Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-16
CENTRAL DAKOTA.
A Glance at the Great Unproduc.
tive but Fertile Plains Of
the Interior.
Projected Railroads From the East
and From the North Pacific.
An Empire OF Magnificent Land Invites
Settlement and Cultivation.
Editors Pres and Dakosaia.. /.

Editors Pres and Dakotaias:
Our journey across the country from Wah-
peton to Yankton was by . devious route,
but thinly touched country between other
routes heretofore taken. There is no doubt
about it, there is a great country in eastern
Dakota. Every trip across it adds proofs of
this. Out to the divides west of Dakota
river central Dakota is a rich and attractive
region, having most of the advantages pos
sessed by either the Red River valley or the
Missouri valley. The country east of Da-
kota river consists first of a nearly level
rich plain from 20 to 80 miles wide, then
the Coteau about as wide, and another rich
and nearly level plain east of them to the
Minnesota line. But as a rule the soil upon
the plateau Of the Coteau is the richest. So
the entire region has rich soil. There is
none better anywhere in the northwest.
This so called Coteau is peculiar. 1t is a
long elevated body of table land, what in
smaller area the Spanish call a Mesa in
New Mexico and Arizona, only the surface
is not 80 level as these, and Coteau has many
lakes. This highland is bordered on the
west by a billy slope cut with ravines which
furnish good water and some timber. Its
general bearing is north and south but it is
somewhat irregular. On the east is a SINH
lar but much higher border of hills the
general course Of which is north northwest.
There is a better supply of timber there
also, and the water is abundant. in both.
Much Of the northern and eastern parts of
the Sissiton reserve is a nearly level plain,
bordered by some sand hills near the north
ern line. The Wild Rice rises near the
northwest angle Of the reserve and breaks
the continuity Of the Coteau, but the hills
reappear in irregular order upon the Shey-
enne along the western and southern parts
Of its great bend. AT the south the Coteau
fades into the region, level, rich, grassy and
with lakes, near the head Of the Vermillion;
and to the southwest into a high rolling
prairie along the Winona 4 St. Peters r.
R. into Minnesota.
OF unsettl I'd eastern and central Dakota
nine-tenths has drst-class soil, and is suited
to agriculture or stock raising as we'll as the
settled parts. Any one who wishes can
from the above and a good map Judge fairly
the character Of the whole or any general
part of this region which in a very few
years is to become important as the now
settled parts. The Sissiton reserve is nearly
%central in the eastern part. 1t looks like a
barrier, but We believe it will not prove so
to be. These Indians are most advanced
and civilized Of the Sioux. The departing
generation takes all who have not fully
adopted civilized dress and to a considerable
extent civilized habitations, industries and
habits. Many are now ~self.supporting,
some we'll educated; all appear c%ontented
and happy. Those worthy and industrious
have their VI homes and lands secure
The annuities from the government expire
IN a short zine. Then doubtless the self
supporting will remain on their own land.
and subsist by their own industry while the
less worthy will be loo Ated elsewhere. Then
too, we can see no reason why railroad.
should not penetrate the reserve, and the
whole region pass under one law, Indian
half breed and white alike, for there ar.
many Of each class upon and about the re-
serve. The prospect of these Indians il
favorable in every point of view.
Now look at the situation of this midd /,
region in respect to development. Rail
road routes are practicable across it nearly
anywhere and in nearly every direction
And the railroads will come quickly, til,
Wlnona and St. Peters is built to Kampesk;
and settlement has begun and is now in
creasing. The Hastings and Dakota rail
road in Minnesota is nov being constructs
westward from Glencoe and will in al
probability be completed to Inkapa il
Grant county, Dakota. at the south end 0
Big Stone lake next year, causing a larg,
region to be settled east of the reservation
Settlements are already pushed far up tn
Wild Rice river, and are beginning upol
the Cheyenne. But there is another enter
prise, now determined upon, which viii
surpass all others in the permanence AM
vastness of its effects upon this whole region
That is a branch of the Northern Pacif,
railroad from some point near or east o
its second crossing Of the ~Sheyenne IS t
30 kailes west Of Fargo, southwark to Yank
ton. The exact points and route are no
decided but the road is sure. The remotes
period named for its completion is six years
After it crosses or leaves the Sheyenne j
has a level plain with no difficulties all tn
way to any point it selects on the Dakot
river. 1t can come on the east side of an,
near that river over a smooth route to with
in 25 miles of Yankton, and can enter tn
valley proper at Firesteel or above and fin
an easy way by various routes, that can b
built more cheaply than any other line c
like extent in Dakota, and will connect u