Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-25
The Natural Wealth Of Wonderful
Country Being Rapidly Developed
bv the PlOW Of the Husband
man and the Pick of
the Miner.
THE CELEBRATED bad LANDS
A PARADISE FOR STOCK
RiISERS.
Maudan, the Commercial Seat Of this
Wide Domain.
Especial Correspondence of the Globe.

MANDAN, Feb. 81, 1SS2.-The Missouri
valley is the new Gland of promise" Recently
as its claims have been presented to the public
they are being recognized to such an extent as
to cause heavy immigration, and the indiea-
tions are that the coming spring will see a
large stream OF settlers flowing to the
prolific region west of the Missouri
river. 1t is a section regarding which much
less isknown. than of the east of the river. The
line of the Northern Pacific railway when it
rived at the Missouri remained for a long
time stationary, and Bismarck was the ad-
vanced post of civilization. Now, with
three hundred miles of finished road west
of that point an immense territory is opened
up; and the current, which at first set slowly
towards that region, with the fuller informa-
ton that now exists regarding the wonderful
advantages, and their varied character, of the
Missouri slope, bids fair to
become, ere long, veritable
torrent. The peculiarities of the country west
of the Missouri are of such nature to attract
irresistibly those in search of new homes, so
inexhaustlble are its resources. Unlike the rest
of Dakota, heeastern portion, where wheat
raising is the principal avocation, here
agricultural products are of more varied ma
ture. There are, however, in this favored
section unequalled opportunities for engaging
proAtably in wheat culture. The soil is rich
deposit of black vegetable loan, varying from
six inches to four feet in depth, and
contain all the ingredients necessary to the
production of all kind of grain and root crops
in the creates abundance. Beneath the rich
top soil is clay subsoil containing those
animal salts so necessary for perma
neney of the productive power of the
land. The country is well watered there be-
ing very many streams whose banks are
skirted with good growths of timber, princi-
pally cottonwood and ash. The drainage
therefore is excellent, and the soil is drier in
the spring than on the more level
parts of Dakota, and the seed,
as a rule, can be put in the ground earlier. All
the wheat that has been raised in this region
has been of magnificent quality, having graded
No extra hard. 1t is not only the large
yield but the superior quality of the wheat
raised that is attracting SO much attention
towards this country. Expert testimony has
been given, by practical Minneapolis millers,
that it excels in quality any grown in the
eastern sections of Dakota. Corn. while not
having been grown to any great ex-
tent, has yet been produced of
ity. Enough has been raised for
home consumption. Some immense crops of
potatoes have been raised, averaging three
hundred bushels to the acre, and of a very SUI
perior quality.
In regard to the climate, it shonld be re-
marked that the winters are milder than they
are further east, the springs earlier and the
falls later. 1t also appears to be west sof the
region liable to hurricanes and tornadoes. In
deed the coniguration of the country is of
such nature as to preclude the possibility Of
such storms. The signal service reports give
mean temperature for the Missouri valley
very much higher than for the region east, and
for long distances south The charts pre-
pared for the use of the service indicate an
isothermal line, which, entering the valley, a
hundred miles below Mandan, passes IN a
northwesterly direction into the British Pos
sessions, where it makes an abrupt turn to
the south and proceeds, west of the Big Horn
mountains, through Wyoming, Colorado,
aud into Arizona, whence it returns
to the north. This isotherm is one of forty
five degrees. Such degree of mean tempera
ture is one of the most bene6cent in its in
fluence on men, animals and crops 1t gives
also the key to the reason why stock on this
splendid slope requires no attention or housing
during the winter season. The cattle at this
time Of the year are all looking well. All are
in condition at for the butcher. The Knife
s ,oek G Tsss1s the well P'raS ~sterea
and timbered, the timber being chiefly oak.
Here the natural grasses are richly nutritious
and plentiful, cattle can range all the winter
and turn up in spring in excellent crndition.
Here, too, game is plentiful. The writer
saw several herds OF antelope and
deer, the sleek, well-fed appearance
ofwhch amply testified to the fattering prop
critics of the ''bunch" grass which everywhere
in that region grows SO luxuriantly. At An
telope station, little over ninety miles from
Mandan, the Knife river is about five miles
north of the railroad. After flow
ing in rounding course in
northwest direction, it empties into the
Missouri about twenty-five miles north of
Mandan. The best portion of the Knife riv-
er country for stock purposes is the portion
beyond Antelope, the other part being better
for agricultural purposes.
LITTLE HEART VALLEY.
The Little Heart valley is fine district of
country. The valley is fourteen miles in
length and almost seven wide, with three
streams of water flowing through it. 1t is
one OF the most picturesque as well as fertile
ing it's western limit, about five miles fro:a
Mandan, is situated Fort Lincoln.
From Maudan out to Fogarty, distance OF
nearly 40 miles, no better farming lands
exist anywhere. AT the latter point the road
enters the "Bad Lands" about which so much
has been written. 1t is truly wonderful
region. lily adapted for agricultural purposes,
i is one OF the best regions in the world fol-
stock purposes, not second even to the Knife
river country. Here stock can never starve
and never require shelter. The grass is al
ready foot high before it has even fairly
started on the plains. From time immemo
rial the "Bad Lands have been
the region for the congregation in droves OF
the buffalo, deer and antelops of the entire
slope during the winters.
YELLOWSTONE VALLEY.
Passing through this region the Northern
Pacific enters the famous Yellowstone valley
This division of the road is being
rapidly pushed to completion. Work
has progressed all the winter, and every traiI
ssto the front" has carried with it gang o
men to join the army already in the field
When finished the development of a rich min
ing region Will be much facilitated Alread,