Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1877-11-28

Clear Lake, kloWa) Observer was
out in this country a week or two
ago, and below we give some of
his jottings while here, which we
clip from his paper. While some
of if is very inaccurate, the ''heft'
of it is true:
III the afrcrr-orr ,~c~~er~~~r~s~~sssA
Point. in Dakota, and found quite II lively
little burg, and much changed since cur
first visit in 1864, when one log house
comprised the tow complete. While
here we met a number of old Iowa plen-
GERS. aud shook hands with Charlie Lut1,
A. X. and N. &. Curtis, Dan Bryan, Mrs.
Parish, Rev. q. W. Ffecman aad others,
all happy and we'll schooied in grassiiop-
per experience. We spent "a day in town
and studied Probate law, and more es-
peciaily Probate ices, aau concluded that
Iowa men had much to learn. Also that
| Dakota Preachers were just as valuable
Probate officers as down cast preachers
are for Life Insurance Presidents. In
the evening we boarded II train OH the
| Dakota Southern Il. r.. and were soon
landed in Yankton, the chief city of the
Territory. When We visited the city
some years ago, it was the worst scattered
city tn be iuuad, but now 1t Is very well
| built up. Agood class OF buildings gen
orally, but low, nearly ali one story. The
Merchants Hotel is il three story brick,
aud is large. aud comnodious, and up
pears to be kept up in first class style.
We noticed the stores carried large stocks
Of goods, and appearances Indicate a large
business for town Of its size. We count
ed fifteen steamboats, at their levec, and
were told that about half their fleet haG
gone south to winter. Iauk.ou is virtu
ally the foot of Steamboat navigation toi
the upper rivers, ADD about 40 boats
make regular trips from theIe, and do al
immease t,eiglt,ng buSiness, receiving
their freight principally from the Dakot'
Southern Railroad. This read russ fret,
Sioux City to Yankton, II distance of &
miles, and is probably ~ OF the bes
paying roads in the couHtfy, and 1t coul'
not be in better hands to furnish accan!
mediation to travellers aud sllppefs. Thei
Superintendent, Mr.. g. L. Merchant, IS
yeung man, but his surroundings sho,
that he understands his business, as
!, level, smooth track, clean, warm car
regular trains, on time That suits the tray
, ell, and facilities for handling the elol
mus freight that passes over their lin
; is satisfactory evidence of his ability I
manage a railroad.
. The first settlement of the Terrltor
{ was en- the river bottom along the pre-
(, ent iipe If the ,aiirrua, but for son
' reason the settlers have nearly ail left tt
8 bottom lands aud moved onto the hig
$ prairie and are settling the country u
G fast. They rasied excellent crops tn
season, and The day We were i'll III
Poiit wheat was sold at IS cents p
y buslel, and at 70 cents in Yankto
witch shows the advantage of havis
three different railroads to market. III
n people Of Dakota have suffered mnc
from grassheppcrs, but are not yet al
couragei, and are liound To win III Il
end. Many OF them expressed the
le thanks for supplies sent from northe
a Iowa to their suffering poor during 4
), grassliopper season. aud are truly gaat
. full fer assistance rendered in days
y desolatibn. 49,
We did not learn the number Of
habitants. in the Territory or their oct
pations eatirely. but Judging from tho
we convtrscd with W. concluded that
least four ii!fhs Of them were or b
been members of the Legislature. n
the balance officers of the house, viii
explained Probate fees tn our enti
e1 satisfaction. This, Of course, does !
' apply to the city 1T Yankton. wht
nothing less than a Governor is tolerate
and where more Governors can be fou
than any other place in the northe
states.