The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-07-12
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

AlUCI lIdt Cll11S CiIAOuSIL O. PoA CAo-A ~
the country lying west of Luverne in
Rock Co. the most south westerly
count in Minnesota [ am inclined to
think that the branch road, OF the
sioux city r. E. extending at present
from Worthington, in Mobiles Co, to
LuVerne and surveyed from thence
to Sioux falls in Dakota Territory; is
a most important road for st. Paul
1t opens out q most magnificent
country tributary to st. Paul and the
greatest desire of the citizens OF Sioux
Falls at present, is to have the rail-
road completed to their town, SO that
they can do their trading in st. Paul
and Minneapolis; the road when COM
pleted to the Falls will open a fine
market for the lumber Of the latter.
l for one, did not know, until very
lately what grand country lies south
west Of us and how, far advanced 1T is
in settlements and prosperity although
SO very distant from railroad COM
/ look upon Sioux Falls. in D. T.
and only sixteen miles from the state
line of Minnesota, as destined to be
one of the most important and flourish.
ing places in Dakota. While its
situation is good in regard to
trading point, it's natural advantages
for manufacture and agriculture, are
seldom eoualed. The soil in the valley
is simply superb and in Split Rock
Valley, which lies between the state
line and Sioux Falls, I have seen the
finest crops I ever saw in the west,
wheat fields certainly good for forty
bushels to the acre if the grasshoppers
let them alone.
Then there is Skunk Valley which
commences four miles west of the
town and extends thirty miles in I'M
broken fertility. Another Valley
through which branch of the Skunk
river flows is equally fertile. Then
there is the Valley of Dell Rapids.
twenty miles north of Sioux Falls and
close to the Minnesota line in Rock
Co. There also the soil is equally rich
and warm with fine grass land in
abundance.
In fact. barring the grasshoppers,
and l cannot believe that this virgin;
prolific soil was made for them-there
is nothing to prevent an Industrious
man, able to work. from becoming in
dependent on quarter section Of land
in the country I am writing about.
The Homested claims are being rapidly
taken up and one looking for govern
ment land now, must strike out some
eighteen miles west of Sioux Falls.
The settlement of this section Of
country, without the aid of railroad
accommodation, is a convincing proof
of it's own solid advantages and the
completion of the railroad from
LuVerne to Sioux Falls will be of
great benfit to the trade Of st. Paul,
while it will make Sioux Falls very
important point with grand capacity
for manufacturing purposes.
There is today, lying idle, with the
exception of one mill, water power
at Sioux Falls capable of turning al
the machinery in Minneapolis. The
river (the Big Sioux has fall here OF
lis feet in half mile and on each
side Of the river is ample room fol
mill sites. At present, as nature ha.
made them, nothing can surpass thu
pastoral beauty of the falls. They ar,
grand enough to excite admiration
without inspiring awe; they are tn
very poetry Of falling waters. Sweep
ing round beautiful wooded Island
in the center of the river the water
approach the falls in two channels
foaming and chatting over the rapids
hurrying through the fissurer of tn
tawny colored rocks they approac
the first fall and go tumbling owe
IN a variety of sparkling cascades, an
so on from ledge to ledge making i
all, about five falls. AS contempls
| ted this beautiful scene I though
almost with regret, of the near futur
when all this beauty would be MARIE
by the demands of commerce.
That Sioux Falls is already an impo
tant point may be judged by til
business done by, its merchants.
is the county seat of Minnehaha Ct
d. 7. the population of the Countr
is 1900, populating the town 1OO(
It's two largest merchants are W.
, VanEps and c.. X. Howard. NJ
VanEps gross receipts last year, fl
general merchandise, amounted |