River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-07-07
Letter from Dakota.
GRAND Forks, d. T., June 20, 1891.

account OF things as have seen thenls
The whole OF Red RIVER Valley is low and
level, and this spring it has been very wet
Seeding was much retarded, bat few farmers
finishing before the first OF June, and some
not until the fifteenth. The last so, lug was
of flax. The expected yield OF wheat IN this
valley is 40 bushels per acre, but if we are
permitted te estimate this years yield by
the present appearance Of the crops, we will
not put the average above II to Is bushels
per acre
West Of Grand Forks the land is dryer for
a distance OF tour miles than it on the oppo-
site side of the river, there being ravines to
carry oft the surplus water. Crops here are
excellent Then the surface becomes flat
and level, much OF which is still covered
with water; some of the settlers have at
| tempted to open mp farms, one-third OF
| which was not put into crop, and Tor dis
lance of eight miles it is the same. Team
sters with loads find much difficulty in
getting over the roads. Then we reach a
place called Stickney, a thriving little town,
less than one year OF age. Here is the
terminus of the railroad which is TO be built
through to Fl Totten. Just east Of Stickney
| is what is called the Salt Cody, with beau
tifu stream OF water ripping over hand
some bottom Of stone and gravel, although
man or beast be ever so thirsty they will not
| swallow even one sip OF the crystal liquid
West OF here the surface is gently broken
with some good farming land, and OCCASION
ally sioughs or marshes. The best land here
is occupied by farmers who farm the dry
parts only. For eight miles there is little or
no change Near Turtle River the land is
somewhat stony, but dryer. Here is nice
stream of soft water with a sand and gravel
| bottom Here is the first timber we have
seen since leaving Red RIVER, and the little
here is OF a scrubby nature. There are small
groves Of oak, elm and cotton wood
scattered all along the stream. As we leave
| a ri no "
out to broad basin that is very marshy, or
at least that is the conclusion we arrived at
| when we saw the Indians who were hauling
| supplies to the fort unload as much OF their
| carriage as possible and go through with
their wagons i'll various ways, then retnrn
| with their oxen and chains and drag the
| barrels through the mud, one at time. On
passing along we come to higher grounds.
Here the soil changes from black muck to
sand and gravel Another eight or ten miles
has been passed over and the Turtle River
has divided. We now cross the North Fork
| with high hills on eitf n side. On coming
to the hight of land Ie soil is a sand and
gravel still; roads as uiC - rs turn pike, but
the soil soon changes as we approach low
| valley that is about six miles wide; here the
soil is a black sand loan from is inches to
feet in depth. This is BLK Valley. Here is
| land that in soil and location is unsurpassed.
| Here We could discover no alkaI. THIS is
the new survey. The claims are all taken.
| They were nearly all taken before II was
surveyed. To the north IS grove OF about
| 500 acres OF good timber. On passing
| through this valley we arrive on high table
land that is very broken and stony on the
| hills, or mounds, and the basins are either
| lakes or marshes There are some beautiful
| lakes, but for distance OF sixty miles by the
| way OF the old stage road we do not see
solitary bush or tree, and but one house,
and that is the stage station. We leave
| Stump Lake to the south; we pass on until
| we reach the north east arm OF Devil S Lake,
| passing down the east shore until we reach
| the Sioux Reservation; for this whole dis
| lance il is the same oneness OF soil and
| scenery. On the reservation is some beauti-
ful untitled farming land. The Indians and
| breeds live III the patches OF timber on
| the lakes and streams. They cultivate small
| fields, some OF them 8 acres. They raise
| wheat, beans, potatoes, and some corn. The
| Shyeune River is the southern boundry.
| This stream flows in deep narrow valley
| less than one-iourth OF mile in width.
| Here is also some timber. Along this stream
there is squatter in every clump OF timber.
| One OF them has been here seven years, AMI
| still the land is unSurveyed. This IS Is
miles south of Devils Lake. On arriving at
the top OF the mounds we find on the sonth
| some pretty farming country. Tie soil is
sand loan slightly mixed with gravel. Five
| miles farther is Lake Coe. Here is timber
/ again and some nice fresh water springs,
|
| Four miles further is Lake Washington
| Here is some timber, but the country is
more broken for a distance of "a miles south
| to Jamestown. There is no timber and little
| if any change oil soil.
| AS we return we take another route when
| we reach the reservation and make for the
| tort Fort lotion is located on n nice rolling
| piece of ground. There are three companies
| stationed here. We had conversation with
Major McGlethlin, the Indian agent, who in
| formed us that all of the land west and north
OF Stump Lake for 200 miles belongs to the
| Chippewas who are anxious to sell to the
government, which they will probably do at
| the next session of congress There are
many settlers taking claims i'll the timber on
| the north and west shores of the lake. There
! is on the north and west shores considerable
| timber On Graham's Island there are
| about 70 900 acres of hard wood timber
| There is reserve for the Post of square
miles of the best timber, including part OF
| Graham's Island. As we start east again
| we take still another trail which leads us
| along the southern shores of the lake
through more thickly settled portion OF the
| reservation, affording us many curiosities,
among them being the barbarious custom OF
| burying the dead. They plant four crotches
| i'll the ground, then place sticks and poles
upon them, then wind blankets around
| them, or place them i'll rude box and wind
cloth around it, then place the corpse upon
the top OF the CUUSiiQGliOll anu ASAfE IL ~
dry or something else The southern shores
| of Devils Lake are high and blutfy, and for
30 miles we follow the shores. Owing to
their height we have grand view OF the
lake and surrounding timber, which is most
beautiful. On reaching the southeast end
of this great chain OF lakes we take still
another route which will lead us through
the Stump Lake country which is about 20
miles ahead We look ahead with anxiety
only to meet the oneness as heretofore-a
broken prairie, stony hills, alkali Hats and
marshy basins. On nearing the lake we have
good proof OF much of this country being
once the bed Of the lake. Those lakes all
seem to be gradually drying away. DEVILS
Lake since 1868 has contracted 3 miles IN
length, being now only 35 miles long, and it
is plain to be seen that they all have de-
creased in proportions. The lakes being
strong alkali in settling away, or evaporat-
ing, as the case may be, have deposited the
alkaline properties in the soil, rendering 1t
of little or no Use, tie grass which grows
here covering only about One-half the
ground, exceptin the lnarshy places, where
there is big coarse grass which grows from
4 to 6 feet in height. Stump Lake is like
Devils Lake in many respects, expanding,
contracting, doubling, and twisting itself
into many shapes. 1t affords some beautiful
scenery The banks are low and i'll many
places there is no more than gentle slope
to the waters edge. This lake has also
sand and gravel bottom. Here we also find
some nice clumps of timber, though in
comparison with the amount that will be re-
quired, it is very scarce. South and east OF
here is a chance FOR some pretty good farms.
One OF the great troubles with this country
| is that So many believe that this place is an
Eden, or something better. Two-thirds OF
| the migrators turn back disgusted before
they reach the place for which they started,
| SIMPLY because they had believed the good
part only. This is as easy place to open n
farm as the world affords, though man
must have some capital to start with.
Lumber is very dear. Lumber which can be
purchased at the st. CroiX mill for S4 per
thousand, cannot be bought tor less than
goo here. The quality they ask $50 for Is
sold with instructions to be careful how you
handle it, as it is nice lumber; but you will
soon perceive that the care is directed to
something else, tor by very little jar the
knots will drop out.
Breaking can be done with one team, and
with II inch breaker; but in order to do
work it requires to horses, weighing from
1900 to 400 each, with a IA to IL inch
done the better. Backseting Is very neces-
sary. II it is not backset the crops will be
very weedy, as has been proven by farmers
who did not get time to complete their work.
p. +. RoBBY.
School Meeting.
Notice is hereby given to the quail
ral ~ School. #