Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-05

either eide, thar crssts and slopes being de
voidAf veeseatioa and y black q the deep
est a1A6desof night. This d part Of wha'
is callsd ~ bod land rssiea Of IL Missouri
The soil is Of the "gumbo" variety, eo
stpoSsly i~mpregnated with alkali that II
kills all vegetation excepting occasional
streaks in the deeper gulches, where the
water concentrates from the surrounding
hills and comes down to the Missouri. Ia
these gulches the alkaline deposit seems to
have been partially removed by aqueous
action and some grass and stunted timber
grows therein. These gunbo hills are high
and steep and are constantly being changed
by the action Of the elements. There is no
~pssnanency to their slopes. They are liza
be ataly time to slide into the valleys be-
ulath. OF into the Missouri, and ~ . matter
of course when the underpinnin0soes out
the submits of the hills join in the general
avalanche Of earth and the entire structure
changes location. A formation Of this sort
is not q very desirable foundation for . rail
road. Between the White and Bad rivers
there is, however, q narrow strip entirely
different from the prevailing formation.
This il down Medicine creek from the east
and westward over the beautiful green
slopes of Fort George. The hills at
this point are low, the ascent easy
over solid ground. The river crossing
here would be as practicable as any on the
Missouri. From Bad river northward to
Cheyenne river the same general character
istjcs prevail ~ l have noted as the distin-
gushing features between the White and
the Bad. But above the Cheyenne river
there is . decided change in the face Of
nature. The hills on either aide Of the
Missouri are low, with easy slopes back
ward from the river, and are covered with
a luxuriant growth Of vegetation. The
high PERCEPTIONS and barren elevations
which disfgure the landscape farther down
have disappeared, and a gently undulating
plateau forms the water shed between the
Cheyenne and Moreau rivers. Over this
rolling plain . railroad could be built as
cheaply and ~ easily as upon the prairies
of Turner, Lincoln or Yankton counties.
This is the railroad route to the BLACK
Hills which has been recommended BY thu
Press and Dakotaian, and an inspection o.
its river front veri6es previous assertions
The easiest and most practicable railroad
extension to the Hills would be from Kan
peska westward via this route.
INCREASE OF GAME.
From the Cheyenne river Westward ii
the direction of Bismarck an unusua
abundance OF large game-deer, elk ant
antelope-is noticed. Upon the bluffs AM
bottoms they frequently appeared as gu
boat passed along, gazing with wondering
eyes for an instant, then turning tail an
speeding over the hills and away from tn
, neighborhood of 80 suspicious an objec
, Game along the river has not been cemno
for some years. Its presence now is a
cribed to the fact that many of the Indian
have been disarmed, within the past yes
f or two, and are consequently unable to hui
down or drive out the remnants of the gre
l herds which formerly roamed over the
f p%rairies. A year or two of exemption fro
. slaughter p%erceptibly increases the numb'
Of game animals, and a few years more vi
3 perhaps make them so numerous that ordel
forbidding Indians to own firearms will |
of little avail. If it be true las is relate
. to us) that they comply with the order
!, present, such compliance comes out of II
utter uselessness Of firearms in a country
nearly stripped Of its game, together wit
a polite regard for the wishes Of the 60
eminent which feeds and clothes. The i
| dian is sufficiently civilized to realize tn
his gun is just now n%on-productiv
while obedience to the requirements Of II
fostering power is fruitful of fat beef, flo,
It blankets and breeches.
INDUSTRIOUS INDIANS.
p The number of Indian wood-choppt
has considerably increased, particular
d along the upper portion Of the river street
y between Yankton and Bismarck. Aim
every wood landing is peopled by q SOU
of lsboring bucks and aquaws, while p'
a. poses-the germs of coming generations
t. horny handed red men-are numere
IN enough to keep each Indian household il
ID state Of perpetual ~gladnees. These Ind
~ woodlands generally give good meas
lls and good wood, though there is an OK
'ut aional Yankee among them who piles
III rotten sticks in the inside, and hides
eli third rate drift wood under . plausi
~ exterior of solid cord sticks cut from
'o forest. But forest trees are decreasing al,
the Missouri, and BY the time the Ind
learns to perform the labor skillfully, ii
ne will be no abundance Of timber for hin
ufR