Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-10

IL Mnui
therefore, net be possible TO use the present
landing at Pierre. and travel by the Fer,
george route west of Antelope creek.
FORT PIERRE ID
Inc Bad river enters the Missouri at a
right angle where the general course OF
tbe latter is east-souts east. Below Bad
river beld and high bluffs rise along the
missouri and that river also, rendering the
river 'front.' there inaccessible and useless
LOT the purpo SIS of the landing. Above
the mouth OF Bad river for a distance Of
SIX or eight miles along the Missouri is
a nearly level valley from one.third of q
mile TO one mile wide. The bank of the
missouri grows lower as it nears Bad river
ana the angle between the two streams and
iof some distance up the Missouri aud out
nearly TO the eiehboring bluffs, which
'heTe come IN closer, is covered with small
trees and dense underbrush of cottonwood
ana willow, except where cleared away for
occupation by buildings or roads. The
only iandlpg available on this front is for
about one hundred yards above The mouth
OF Bad river. The slope of the land to the
river bank Is very slight, and when we
arrived mere the water was over the bank
ana twenty feet or more up the slope, leav.
ing barely room for wagons to pass between
the river and The buildings or the enclosure
TO the warehouse. Eighteen inches or even
1 less. a1Iliinnai riea ,r1,ll
ehtlre ievee and most of the town. 1t was
stated to US, land the indications in the
small timber appeared to prove that this
overflow docs sometimes occur. A small
slough begins a short distance above the
landing and continues near and parallel to
The river bank for some distance above
The Bad river renders but half of This
shoie river 'front.' available for occupation.
Inc upper part of This valley has had
lair grazing but this is now nearly exhaust.
ed, While the lower palt is as described
oach 70 the raw cretaceous hills, or barren
and covered with sage brush. The whole
Is the cretaceous formation and the soil
alkaline OF "gumbo," as called by the occr
NNS NSSh
pants. This was then hard and generally
ory where cleared and exposed to the
sun and air, and smooth when sufficiently
used by teams, though it everywhere shows
the marks of the indescribable mud which
prevailed during the spring, and which
must return after heavy rains. The Mis-
souri, backs up the water in Bad river for
some three miles, to the ford heretofore
men Toned. The grazing for stock is very
limited ana must grow more scant as the
season advances, compelling the driving
OUT several miles Tor camping and herding
room. The landing has, Notwithstanding
its evils, served very usefully. but if is
manlfestly limited for room and more cir.
cumscribed for the reasonable and free nc.
~commodallon of business that such a depot
should have. 1t does not compare favor.
ably with the landing at Fort George in q
single feature.
CHANTIER E LANDING
This is some fifteen or eighteen n,i,es
northwest or up the river from the Pierre
landing, AT this the Missouri makes a
somewhat marked bend to the southwest
and the landing was proposed to be loca.
'ed at The outer point of this bend. To
understand its surroundings properly it
should be stated that Willow creek is one
OF the largest tributaries of the Bad river
and the first on the north side above it's
| OltIet INFO tho NiOSo,,r; r;r,. 10 ~ =, ~.
iahdlng the river pears eastward decidedly
and Willow creek at this point comes much
nearer Inc Missouri than further south
Between the Willow creek agd the Mic.
souri, Is broken and billy divide which
grows higher toward the north. Into this
rldge or divide where it reaches about its
greatest elevation the Missouri has at This
bend In former times cut deeplv. and the
WASH OF the bills has carried this cutting
10 the very crest OF this ridge along lis
hlghest part, SO that, when one has ascend.
ea the nearly inaccessible bluff of the river
al ms point the descent begins almost,
immediately toward Willow creek. This
furnishes an explanation OF the unusual
elevation OF this bluff, equaled hardly aoy
where else this side unless at the Bliou
bills. There is nothing hike ii in the ylcln.
lty of 9ankton.
Chantler creek is a small stream or ra-
vine and drain which comes down to the
liver about half a mile above the so.calIed
landing, or rather into a slough back of
an island which lies against the right bank
and comes down nearly to the landing.
Below this island there is a narrow bottom
partly covered with brush, and upon this
very circumscribed fat the wash of the
hills and the cutting of the river bank are
constantly encroachiug. A bar has formed
below the island and directly across the
front OF the proposed landing. When we
visited the spot the water was high vet the
bar appeared above the surface well down
towards the landing and shoa wafer
showed unmistakably that the bar was
forming and extending across the entire
front. RptW pen il and tl,a cbo.a =