Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-01

gross upon its roomy and handsome town
site At Milltown and Maxwell. Touring
mills are In successful operation with plenty
of work to do, and at Firesteel mill pro.
Iject is on foot which will result In some
thing tangible.
ABOVE FlREsTEEL
settlement has not largely progressed,
though indications are numerous and the
coming fall will find many home seekers
comfortably fixed for life in region which
acknowledges no superior for richness and
natural advantages. The bottom lands Of
the Jim widen towards Its source and the
bluffs become lower until finally. far beyond
the present settlements, the two are blend
ed into the plain and their distinctive fea-
lures are lost. For twenty-five miles
above Firesteel we found broad, rich
bottom lands, in places heavily timbered
with hard wood. There are still many de-
sirable claims unoccupied along this section
Of the river, though some of the best timber
has been secured by pioneer settlers. Father
Morris, an Episcopal clergyman, and his
sons have located at Morristown and have
gone extensively into agricultural opera
tions. At Forestburg we found the claims
and houses of w. G. Santee, w. E. TAFT,
VIM. Mcfarland and Mr.. Belcher scattered
along the valley for distance of half
dozen miles. All these gentlemen are en-
gagged in farming aud stock growing and are
progressing year by year. Belcher's is the
the last white habitation on the river. 1t
occupies high wooded bluff and is visible
for miles away-a rare sight upon these
boundless prairies where upland timber is
an unlocked for freak of nature. Beyond Bel
cher's we are told there is no timber until
the dirt lodges, sixty miles away, are
reached and there it exists in large quanti-
ties.
AS A STOCK GROWING REGION
the valley of this river and the adjacent up.
lands possess advantages unsurpassed by
any region in the west. There are probably
places where large herds require less winter
care than here, but the compensation which
the Jim river stock growers receive for the
extra labor of providing for few months
of winter comes in the superiority of the
beef product, the complete development of
their cattle and the absolute immunity
from disease which their herds enjoy. up.
on the native grasses alone stock is reared
and fattened for the market. This is point
to be borne in mind There are few locali-
ties which produce Wild grasses possessing
qualities sufficient to render them
. complete substitute for grain in the prep.
aration of table beef. The traveller up the
Jim at this season of the year can satisfy
himself that this is the case by an examin.
ltion of the numerous herds feeding upon
be hillsides and bottom pastures of this
choice fragment of nature grazing ground.
Though the grass has not yet reached ma.
urity, and many months of richer feeding
re yet to come, every head of stock is
leek and round and fat enough for beef.
This is a spectacle which induces new
;omers to do as the pioneers of tue Jim
nave done-made a start in the direction of
he ownership Of herd. This is all that
$ necessary and the beginning is not diff
:ult. A few cattle or horses are the nu-
'leus around which time will gather profit
lble numbers and with little labor on the
part of the producer.
Ofthe grasses of the Jim that upon the |
'ottom land is best adapted for hay and 1t
8 generally reserved for winter feed. Up
IN the uplands rich summer grazing is
abundant, SO there is no necessity for in.
'ruding upon the reserve set apart for the
nclement season. In few instances i'm
proved grasses from the south and east have
'een introduced upon the bottom land by
Vay of experiment, and with good success. |
t has been demonstrated that the celebra-
ed blue grass grove as naturally and abun.
lantly as does the wild grass placed there
y nature. Stock growing is to become
me of the important industries of this rich
egion. The field is an extensive one, and
he profits to accrue cannot be estimated.
GEOLOGICAL PECuL1ARITIEs.
From the broad bench which rises from
he river at Rockport crops out inplentiful
bundance the stone which has given to
3ockport its name and thus far its chief dis. |
inction among the towns of the Jim. 1t
les in broken lodges and piles, in places
everal feet above the surface. This rock is
# a red flesh tint and is as hard as granite,
nd is enormously supposed to belong to
hat species. The same formation is found
Rosedale, few miles above. 1t
ppears again at Sioux Falls and occasion.
lily crops out between that place and Rock.
ort. Farther eastward the last trace
nown to US of this anomalous geological
reation occurs at DEVILS Lake, in Wiscon.
in, and westward from Rockportit it shows
self In the broken strata of Bijou Hills, on
he Missouri river. At Devils Lake its
dior is blush gray, but otherwise there
J no difference between the outcroppings of
aese widely separated points. 1t belongs to
he peO1OOica1 c1aaa known ao nnofororph;c