The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-05-22
THE NEW NORTHWEST.
A Trip to the Great James River Valley OF
Dakota.
IFrom the Fargo lDakotal Republican.l

Dakota.
GFrom the Fargo (Dakota) Republican,
We extract the following from an
article in the st. Paul Pioneer Press,
the writer thereof having approached
the valley by way of the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad, and the new
town near Lake Kampeska AS natural
consequence from its being the termi-
ms of the road we found the new town
completely overrun with new corners
strangers nearly all seeking new
homes; some few were found whose
destination was the same as ours, the
James river valley, some in our d1rec-
ton and some in others, but mostly, II
not all, sought the valley south OF our
contemplated point. From the railroad
our route passed over what is known as
the "Coteau DIES Prairie" which con-
sists of high, rolling hills, interspersed
with small lakes and a few scattered
groves of timber. In places there are
level spots which would be suitable for
farms, but generally these elevated
prairies are more suitable for grazing
than for agricultural purposes. Leav-
ing the hills after some thirty miles
travel, we dropped down some 400
feet on to a slightly rolling plain,
with not thing to obstruct our view.
This is really the wonderful James-river
valley, but, the timber along the river
being so far distant, it was not visible to
limited visions. In the winter it is said
to be plainly seen, owing to some more
favorable condition of the atmosphere.
Twenty-Five miles over this enchanting
prairie brings us to the James river, our
attention being attracted during all the
day by the wild game common to this
section, the antelope being the most
common. For the several days we re-
manned along the river, taking in some
fifty miles Of it, our eyes were Toasted
by the sight of millions of geese, ducks,
brants, swan and pelican, and many
other fowls. In places they would liter
ally cover the gentle slopes leading from
the bench lands down to the river, feed
ing on the green. tender grass. These
bench lands have all the appearance of
some day having been the bottom of a
great lake, the coteaus being the we'll
marked shores of it. East of
the river the valley is from
twenty to thirty miles wide, and west
of it it is still wider, extending from
fifty to seventy-fve miles. The soil
cannot well be surpassed; there seems
to be no limit to it's depth. Consider
ing all of it's advantages, it would be
difficult to estimate it's great natural re-
sources for immense productive wealth.
Its length being several hundred miles,
and from fifty to 100 miles wide, with
scarcely a foot of waste land in it's
entire are, some day, not far distent, it
will become one vast wheat field, for
which it seems by nature more especially
adapted. The water in the river we
found to be soft, indicating that wells
driven, which could be done anywhere
in few hours, would produce the same,
quite an advantage over the Red river
valley. The river flows south, hence,
In breaking up in spring, it would COM
mence breaking from it's mouth first, so
that the water and ice would be carried
OFF without danger from jams and over
flow, unlike the Red river in this re-
spect; besides the bench lands are high
enough to insure them against such q
contingency In any event. The settlers
in this valley, while they may seem now
almost out of the world, will be espe-
cially favored, even for those as far
east as large portion of Southern
Minnesota; first, for the reason that
they will be able to raise two bushels of
wheat more to the acre, and at least
one grade better quality; and, what
will be more surprising than all, they
will be nearer market with the proper
railroad connections. To illustrate this
fact, which will seem strange to those
not having given the subject proper
consideration. If we are rightly in
formed, the distance from Fargo to Du-
luth is 225 miles. A hundred and sew
enty-fve miles further would take in a
large portion ofathe James river valley,
placing those people equal in distance
to market with people in large por-
ton of Iowa, as well as large portion
of Southern Minnesota, who are de-
pending upon Milwaukee and Chicago
for market; and inasmuch as the mar
ket in Duluth will, doubtless, in the
future, considering the quality Of the
wheat, be better than either of the places
named, makes those wheat raisers espe-
cially favored over those far down the
James river valley, should railroad
reach out for them from Fargo or some
point on the Northern Pacific.