Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-12-21
LITTER FROM DAKOTA.

STEELE, Dec. 8, 1882.
Mr.. EDITOR-IIaving lately left the
favOrite haunts of old Ohio, and came
out here to take advantage of the open
ings and inducements offered in the
Golden Northwest" | thought it not
inappropriate to drop you line regard
ing Dakota and its many opportunities.
L have travelled over the greater portion
of the territory with Il view to locating
in some good town, and embarking in
the livery business, and finally decided
to locate at Steele, Kidder county, a
prosperous and booming young town on
the Northern Pacific Railway between
jamestown and Bismark Located on
high table land overlooking lovely
valleys and picturesque region of the
territory stands the young queen of the
prairie, which last May was only a burg,
but to-day has twentyseven fine resi-
dences, fine hotel, depot, two large
boarding houses, five stores, two lumber
Yards, a good court house. fine livery sta
BILE, barber shop, laundry. the finest hen
merry in the world, constructed on the
latest modern mprovements-and be-
sides there are contracted for at present
writing two stores, twelve houses, two
churches, bank with $4,000 capital ,an
elevator with 100000 bushels capaci =
ty. and other improvements too numer
Gus to mention. The country in all di-
reclions-eaSt, west, north and south
is beautiful undulating prairie, justroll-
ing enough to give perfect drainage .and,
by the way, allow me state right here,
that it would afford an excellent field
for sheep-raising. for it has all the ma
tural advantages for this important in
lduStry. Owing to tie perfect natural
system of drainage, farmers can seed
early in the spring, andI assure yon
tnat the farms produce as luxHraHL
crops as are usual anywhere in the vast
domain of the fertile Northwest. The
soil is that rich. prolific. black. prairie
loan. from two to four feet deep, as rich
and inexhaustible as any in Dakota, un-
derlaid with mari and clay subsoil in
/ fact, having all the constituent elements
which go toward comprising the perfect
land for wheat growing, and the grade
is always No. hard. Oats, rye, barley,
and vegetables of.allkmds are produced
here in abundance and of the most mar
.yelouSi size. .It srH-sag Zan .lt -
/ Pure water, one of tile essential aug
mentations to mans happiness, free
| from that injurious ingredient alkali, is
found at from 80 to 40 feet under ground
The average yield af f.;wheat this year
was from 80 to 80 bushels per acre; bar
! ley AZ and oats So, and this is nothing
/ tuncommOn.,..i,; .sa.J-. -5---f -. ii-H.-
Richard Balph. civil engineer. eOf1 the
N. p. Railroad. says that We have the
richest and best soil in Dakota, and on
account ofthe peculiar nature and uni
/ form rainfall. are sure of better crops
year afteryear than in any other 1ocali
ty in the territory; and now allow me tC
state that anyone harboTing the idea OF
coming Wpstlin the spring. could not d.
better than TO go direct to this marvel,
Gus "Eden"-grand wonder of the nine
teenth centHry--fOr in it are 10 be found
all the advantages man can desird t.
embark in a diversity of industrials
whether it be in the mercantile, manu-,
featuring. professional or agricultural
departments, It matters. not Those
wishing to get in possession of land can
do so adjacent toSteele,by securing home
lstead presumption tree claim, or by di-
lrect pnrchase-and to secure these open.
i ings it will be necessary to take advan-
tage immediately, for in less than a
years time the place will he filled to
overhowing by others. who see in ibis
fertile region the realization of theiJ
fondest hopes. The most vivid imagi-
nation cannot do justice to the bright
future which lies before Steele, and the
productive surroundings. Suffice it to
say, with all these natural advantages
i in its favor, i can conscientionsly assert
that before another year rolls over us,
/ our pride of. Kidder county will be re-
cognized as one of the most prominent
Towns in North Dakota, and the inhabi-
tants will be fiourishing in all the attri-
butes of greatness. and her, prosperity
shall be the envy and admiration of all.
] v ,,5dgrs ai IL. s5ta T,I,W..