Smyrna times., 1874-08-26
For the "Smy yrna Times"
A Ride Into Dakota Territory

Leaving Worthington, Minnesota, at 2
T. M. on the 10Th INST, we started for the val |
ley of the Big Sioux. Riding for some hours,
through a country abounding in beautiful seen
cry, starting up now and then coveys of prdi- |
RE chickens, we arrived at Iuvergne, Rock |
county, Mimi, about 7-30 p. NJ. The country !
passed through, despite the ravages of the L0- |
Gust, seemed to abound in beautiful grain. |
Two years since, and scarcely human habita-
tlon could be seen upon the broad prairies, |
now, almost all of the land is taken up, and
the country Is being developed very rapidly. |
Now and then, we were reminded Of the " Sod |
Tavern in Eggleston's Mystery of Mctropo-
liSvilC, as we would behold sod house.
These houses are built by piling one sod upon
another until it is of the required size, putting
windows and doors in places prepared for them
Many farmers live in these houses, meanwhile
cultivating the soil, until they can afford to put
up one of lumber, which in this country, they
are soon able to do. Western life, with all its
self denials, and struggles is full of romance.
Leaving Luvergne at 730 A. NJ, on the 1lth
inst, we travelled on through a beautiful cOun-
try. so recently the domain of the Sioux In
dian, but now gladdening the eye of the trav-
eler az he beholds the fields "white unto the
harvest" The thought comes to us as we
view the landscape Ger how good and kind
is the great Creator in thus giving us such a
RTdilu anu Dedu(llul cOuHlTy Ill WHICH 10 UWcIl.
Never can man measure the love of God, for it
Is limitess on every side. Riding on, we soon
crossed the Minnesota line, and here we were,
out of the United States, and in a measure
outside the domain Of law. Imagine our feel
ings, readers, and "put yourself in our place"
We arrived, in a short while, at Valley
Springs, where is a settlement from Central
New York. We passed an half hour pleasantly
in conversation with Mr.. Wood, formerly of
Ithaca and an ex Superintendent of the Syra-
cuse and Ithaca Railroad. This settlement is
destined at an early day to become a thriving
town, situated as it is, in beautiful and pic
turesque valley
Passing on we soon came to the valley of the
Sioux, where our eyes teasted themselves upon
the beauties of nature spread before our vision.
Here we were reminded of the hills and wales
of Pennsylvania, only, the picturcsqueness of
the scenery was beyond that presented in the
old keystone" Never before did we realize
the grandeur of the great Western country, or
obtain correct idea Of the great rolling pra-
rie. On we rode, admiring the grand views
about us, ARD soon we passed the Big Sioux.
! This river we crossed three times ere reaching
Sioux Falls 1t is fordable has a rocky bed,
and is unnavigable. We reached the city about
2-30 P. NJ. This town, though but two years
old, 70 miles from a railroad, is very thriving
place, contains about 1000 inhabitants, and
carries on a large business with the surround
ing country. After partaking of first class
dinner--roast venison being one of the viands
we proceeded to the Falls. The most re-
markable feature here presented, is the great
mass of rock which rises little above the
level of the soil This is an outcrnpping of the
"Od Red Landstone Period" The river
runs over these rocks in succession of cata
racts, there being three main ones having tho
aggregate fall of 10 feet At the foot of the
Falls stands grist mill, run by this tremend
ous water power. The mass of rock, mention
ed above, has the appearance of huge bowldcr
wcdged in between one another. One can no
but be struck with the majesty of the Create
as he behOlds this and with scOrn does he re
. ceive the idea that " it is the work Of chance
The infidel and atheist is met and answered
r from Natures standpoint, with the great ant
glorious fact that a God of infinite power an,
majesty must have caused this. After viewin
all these objects of interest, we returned to ou
hotel, and soon started upon our return t.
WOrthing'on. Soon after rccrOssing the Sioux
, we took the wrong road, and after ride o
several miles found that we were lost upon tn
prairie We were obliged consequently t
drive across the prairie without any road saw
D the broad prairie, and without any guide saw
+ the North Star. Soon we came to a corn field
q which, from the difficulty experienced in driv
D ing around it, was estimated, by one of ou
g party, to contain twenty thousand acres
: Seeing a light at distance, we drove up, an
e inquired our way, when a Swede preacher
c guiding US for half mile, put us upon tn
n right road. We went on pleased with our ad
S venture, and in due time arrived at Worthng
It ton, having had pleasant and profitable triI
: C. T. II.