Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-16
yANk1oN TO ST. LOUIS

A Proposition for q Limo of Road Which
Would Eventually Furnish an Outlet
for tho Whole James River Valley.
st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Below will be found a letter to q we'll
known commission firm here from MIR. Ed.
munds, q banker at Yankton, Dakota, or
the subject OF direct railroad connection be.
tween Yankton and st Louis:
YANKToN, DAKOTA.
December %, 1879.
Mssrs. Manson, BartAolou Dc Co.,:
GENTLEMEN :-Thfbugh a letter from
Capt.. Grant Marsh, I write you relative to
q direct railroad connection with ST. Louis,
X X
The Atkinson aud Nebraska railroad,
completed aud running to Lincoln. Nebras
ka, If extended northWard to Columbus and
Yankton, would furnish the desired connec-
ton. am advised that the line could get
aid through counties north of Columbus to
the Missouri river to the extent OF $780, 900
Distance 90 miles. The country through
which the line would pass is equal to any
to be found west Of the Missouri in an az
ricultural point OF view and now has quite
large and prosperous settlements. / feel
confident 1t would pay the merchants OF
your city we'll to look it, the project. IL
constructing this line to Yankton 1t would
give your people and the people along the
line of road direct connection with Milwau.
kee via the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Pau
railway, which will he completed to this
city by July next. Over this line of road
we are seventy-five miles nearer to Milwau,
kee than Chicago, and the line is under one
management all the distance. Shall bt
pleased to see YOU, or hear from you or any
Of your citizens Upon this subject, and hopt
something will come of it in the near iu.
ture. Very truly yours. etc.,
NEWTON EDMUNDs.
This letter will no doubt be interesting te
the merch .nts of St. Louis, as the country
into which the proposed railroad is to ru1
is a rich and rapidly growing one. Dakota
territory,of which Yanktonj's the capital and
metropolis, is al immense region into which
there ia pouring a tremendous tide of ian.
migration. 1t has an area of $50, 900 square
miles, or about go, 100000 acres, and is large
enough for three ordinary states. It is rich
in soil as we'll as minerals and has a climate
remarkably mild for a country so far north.
There is to-day more life and energy in
Dakota territory than in any other state or
territory west of the Mississip pi. Y.nkton
county in which the town Of Yankton is
situated, is one OF the Oldest in the territory,
and has a population If about $4,000 and
property assessed at ST., 593, 900. The rate
of taxation is only 10 mills and there il
plenty Of money in the county treasury. II
Is not surprising, then, that things up there
should be in a prosperous condition. The
city Of Yankton has a population of 5000,
and the business done there il immense.
St. Louis has had some trade there through
the STEAMBOATS,, but railroad connection with
Chicago has about destroyed this. If ST.
Louis wishes to reap any benefit of the
business that is rapidly growing up in
and Dakota territory, she must
look out for better railroad connections.
There seems to be something practical about
he suggestions of Mr.. Edmunds in the
lbove letter.