Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-06

rHE sioux VALLEY.

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A trip up the Sioux valley in the latter
days Of March does not impress the traveller
with q favorable al opinion Of the country
~ he would receive il his trip was made
= month or six weeks later. The bleak and
sombre appearance which the newly burned
prairie grass gives the country absorbs the
attention, and then there is nothing particu-
larry attractive about the thoueands of acres
ofplowed and cultivated ground upon which
in niost cases the crops are not visible. But
let the traveller pass through the valley six
weeks later, and what a transformation in
the face of nature will then meet his eye!
The unbroken prairie lands which are now
black from recent burning, will then be YER
dant with a rich growth of grass the now
bare fields will be covered with vigorously
growing crops the trees will be clad in
their robes Of green, and everything that
meets the eye will present an attractive and
pleasant appearance. Dakota, wherever you
may 60 within Its borders, is q pleasant
country to travel in, but like all other coun-
triee, to be properly appreciated must be
seen when robed in natures most attractive
garb.
P~ortlandville, or the Iowa side Of the
Sioux river, 10 the aorthern terminus of
the Sioux City & Pembina railroad. This
town contains population Of about 300,
and the usual number of business houses,
hotels, &c. and q large Touring mill. The
town presents a lively, wide awake appear.
ance, and Is the trading point of a large
circle Of farmers in Iowa and Dakota. This
is the starting point OF Towards daily stage
line for Sioux Falls, and tits only necessary
to say in regard to it that like everything
owned and managed by Charley Howard, it
is run on irst-class business principles. 1t
is one Of the best stocked lines in the terri.
tory, runs as regular as clock .work, and has
net lost a trip since it has been under the
management of Nj. Howard.
Northward from Portlandville are the
post-ofdces at Sioux Valley, Virginia and
Eden, the two former in Union and the lat
ter in Lincoln county. Al Eden there is q
store of general merchandise kept by Mr..
Culberlson, who is also postmaster: and
close by is the comfortable home and fine
farm Of that we'll known Dakotaian, Buck
Wheelock. The country around Eden is
simply magnificent. aud If Buck Wheelock
will consent to represent Adam and select
his Y Eve, no one will suspect that tie
town is designated by amisnomer.
Next north Of Eden comes Fairview,
where there are a couple Of stores, shops
and a large FIGURING mill. the latter Of which
is owned BY MI. Spencer, the leading man
of the settlement. Here the road again
crosses into Iowa, and seyen miles farther
north is the town Of Beloit, the county scat
Of Lyon county. This town contains several
stores, a FIGURING mill and the usual quota
of professional men aud mechanics On
the Dakota side of the Sioux is Lower Can.
ton, the two towns being connected by a
good bridge. Lower Canton is about the
same size and maintains about the same
amount of business as Beioit. The two
towns pull together" and are rivals of up
per Canton. which lies one mile further up
the river, and is the county seat of Lincoln
county. The Sioux City & Fembina rail
road will probably be extended to Beloit
this hummer. The railroad company has
promised to complete the road to Beloit
by the first of September, provided the peo-
pie will grade the road and give the
company . bonus Of $25,O0 0 in cash. Three
townships in Lyon and Sioux counties,
Iowa, have already voted a tax for this pur-
pose which will aggregate $4,000, and it is
expected that other townships will follow
suit and raise the required money bonus.
This done, the people along the line expect
to be able to grade the road by voluntary
contributions of money and labor, and thus
comply with the requirements made Of them
60 as TO have the road completed in time to
carry off the surplus products of the coming
harvest. The demand made of the people
BY the railroad company is equivalent to
grading and tieing the road. Then the
road-bed can be mortgaged for enough to
build the bridges and buy the iron, and the
road completed with very little cost to the
The supper town. and the two
clover towns could not agree in regard to
the location Of the depot and the respective
amounts of subsidy. to be furnished, hence
all the aid must come from the lower towns
and the country southwark, and the terminus
and depot will be at Beloit. And now up
per Canton is casting about for another rail-
road, and with encouraging prospects of
success. The Sioux City aud St. Paul rail.
road company OWNS q large quantity Of land
Lyon county, a~ggregating, We believe
about $1,000 acres, all Of which will be bro't
into market and greatly enhanced in value
ty the building Of a branch road from
Worthington in ssouthwesterly direction to
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