The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-14
Oh, Canton aDbocate
TUESDAY. MAY IA, 1878.
The Grain Field Of the Future.

Correspondence Chicago Trihune.)
YANKTos, DAk., May 1.-The praises OF south
ern Mnneaots by NJ. Warren in you. eoiunns are
no natural Of course that ne and your readers have
cause to regret he did not go !urthe! ard do more
than just Peep Into Dakots. Had he continued on
that branch Of the Northwestern railroad to ts
terminus q L,ke Ksmpe:as he would have been far
more delighted than ct the State line. There ne
would have been near the head Of the Big Sioux
river. little further west would have brought
him to the great rich plain and lake re ion about
and above the head OF the Vermillion river and 30
miles more would have placed him on ths Dakots
(popnlarly called James, river. and opened before
his eyes Of the richest aud most attractive val
leys in tho west.
From thst supposed line of travel, southern Da-
kots forms inclined plane southwark to the
Missouri river, into which stream those above
nsmsd flow. That which in common parlance u
called southern Dakota, is that region east and
north OF the Missouri and south OF the for'y-sl1th
parallel; for 1t must Be remembered that the Mis-
souri, flows nearly due east for about 100 miles
along southern Dakota, forming the boundary be-
tween 1t and Nebraska. What are properly known
"a "the plains" extend from the base Of the Rocky
Mountains eastward to the Missouri, aud that the
whole region 10 regular plane, inclined toward
the east from 5000 feet elevation At the western
edge, down to from 1000 to 600 feet the east.
Across that now several well known streams in
nearly parallel courses. Here, north Of the Mia
souri,, Ia smaller copy Of the same inclined TO tho
south, having NO tncuntain on It's northern edge,
but prairie, varying from 1900 to 1900 feet in
elevation, and sloping down to q thousand feet or
less above sea level here along the issouri. Down
across this flow tho streams named, the Big Sioux,
the Y !rmillion, and Dakota, which empties into
the Missouri near Ysnkton.
All the lands are rich, tho greater part Of them
very rich. They are level plains. bottom lands
along the streams, or gentlyro'llng prairies. The
SUI nmer scenes are beautiful, and the whole sp-
pea rance OF the country attractive. There Is rom
and opportunity for wheat-fsrns Of Auy extent, but
the REVEALING tendency is toward smaller fern. .ud
denser settlement. There s-s unsurpassed fsci l.
tiles or stock-raising and dairy operations. The
report OF dairy meetings in tho rribu ns last water
comm ended highly the native grasses fof butter and
cheese. If these Of Iowa and Alum ,sotA sre coed
those lsre are perfect, for have many varieties
In IL nited ares, from the waving rsuk ~. sues
upon the lowlands and old food plains Of the rv-
ers. up to the varied common prairie grasses AID
the butt a!o and CANA grass Of the higher drier
lands. West, toward aud beyond the Missouri, the
grasses predominant which cure upon the ground
Into rich winter food.
Here. Upon these fertile plains, Is now grown the
standard hard spring wheat Of which We have be-
fore written, aud which now contributes 70 the
fair fame of Minnesota wheat. About every bushel
Of it Is DC u.ht especially and Shipped to the MILLS
direct. Southern Dakota is also good corn coun-
try; and ere oats, rye, barley, potatoes. and small
fruits prod uce most abundsnty.
The topc graphy of this region, to which we first
alluded is greatly In its favor. There ere Nc noun
tains in d. kota except the so-calied BI.ck Hills.
The generii elevation il not great; but here the
Missouri hs plowed up deep > ID vast valley. he
highest pot ut in northwestern Iowa il 1900 fesi
above 10 vel, and ia high in part along the
Minnesots Ii le; yet Yanktou is III oInl noers
elevated only 1000 feet, and the Who'll, region mas
southern so. pc. Here is the Dakota river, w.ic
rises lOl miles North Of the Northern Pacific
raj road and Joins the Mi souh ar this city This
vide and Se,t le valley Will in ten years be as famed
"a that " the kaw or Kansas and its tributaries.
Immigration Il now pouring over our borders ct
livery point Che gold standard has kept our farms
and improved lands at low value sud the ppor.
tunties celisnt. The writer IL not .lins in
lands or any speculation, aud purposely re,r.ias
from sdvccaa ag any special locality. TIL region
10 broad ,,at. al 10 open. One cannot now 10
smiss. W. Il. II. EEADLE.