Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-15

OAKDALE, AUG. Sth. 1878.
Editors Press & Dnkotaidn:
We notice in your issue Of August LIST, a
communication taken from the Pen and
Pillow of this place with remarks Of your
own bearing upon the subject of trade re-
lations between your city and the Elkborn
valley. The interest you manifest in the
matter and your suggestion with regard to
a railroad to Columbus encourage US to
communicate with you directly upon this
and TO US interesting idea. If Yank-
ton could take up the Enterprise Of a rail-
road to Columbus where Sioux City has left
it, ana push it to a successful! issue the be.
neft, to her would cutstrip the present range
of our Imagination.
1t is only necessary to refer to the past
history of Omaha, to form some correct idea
of the advantage a railroad westward would
be tQ either Yankton or Sioux City.
We can not discuss this subject in all its
details, but we will throw out a few sug-
gestions and facts that seem to US to justify
the idea Of railroad through this region
which you so wisely suggest.
In the first place the city between Omaha
and Bismarck that first pushes a railroad
west to the U. P. will be the city between
those points and all others will necessarily
languish until they do likewise. Niobrara
has been spoken of as the coming town by
.,o,;or n rooI t> Tho RIool> Hills b,,t 1k,%
would involve the necessity of a direct east.
ern outlet and communication with the Pa.
ciic. A r. r. from Yankton to Columbus
would cut the Elkhorn and Loup Fork val.
leys at right angles and would run all the
way through as good farming country as
the world affords. The cattle
trade from the upper waters of the
Loup and the Elkhorn will be immense.
With all the horrors that four years Of
grasshoppers could entail, the following is
the showing for this year, '7S, of the coun-
ties between Columbus and Yankton
through which a road would pass if ever
built, between your country and ours:
Platte county has raised 100000 bushels
of wheat, 100000 bushels of corn, 10000
bushels of oats and 900 0 bushels of rye and
barley.
Boone county, $1,000 bushels of wheat,
$4,000 bushels of corn, $4,000 bushels of
oats and 10000 bushels of rye and barley.
Antelope county, 81, 900 bushels OF wheat,
100, 1000 bushels Of corn. 10000 bushels of
oats, 10000 bushels of rye and barley.
Knox county, 10000 bushels Of wheat,
10000 bushels of coru, $4,000 bushels of
oats and $4,000 bushels of rye and barley.
The citizens of Columbus are among the
most enterprising in the states and they
would reverse their past record if they did
not take hold of any proposition looking
toward a R. r. outlet in your direction.
They are now preparing to build q narrow
guage road north, through Boone county.
1t is not unrea sonable 10 think that Platte,
Boone. Antelope and Knox counties would
60 In and aid such an enterprise If fair
guarantees were given for it's early compile
ton. Then when we consider the fraud
that was practlced upon the northern por.
ton of Nebraska In turning the "Sioux City
and Pacific" "down the river" to Blair and
from there west to Fremont whiting whist.
ling distance of the q. P. and the giving of
lands and money to this pronged rams horn,
and when we consider too what is proposed
to be done for the Omaha and National
Park r. r. say the giving Of 40 sections of
land to the mile so that II may run up the
Missouri bottom to CONNIE with q Terra
Del Fuego." and this being. as we are tn
formed, 80 that the Nebraska delegation 10
congress will agree TO vote for Tom SCOTS
Texas scheme. In view Of oil this, then We
think that northern Nebraska might reason.
ably ask for old from the general govern.
ment, for the building Of . road through 10