Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-28
Z TERRITORY
Another Sensible Letter from General
Beadlc OF
To the Editor of the Tribune

Beadlo OF Yankton.
To the Editor of the Tribune
Yankton, D. T. March 1s.-The greatest
of the territories in area, nearest to Chicago
Of all, connected with it and other lake ports
by great lines of railroad, deserves increas-
ed attention now, because it is the sole re-
naming agricultural territory. 1t alone
contains vast and continuous bodies of the
most fertile lands open to settlement with
out money and without price. The Tribune
has contained articles recently from Mime
sofa papers showing the large amount Of
government and railroad lands taken in that
state BY settlers during the past year, and
that this movement nov goes on with in
creasing volume. This has been due mainly
to the proved superior character of the hard
spring wheat there produced, and the won
derful adaptation Of the soil for great crops
of it. That is the special feature, though
much of this great region will ere long be-
come as much celebrated for stock-growing
and dairy products.
1t is specially gratifying to Dakota to
know that Minnesota will soon be full.
Iowa has already disposed of all govern
ment lands, and only q email part of the
railroad lands remains. Their western
boundary is the eastern one for Dakota, and
the character of the lands for this great
staple, hard wheat, improves steadily west
ward and northwestward. That is the point
to be remembered. 1t will be recognized
in . few years, when the wheat crop Of Da-
kota will equal or surpass that Of Minnesota.
| Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas cannot raise
it, nor can they surpass us in cattle raising
or dairy products, though they have vaster
herds such IS they are. Favorable opinion
for Minnesota or Iowa is praise for Dakota.
Though Minnesota has long had . high rep
utation as a wheat producing region, it is
fair to call attention TO the fact that it now
has at once q better and 4 different reputa-
ton in that respect. What has
produced this change and revival? 1t is
not that grasshoppers are gone, as it is be-
lieved, permanently, nor because of any
great change or improvement in this crop in
the older settled parts in the southeast quar-
ter of the state. The change is due to the
opening OF new lands in the western parts
Of the state, near Dakota. That has given
the increase and improved quality. Not .
little of 1t is due also to the Dakota product,
which goes to swell the volume. To south.
eastern Dakota AMI the valley of the Red
River of the North il due much of the
present interest. Ihl.ymple's great whea.
farm was in Dakota. though it contributes
mostly to the fame Of Minnesota. Here in
southern Dakota were produced several
million bushels of wheat of the highes,
quality. Probably the finest spring wheat
ever raised on this continent was the crop o
southern Dakota for 1877. 1t is purchased
almost entirely BY millers in Illinois anc
elsewhere. They pay a few cents above tn
l hiRhegt market price for the sake of Rettiul
1t. Hundreds Of car loads 90 to Dixon
Sterling and other points in your state. 1
is the celebrated Fife uheat,-not only tn
bes variety Of spring wheat known when il
its proper climate, but it has here found
new nativity and character, and. to-day sur
passes every other variety or grade known
That Is Whist We mean when re say aDako
u No. ! hard"
The railroads hare reached OF psaasd on
eastern boedes. The Novsh<rn Pacific hs
penetrated 70 Bismarck, 70 miles into Da
kosa. The 8. Paul 4 Psd1c ssseAN ~
border Ut Br~rtinridgs, Miss, and b<yan