Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-13
JIM RIVER VALLEY +.

The Eldorado of Dahota-A Feso Facts tor
the Information Of Those Who Want
Homes IN the West Ashton, Sphinx
County, the Center Due Vest Sipsy
Miles from Watertocn.
Almost every one has heard of the won
derful "Jim River Valley, Dakota whose
fame has been told by different visitors
during the past season, yet but few COM
paratively have correct idea of it's
extent, richness, or beauty. The stream
from which the valley takes it's name enters
the Missouri little below Yankton, D. T.,
and finds its source above Jamestown, on
the Northern Pacific railroad. Traversing
as it does the entire southern half of the
Territory, from north to south, it passes
through strip of country in its tortuous
course from so to 60 miles in width, unsur-
passed in beauty and fertility by even the
famous Red River valley. The soil, deep
rich black sand loan, from 21a to feet
deep, and guarantees unsurpassed fertility and
only invites cultivation to become the m ost
productive region in the West. One year
ago this vast tract contained only one set
tier south of the n. P. Il. 4. At present
hundreds of families have located and thou
sands more stand ready with the opening of
spring to strike their tents and follow the
star of empire to this wonderful land of
promise, where home and fortune await
them. In order that those who have never
visited this section may have some guide to
direct them. we give them through the COL
umns of the GLOBE what we believe to be
the shortest and most practicable route for
reaching the very heart of this country. The
Winona & st. Peter railroad at their western
terminus at Watertown leaves you just sixty
miles east of the Jim river, which inter
vening space is traversed by the best of roads,
always available for stages or teams. For
the first ten or twelve miles west of Water
town the prairie is level and unbroken, but
beyond you begin to enter rough, billy
country called the "Cotos," which, gradually
ascending, all at once, brings the traveller to
the summit of the range of hills
which bounds the renowned valley,
and where he sees it spread out
before him like vast panorama
the bright emerald green of its gently I'm
dulating surface unbroken save by the soft,
silver thread of the winding river, basking
in the summer sun, and with its mute but
eloquent invitation ever borne upon the
balmy air, "Come over and furrow u.s.
From the finest part of this valley, COM
prising an area of something like 200 square
miles, the county of SPHINX has been organ
lied, with Ashton as the county seat, and in
the nature of things must soon become a
very important point. Just sixty miles west
of Watertown the Winona q st. Peter rail-
road have survey already made connecting
| the two points, while line down the river
forty miles connects it with the Tracy
branch. One or both of these lines will be
built without doubt this season. Recognizing
| fine location for thriving town in the
| near future, some two years ago the enter
prising firm of Bowman Bros. & Packard
located about 1000 acres in that vicinity,
securing valuable water power and plating
some eighty acres adjacent to it, one-half
| of which they very wisely decided to the Al
| bert Lea colonization, a society who are fast
locating families and improving the country.
To the thousands of young men of the land
who want chance to ego west and grow up
with the country" either as farmers, me-
chanics, merchants and manufacturers, pro-
| fessional or business men, we say, Go and
see this land and choose for yourselves.
With the opening of the season 81. P.
Packard will open a general store at Ash
ton, while preparations are being made to
put in a six run mill and establish other
branches of business. Take the Watertown
route and see Sphinx county before you
locate elsewhere. SPECIAL.