The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-06-23
VIEW OF THE BOTTOMS.
The Flooded Region as Seen by . No.
braska Editor.
Poncs (Neb.) Journal.

A representative Of this paper recently
passed over the reconstructed railroad be-
between Sioux City and Vermillion thro'
the country that was SO badly wrecked by
the Missouri river food OF the past
spring. As soon as the Sioux river is
crossed, four miles out from Sioux City,
the work Of the watery element is to be
seem Many fields on which last year
were raised big crops of grain, are wholly
or partially under water, while in Others
farmers were seen blowing soil which was
SO wet that teams could scarcely go over
them without miring. Water marks we're
sometimes visible half way to the roof Of
house, while others on higher ground
had only received two or three feet Of
mud and water.
Arriving at Elk Point the first thing that
greets the eye is an imense lake, which
rolls ity waves within halt block Of the
school house, on the south side of that
town, and which extends distance of Is
miles, and has an average width of four
miles, thus giving to the inhabitants Of
that town and county fine inland sea Of
"a square miles. 40,96O acres. on which
many a sail boat, yacht, junk and other
craft ply their course. In fact sailing and
rowing seems to be the principal occupa-
ton Of many of the business men of that
town, who under the constant practice are
becoming experts in the management Of
the boat. And if they would ride at all
this is their only way, as liveryman in
formed me that there is but one road out
oftown that can be travelled by team, and
that is around the east end of the lake to
the river opposite Ponca. All the other
roads are yawning abysses Of mud and
mire.
The prospect for crop in that country
this season is far from fattering. All
unite in saying that but small per cen
tage of the bottom land can be cultivated
this year, but only two could be inducedto
give any figures as to what per cent.
would probably be. One, a merchant,
thought one-tenth the usual crop would
be put in, while another, farmer from
the overAowed district, that an attempt
would be made to farm not over one-6fth
if that. of the land which was titled last
year.
West Of Elk Point the matter grows
worse instead Of better. From half mile
above the town to the point Of the bluff
just below Vernllion, distance Of four
teen miles, the country is one contin
uous slough, with water from one to five
feet deep, and the whole Of which is grow
ing up to marsh reeds. This extensive
swamp is fourteen miles long, by an esti-
mated width Of eight feet, making 10
square miles, which added to the sixty-four
square miles Of lake south Of Elk Point,
foots up to the total Of l79 square miles Of
worthless lands this season between Yer
million and the Iona line. This water was
all left by the Missouri when it went down,
and where now arc lakes and marshes were
last year some Of the finest farms in that
country.
The damage to Vennillion has been so
often written Of, that we will pass that by.
The town is now rapidly building up on the
bluffs back Of the old site, where it will
never need fear the further aggression Of
the Missouri.