Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-01
FROM DAKOTA.

EDS. MISUNDERSTANDING that perhaps a few
items of information, If lOa choose To call
them such, from this part of the the land
of promise" would be acceptable, I viii try
Aurora county is sittasted i'll the southeastern
part of Dakota. II was organized in August
1881, and is torE.sight miles from north to
south and twenty-four miles from east to west.
1t has population ut present of about three
thousand IKE hundred, prinei sasly from Iowa,
Wisconsin,. Illinois, Ohio, Ind ana New
hundred and fifty people. The c. NJ. & st. p.
traTerses 1t from east TO west. This county
Hills are situated in the north western part
of the county, and extend southwest TO the
Missouri. In these hills are lakes and springs
and beautiful valleys, some OF which are several
several townships in the hills that are not yet
opened up but will be seon.
Plankinton, our county seat, is situated OH the
C. NJ. Il st. T. R. r. twenty -four miles west of
Mitchell. 1t was Incorporated about the first of
September. 1t has population of about seven
hundred. The village board have ordered the
machinery, and expect to have an arteSian
well bored next week.
In Plankinton are the following business
merchandise, one dry goods and grocery, two
drug, three fewelry and two furniture stores
one millinery, one boot and shoe store, three
hardware, three agricultural implement ware
houses two coal dealers three lumber yards
five hotels and two boarding houses one res
tauranG two bakeries; two meat markets. two
stables; two dray lines; one shoemaker; one
photographer: one dentist; one barber; twelve
real estate agents; one bank; hve attorneys; two
physicians: two ministers; three newspapers;
two school houses; one public hall; one church
congregational; one Sunday School; two
church societies-M; E. and Congregational; one
A. q. L. W.; one literary society; one w. C.
7. u; and last and hope the least two billiard
halls. Which | think is a pretty good showing
for town which had very little but a name
a little over year ago.
Having given partial description of the
country in general, l Will give you a poor bI6
brief description of the soil, climate, yield of
crops, Mater nc. The soil is of black los6Sl,
varying In depth from twoI to six feet. UE,aer
this lies deep sub-soil, which from what
have seen of it is about twenty feet deep This
suSsoil Is productive. Corn planted IN some
shrown up from a depth of twenty-five feet,
grew to a hight of five feet The climate from
what we have seen of it, is delightful; whar
the winter will be remains to lie seen. The
days have been warm with generally slight
breeze blowing over the prairie. making it
pleasant for working. The nights are Invariably
COOL SO that after working hard all day. we
can lie down to rest with some c.smfort. As
for the wind that teaEs the the clothes to
pieces on the line. l would say have fniled
to experience such %ind. As far as my
knowledge of the matter goes people in Dakota
have their wash day same in Wisconsin,
and dry clothes and pick them i'll as whole as
they put them CIT, In all the haying season
We had but ore day in which hay could not
be stacked with pleasure, as far as far the
we had slight touch of winter, and q little
spo@ fell But it is fine again. and from APP
pearances the farmers will be able to, plss.s in
4 day two.
Crops ON the whole yielded wsa. as most
were planted on sod ground. Oats kent as high
IS seNenty-ive bushels an acre CIR old ground
and fifty bushels on sod. Whest went as high
as forty bushels to the acre. Sod corn yielded
from twenty to forty bushels, and corn on old
ground from fifty to sixty bushels. Late VIZ
rieties that We're planted produced lage stalks
but not much corn. What this country needs
is an early variety esG corn. Parties who have
been in the territory two three years and
have had charge to test the soil, say that
what is needed Is deep planting. No matter
how dry the season, they say, if the grain is
planted deep it viii grow and produce good
crop. Onions potatoes turnifs and all kinds
of vegetables yielded iromensely>
The water is free from alkali. Il runs in
channels, and unless you strike tie channel
you have to sink pretty deep; Saless you have.
a dry gun. or draw, they are sometimes
called on your land. If yoa have dras.
found.
Thinking that perhaps This is enough OF
Dakota for once, will close with three eieers
for Hastings and the prohibition party
THOMAS JACEs