Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-30

A VOICE FROM THE JIM.l

The Railroad contagion Spreading,
and the Great Valley is Filling
Up with People.
Pioneers Views on the Prominent
Topic, and Predictions OF tho Future.
Correspondence Press and Dakotaian.
MAxwELI3ClrY, Hutchinson county, D.
I, May %, 1s7s.-At last the Dakota or
jim river valley is known and appreciated,
and in genuine way, which leaves no
doubt in any ones mind that the days Of
pioneer work along the lower Jim are nun.
bered, and the work done. In the history
OF settlement in the west, every valley has
its day, and just now the Dakota valley ia
getting her full share of attention. The
people who are now filling up this vast
agricultural region have full confidence in
Its future; the railroads have confidence,
and the old settlers have an increased con-
fidence. inspired by the fact that money
and men are not lacking to take advantage
Of the opportunities offered, and are willing
to bet both their money and muscle in its
development.
Railroad excitement and railroad build
ing is in order just now; actual work ia
being done all along the line of the Chica-
60, Milwaukee and St. Paul road from
Canton to Firesteel. Let this corporation
also build to Yankton from Canton, and
the trade and business ofSouthern Dakota
goes to Milwaukee and Milwaukee roads.
That they are not going to be allowed to
do this quietly, is evident. There has been
an awakening in the Illinois Central and
Chicago and Northwestern. roads. They
are not going to allow such an important
feeder as the Dakota Southern to have no
feed, hence we have had visit of distin.
guished railroad magnates, including that
we'll known western railroad man, John (
Blair. They turned their steps up this val
ley from Yankton. We understand their
praises Of it were unlimited. Will an ex-
tension Of the Dakota Southern from Yank.
ton to Firesteel follow upon the heels Of
this excursion and Chicago roads share the
business with Milwaukee, or shall Milwau-
kee get it all?
What will be the improvements Of the
next six months? We are of the opinion
they will count mora in the improvement.
Of this valley than what has been done in
the past ten years, or since the first settle.
ment. Then the Dakota river was named
on the old maps "Riviere aux jacques
and described as running silently between
"Coteaux du Prairie," known only to the
French trappers and Indians, and after
wards anglicised into "Jim river" which
name l suppose will ever stick to it, and is
the only correct thing about it. The i'm
provements now actually upon it are, first,
the Dakota Southern railroad bridge near
it's mouth next the old government bridge
four miles up; then at Janesville, eighteen
miles further, We have wagon bridge
built by Yankton county; at Maxwell City,
twenty-five miles it ia both damned and
bridged, and makes large water power;
operating at present grst mill. AtOlive,
thirty miles, it is bridged by Hutchinson
county Wolf Greek, forty miles, there is a
dam making good water power and oper-
asing a large mill Milltown, fifty miles up,
We find the same thing, mill and dam
Rockport, likewise, sixty-two miles. At all
these mills will be found the nucleus Of
business. Firesteel has the prospective
railroad bridge Of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul railroad. From there to
Jamestown, $50 miles, where the river is
bridged by the Northern Pacific there are
no improvements, but at the rate the
whole valley is settling how long will it be
before we will find . mill and townsite
every ten or twelve miles from Firestee]
up?
1t is true the Dakota river is the Longest
unnavigable stream in the world, but it il
not uselses. 1t will grind the wheat for .
dense population now settling along it
; banks, where the absence of fuel max,
; water-powers valuable property. What th'
Gennessee valley was to New York. th'
J, Dakota valley will be to Dakota in tn,
quality and quantity Of its wheat produc
/, tions.
How long will the Dakota Southern ex
tension company take before they realiz
that they must have feeder, and in orde
9 to get it, they must extend up the Jim
e We believe they zee il now if they don
they will, like the river, be damned, in
e good many places. Yours, j. L. NJ.