Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-09-18

thousand are expected before the season
closes. to locate between DEVILS Lake
and Turtle mountain. The counties
which will first be populated are Ramsey,
Cavalier, and Rolette. Grading is rapidly
going on, under the direction Of the en-
gineers Of the st. Paul. Minneapolis and
Manitoba railroad company, and the iron
Will be laid as soon as the secretary OF
the interior issues his order opening the
land to settlement.
Ten miles northwest of Devils Lake ls
q chain known as the Sweetwater lakes,
and the name is indicative of their
chsracter. Lake Mclaughlin lies be.
tween, about six miles away, and has it's
proportion of settlers. Going west,
across De Smet county,, one comes to
Lake Lillian, little fresh water gem,
surrounded by magnificent groves OF
timber, and few miles further west, in
McHenry and Botineau counties, the
famous Mouse river country is reached,
which in its natural advantages is not
surpassed anywhere. The surface of the
country throughout the entire valley,
which is from twenty to thirty miles in
width, is gently undulating, insuring
perfect drainage for every quarter Sec
tion, with but little or no ditching. The
soil in this region, if possible, is even
richer than that of the country to the
east. The channel of the Mouse river
will average about one hundred feet
wide, and it's banks are heavily fringed
with mixed timber, sufficient to last the
settlers for all time to come, as it will be
used, for the most part, for building pur-
poses.
In addition to the agricultural resources
OF this prolific domain, prospectors state
positively that almost inexhaustable coal
veins underlie large portion of the
valley. 1t ID of the anthracite variety,
and lying near the surface OF the ground,
no difficulty will be experienced in
mining it. Several valuable water pow
ers are found along the course of the
stream, and the water in the wells is
pure and cool. Arew squatters have al
ready located there, awaiting the time
when the land shall be placed in the
market.
The Turtle mountain region proper,
which lies along the boundary line, has
never heen thoroughly explored, but
those who have been there are very en-
thusiastic, and LieutenantC Creel, of Fort
Totten, who has just resigned from the
army to go into business here, says it is
the handsomest and finest coun-
try he has ever seen. He
knows more about it than any one, for
what surveys and explorations have been
made in the northern counties of Dakota
have been under his direction. The
mountain, or mountains, for there is a
cluster of them, cover an area many
miles square, and are covered with a
dense growth of timber, the largest area
and the most valuable quality that has
ever been discovered between the Min
nesota pineries and the Rocky mountains.
1t consists of oak, ash, elm, cherry. birch,
and other varieties. and the trees are
large and of great value for manufacture
ing purposes, The woods are full of wild
game-bear, deer, elk, etc.-and 1t has
never been hunted to any extent,
the antelope upon the plains be.
ing 30 plentiful that the Indians
have not gone into the forest for eithe,
sport or food.
| The south side of the mountain des-
cends in gentle rolls, covered with excel
lent grass, and the timber skirts along at
distances of from few rods to half a
mile from the base. Frequent ravines,
with gently sloping wooded sides, cut
out OF the mountain at intervals, and
rushing streams dash through the forest
to the plain about every mile. These
streams are always full showing the pres.
ence of springfield lakes somewhere in
the mountains. Some of them spread
out into marshes or broaden into lakes
on the prairie, while Others, after flow.
ing several miles, suddenly disappear
into Subterrapean passages
| The soil in the Immediate vicinity oi
the mountain, as we'll as for hundred
miles around it, is remarkably black and
rich. Where the streams have cut
through it appears at least four feet deep
with clay subsoil. The half-breeds and
Canadian Frenchman, who intermingle
with the Indians, have cultivated this
soil for years, and have raised prodigious
crops of grain and vegetables.
1t Is believd that there are rich depos
its of minerals in the mountains, and the
Indications of iron ore have attracted at
tention. The existence of vast quaint
ties OF coal is known, and it is of {
| superior quantity of anthracite. The
timber and fuel and the magnificent
water-power furnished by these mountain
torrents afford excellent opportunities
for manufacturers, and the day will come
when the correspondent who visits this
locality will feel it is his duty to commend
the enterprise which shall first develop
the remarkable resources and privileges
nature has provided.
| As to the agricultural advantages Of
the country, it is scarcely necessary tc
speak, and it is enough to say that the
soil is just as good as that of Red river the
valley, and when the energy which re-
deemed northern Minnesota by the erec
ton of the Manitoba railroad shalt be
felt here, this land will be all taken by
the thrifty farmers who are now com
mencing to come in.