Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-24

was Dut itttlc Durnt us laT OUT rs lHlo
station, but all beyond looked black
aud uninyitihg to the top Of the hills,
twenty miles away. The Firesteel
valley at this place averages half
mile in width, the bottoms 0, which
are covered with fine growth of
blue-joint grass, and the creek abund-
antly supplied with water. The creek
is succession Of ponds connected by
narrow rivulcts, and we are assured.
that these ponds contain abundance
of fish. There is said to be plenty
Of water in this creek fifty miles back
from the river near the base Of the
Wessihgton Hills, and very near to
the waters Of. Grow creek, which has
a westerly course, and empties into
the Missouri at Fort Thompson SO
that there is plentiful supply of good
water along the whole route from
Firestcel on the jim, to Fort Thomp-
son on the Missouri. Farms may be
laid in consecutively along the creek
bottom for distance Of about fifty
miles, and each farm will be supplied
with an abundance Of water, and may
boast Of as good soil as can be found
in the country.
| dwell more particularly upon this
creek valley, as it is the natural route,
taken with the Dakota river valley, to
Fort Thompson, the mouth of the.
White river, and toothe Black Hills.
\ The distance from Yankton to Fort
Thompson by this route is at least.3O
miles less than by the Missouri river,
with the further advantage Of better
roads. Besides this, the country
along the route is all either settled or
open to settlement, and the near future
will witness well developed farms
along the whole line. AT present
there are three ranches between the
Jim river and Fort Thompson, a dis
tance Of eighty miles, which makes it
comparatively safe travelling even in
wiateE.@At present, too, a daily stage
runs from Yankton to Firesteel nearly
|.half the entire route. Along Fire
l-steel Creek there is a dcartl of tim
Der, but we noticed "chalk rock or
j. magneslan limestone cropping out Of
the banks at intervals, which may be
used for building purposes
After stay of one night and a care
full survey Of the country, we returned
to Firesteel and spent the evening and
forenoon of the next day in making
the acquaintance of some Of the in.
habitants. Here, we met Mr.. Head,
one of the older settlers, whose house
is quite snowy one, situated upon
the hill overlooking the river. We
also met with the Rev. Mr.. Morris,
whose shome is about seven miles
, up the. river. We called upon Major
Israel Green, whosercsidence is about
three fourths of a mile west Of town,
; on the prairie overlooking the creek
! valley. His wife is lady of culture
) and is very pleasant conversational
list. We noticed some very fine and
rare oil paintings upon the walls, some
!. of which were secured by Maj. Greer
himself, in Palmero, during his travels
! in Europe. The town here is at tn,
:. junction of Firesteel creek and the Da
kota river, and has very pleasan
J site. In the creek valley wv
;, ;, noticed fine chalk building put u
= = by Mr.. Platt, not yet finished.
= = In the afternoon we retreatcd as ia
= = as Rockport, and we would'n be hal
. soldier if we couldn't make stan,
: here for one day, with old Fort Jane
:, e and huge pile of rocks thrown VI
:, = by nature herself for support. W.
. . stopped at F. B. Fosters and rcgre
:. : that he was himself fabsent-but- -M
'e found Mr.. I. r. Kershaw, Judge 9
. . Probate, attorney and counsellor a
= law, and real estate agent, ready t
show me about the city, and point ou
D the places Of interest. We were il
clined to rest this evening, however
and take a fresh day-lor- the exercise
After doing ample justice to suppe
= by direction Of Mrs. Foster, we reso
we'd ourselves into reading club, an
all took part in readingsselections frol
c. the poets, which occupied an hour {
two, after which.1 was kindly invite
by Judge K. to walk up into his roo,
and smoke his last cigar. 1t is a gel
Is crous man that will delibesately an
willingly part with his last cigar, an
- we formed eur opinion;of the Judg
for so doing.
y In;the morning wefell to our wor
'rt Of investigation. This ledge Of rock
he as we have already hinted, has bee
~ lifted to its present position on II
~ surface by internal forces. lis a ma
- - row ledge, in most places confined 4
nc a few rods in width, and trendir
= across the whole valley from west
at east, gradually dipping as it ncars ii