The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-10-25

and the plains of Dakota beyond,
were ever covered with forests, is a
question to which neither history nor
tradition gives answer. Woods may
have existed and been swept away
by fire, as exceptionally destructive
as that which melted down the city
of Chicago, or rolled up the pineries
of Peshtigo.
Any one who rides over to the
Missouri, may see now the blacken-
ed plains for hundreds of miles, and
the 81 Ky REDEEMED every night from
fierce burnings of the dry grass.
From this quarter doubtless it is,
that the smoke Of our Indian sum
mer comes. However it came about
nevertheless it is true, that along the
Northern Pacific railroad, two-thirds
of the way to Bismarck is a tree
less prairie, without bramble, bush
or brake, except the slight and scat
tered growth along a few streams.
And yet this de>titution of timber,
though an obstacle in the way of
settlement, is not at all insuperable.
From recent discoveries made in
that country, it appears that coal at
varying depths, generally underIies
the surface, Just west Of the Ms
souri,, extensive seams have been
found sort Of brown coal, answer
ing admirably the common purposes
Of fuel. Several mining companies
have been formed, one to operate
about forty miles west of Bismarck
another to prosecute discovery
this side the Missouri by boring IN
to the earth, prompted from the
fact that in sinking wells in several
places on the road, stratum Of coal
has been penetrated.
In course Of time trees viii spring
up spontaneously, or from planting,
and being protected from fires, viii
supply to a certain extent, the wants
of the population. In Nebraska
they burn corn; and the Mennon-
ties are said to have a mode Of pre-
pairing, and an apparatus for con
suming wheat straw, so as to afford
the necessary heat for domestic pur-
poses. Some expedicnt or other
will be found to supply the demand
for fuel for the time being.
The scarcity of water on these
praries is a somewhat serious con
sideration. There are two appliances
to remedy thls-arteslan wells, and
cisterns. On the railroad an album
dant supply is had from wells, the
water being forced up into tanks by
windmilIs, from a depth of about
fifty feet. People along the line,
say that tive rain fall this season
was not much under the average of
their experience in other sections OF
the country TO the East.
1t may be that the iron railways
tracking the country here and there,
tillage of the soil, culture of fruit
trees and other growths, The sounds
and motions OF industry through
the land, will induce atmosphericaI
conditions favorable to an increase
Of rain. Such IS, or Is imagined 10
be, the result on the Union Pacific.
1t is not likely that the New
Northwest so-calIed, has been con-
demned to perpetual unproductive-
ness, because OF the difficulties of
wood and water. SO much good
land was never made to 90 to waste
For three hundred miles this side of
Bismarck, the ground only awaits
breaking and seeding to afford the
most pIenteous harvests. Nature,
as If to make up for its defects, has
lavlshed a marvellous natural tertil-
ity Of soil. The facts in this respect
probably have not been overstated.
General Stanley's recent expedition
west Of the Missouri, reports good
lands, more timber, and abundance
of coal
The most recent and best consid-
cred statements respecting the in
teryal between the James and the
Missouri, characterize the soil as
most excellent-in some particulars
superior to that of the Red river
valley
One thing is certain, and that is
the Traveller through this region gets
profound impression Of illimlt-
able, silent, unrelieved space AN
not disturbed by stream,
valley or mountain, nor by any