The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-05-29
DAKOTA.
Minneapolis Tribune.
RED RIVER VALLEY,

Correspondence Minneapolis Tribune.
RED RIVER VALLEY.
From Fargo west the Red River Val.
ley for about thirty miles is fat and
somewhat uninvitlng, except along the
river; but the soil is a deep, black
loan, very productive. The black
loam is about eighteen inches deep,
and under that about seven feet of
gravel, making soil that will not be
seriously affected By drouth and con-
tiouous rains. On the knolls the soil
is thin.
STONE.
There is considerable stone on the
prairies, though not enough for
fencing, nor Of the right kind for build
ing.
On the fiat prairie near the Red
River, the water is not very good.
Water can be obtained readily en- the
undulating pralries by digging from
twelve to twenty feet. There are
several salt and alkaline lakes along the
road, but in the immediate vicinity
good water is found. The salt lakes
are only brackish. I noticed one slka-
line lake that was about dried I'D.
The bottom was almost as white as
snow.
sHEYENNE VALLEY.
The valley Of the Sheyenne is almost
uuo,cupied, and excellent claims may
be had in that vicinity.
I rode thirty.six miles behind
horse that had lived on the prairie all
winter. Sheep could feed until late
in the fall on the bunch grass in the
Missouri valley.
CLIMATE.
The climate of the Missouri Valley is
much milder than that of Minnesota.
The tall Of snow is much lighter, and
the spring two weeks earlier, at the
| least.
GEOGRAPHY.
The rich prairies are said to extend
one hundred and twenty FIVE miles west
of Bismark before the bad land is
reached. These are barren plains, ut
terly worthless, destitute, in the main,
of water and vegetation.
AGRICULTURE.
There are no farms opened yet at
Bismark. A garden is being planted
by the town site company, in order to
test The soil.
This country lacks timber. There
is, however, probably five thousand
acres of pretty fair timber in the Vi
cinity of Bismark.
| COAL.
Coal is found in great abundance on
the Missouri river. There is a coal
bed now open on the river, about forty
miles above B,smark. It is found in
great abundance nearer by. 1t is a lig-
nite-a fine article.
INDIANS.
The Indians are reported to be very
uneasy west Of the river, and soldiers
have been stationed at different points
to protect the citizens.
| BISMARK.
Bismsrk is $50 miles west of Lake
Superior. 1t will be military headquar-
ters, the base Of mining operations, tho
location Of shops Of the N. P. r R., the
point of connection between that road
AMI the Mississippi river.
The first settlement was made in
August 1872. 1t has now about seven.
ty buildings and 600 people. The
buildings are cheap concerns made OF
green wood. There are twenty-eight
saloons and number are in process of
erection. Seven houses of ill fame are
in full blast. There is also a brewery
aud pop factory. Three billiard halls,
three restaurants and four hotels. W.
B. Shaw & Co., of St. Paul have
store there, aud have already sold $780,
600 worth Of goods. They are also do.
ing general banking and exchange
business. Board is $3.50 per day for
transient, and So per week for regular
boarders. 1t is expected that Pres.
byterian church will be erected the
coming summer.
! A brick yard is in full blast. Excel
lent brick clay abouuds, aud 10000
bricks we're made last season.
Boats are running on the upper Mis-
souri,. >,
Town lots range up to $500, but there
are in reality none in market. The
<ltle has not yet been secured from the
government.
These matters will soon be settled.
Green cottonwood lumber is worth
$3l per thousand feet, and pine fetch
es $l00, but these prices will decline.
| Only about tweaty carpenters are on
hand, and they easily earn from Eve to
seven dollars per day. .-,~