The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-03-21
From Dacotah.
THE METROPOLIS OF DACoTAH

States, and has but few superiors anywhere!
Such is the exclamation made by almost ev.
erv new arrival from the East
1t is situated about two hundred miles
northwest of Council Bluffs, Iowa on gen.
tie slope from the north toward the
south of some two or three miles to the Mis-
souri, river, and from the west toward the
east, along the Missouri, and is only about
four miles from the confluence of the Daco.
tab and Missouri rivers. Ilhas population
of about twenty-five thousand people, the ma
iority of whom are Americans.
Being the metropolis Of the Territory Of
Dacotah, and might perhaps truthfully say
of the Northwest, there are necessarily a
great many Government officials here, be
sides those that have at one time been SUCH
but their term of Office having expired have
continued their residence, SO that we have a
good and intelligent class of citizens.
will here add that persons who have once
remained here a period Of few months have
almost invariably made it their permanent
homes, or expressed an intention Of doing so
at no distant day hence the number of inhab-
itants is increasing very rapidly,
The air being dry and pure makes the
climate very healthful, consequently persons
who are afflicted with lung diseases frequent,
" come here to be cured.
Malarious diseases are almost unknown,
consequently there is not that great demand
for good physicians that there is in many
other places.
The country around Yankton Is one of the
finest agricultural countries in the West, is
also well adapted for grazing.
The DaGotah or James river valley in par
tcular is beautiful, and here especially is
made manifest that enterprise and industry
for which the people of the west are SO much
noted, for traversing the valley at any reas
enable time you will see farmers hard al
work, tilling the soil, setting out trees, prin.
cipally of the useful instead of the ornament
al as in the East, and erecting buildings Of
different kinds, the residences of which are
usually frame.
In Nebraska, Immediately opposite this
city is the village of Green Island
The citizens of that place do pretty much
all their trading in Yankton and from which
our merchants derive considerable rev
enue.
Then there are the Forts and up river coun-
try traders who in general do all their trad
ing here, in addition to the inhabitants of the
city and surrounding country in general.
The educational advantages are good, there
being one Academy, one Seminary conducted
under the auspices of the Episcopal church
and large Public school held in two differ
ent buildings. All of the above named lnsti-
tutions are well attended by goodly number
of young folks.
Our churches are four in number, the Epis-
copal being the first we erected; Gothic
style. The Congregationalist chuch is also
frame building built after the style of the
majority of frame churches IN the United
States.
The Catholic church is an imposing struc-
ture built of the chalk rock which is found
here, is also the residence of the priest
The Methodist church is just newly built
is Il brick building, and will seat perhaps
three or four hundred persons.
Our hotels are quite numerous, the princi-
pal of which are the Merchants, 4. j. Sweet
ger, proprietor; the St Charles, Crcsuen Il
Co., and the Griffin Hotel, kept by Griffin.
Then there is the Ladies' Library Associa
ton, which was organized and incorporated
last year, and has now a splendid class of
books of some 800 volumes in number and to
which they expect to add another hundred
volumes within few weeks. 1t was organ
lied on the stock plan, the shares being held
at five dollars each. Any one not willing to
take q share can purchase a ticket for two
dollars, which will give him all the privileges
of the library for one year. A share holder
is eligible to ollice-"if a lady"-and entitled
10 vote at all general elections.
have written at some length of the above
association, because it is considered by the
inhabitants OF the city as one of the best in
situations in Yankton. The selection of books
heretofore has been admirable, as far as the
present readableness Is concerned.
The Literary Association of Yankton is a
thriving one, was but lately organized, and
has at this time about forty members The
number in attendance last night, the 10Th
irst was about two hundred. The question
was for the abolition of capital punishment.
The affirmative was represented by Attorney
Hand, chief disputant, assisted by Gen. Beadle
and VIM u. Russell, Esq. Negative, by At
torney Gruber, chief disputant, and Ator-
nrys Faux and Gamble, assistants.
The decision was given in favor of the
negative by the president, and sustained by
a msjority OF votes of the house.
Mrs. Matilda Fletcher lectured before the
association few evenings since on THE
Heart of Man" There were goodly mum.
Der in attendance.
The Masonic and Odd Fellows orders are
in q prospcrins condition. The former have /