ID power, the prophecy becomes Ger.
tainty. Four hundred and fllty miles
Of rail unites US 10 Duluth, and
when there we are on. The worlds high
way oil commerce. Whatever diagonal
lines ambitious. Chicago shall build to
draw 10 her nc wealth 81 the northwest,
viii lind in.this place their natural and
inevitable teIminIG For 200 miles above
US draining Northern Montana and WeSl.