Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-01
THE VALLEY OF THE i'm.
Together With a Brief Description Of
the Wessington Hills.
CHARACTERISTICS and Advantages Of tho Riches
Region h alI the West

!. characteristics and Advantages Of tho Richie
II Region h alI the West
Grain Growing and Stock r Raisinx-Rapi
Settlemont-Pormanen Inn.
pr0vomonts,
Having recently travelled over create
portion of the jim river valley, and th
country adjacent thereto, tor a distance 0
one hundred miles northward from Yank
ton. We cannot let pass the occasion 70
placing in print few facts which cam
under our observation, pertaining to thi
rich agricultural and grazing region. Ou
trip included visit to the Wessingtol
Hills, . locality in the unoccupied porto,
Of Dakota about which little Is known N,
person can traverse the country watered By
this the largest stream In Dakota, with th,
single exception of the Missouri river, with
out becoming impressed with the belle
that it is destined to act an important par
as wealth producing medium. The rivel
bottom produces hay in abundance while
the uplands are perfectly adapted to graz
ing and grain growing. Wheat. rye. barley
oats and corn are its staple products and tc
secure good yield of each it is only neces.
sary to plow, plant and harvest. Cattle
grow and fatten upon the rich grasses and
can be turned upon the market by thous.
ands from the natural pasturage here afford.
ed.
THE PRESENT CROP
is approaching maturity and few weeks
will place all the small grain in the stack.
For about fifteen miles northward from
Yankton the prospect for first class wheat
crop is not so good as 1t has been during
previous years. Too much moisture has
brought rust upon the growing grain and
many fields are robbed of their green by
this unnatural fungus growth. Beyond this
narrow belt of moisture there is nothing to
impair the quantity or quality of the wheat
and the most abundant harvest the valley
has ever known will be gathered during the
present month. Rye will be mostly bar
vested this week and few fields of barley
are also ready for the reaper. The stand Of
small grain is imprecedentedly heavy, cool
weather and frequent rains having induced
the fullest growth from every grain of seed.
Corn is generally backward, owing to the
prevalence of cool weather, but month of
heat will place it out of danger
Of fall frosts.
The rainfall of this valley gradually de.
;reases from the mouth of the river upward
md we found that while the farmers of the |
over Jim were suffering from too much |
Moisture, those hundred miles away were
n need of more rain.
SETTLERS COMING IN.
Here In Yankton we have heard that the
eason has brought many settlers into the
'allev of the Jim, but one can form no ade.
luate conception Of the extensive immigra.
ion now In progress from the random
eports which come down from that region.
All the way from Yankton county to Fire.
teel improvements are in progress and
'road stretches of virgin prairie which a
ear ago were houseless and tenantless are
low dotted over With the abodes of new
omers. while busy hands are pushing for.
yard the work of permanent development.
Silently these strangers from the east have
asst their anchors in the sea of living green,
luietiy they have fixed their homes where
nan never dwelt before-thus almost i'm.
the wave of settlement rolls on.
Yard, and ere we can realize the change the
wilderness blossoms and the fruits of mans
Industry are laid at the door of commerce.
dany trip have We made over this route
d years gone by, but now the eye misses
be old familiar waste places and we are
rou9ht to realize the fact that progress un-
recedented has come upon this favored re. |
ion. We are told that the immigration
lhich has this season planted itself along
be Jim, and eastward and westward from
be Jim, is but the advance guard of the |
osts which are to follow within the next
1elve months.
TIE TOWNS OF THE JIM,
'hile they have not increased In size and
opulation in proportion to the settlement
the country, have a business like air
'hich tells the story Of prosperity. Each
lns its faith on coming crops and coming
lilroads, and there is hardly lot owner in
le valley whose castles In the air do not
Ike the shape of depot buildings, round
ouses, machine shops, grain elevators and
1rieking locomotives. Milltown was sud.
emily aroused one morning by the advent
party Of railroad surveyors who had
one all the way from the beginning of the
.lgona extension and were looking the
round over. From that instant Milltown
as been the centre of grand aspirations and
|wn lots cannot there be had for q song.
Mess It jingles merrily to the music of the
Dllar of the daddies. Rockport gazes with
q. Az l