Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-05-12


it. Some places the water is 50
impregnated with it that neither
man or beast can drink it, and other
places it is not noticeable.
There are many wells in Beadle
and Hand counties that contain
beautiful, fresh, pure water, and
Others near by which are rendered
perfectly nauseating with the pres
ence of alkali. Plenty of good pure
water can be obtained in all parts
Of the county. and on every tarm,
notwithstanding the alkali exists as
general. What effect this water may
have on stock is yet to be developed,
and what remedies may yet be dis
covered to counteract it are as yet
unknown. The presence of it in the
soil believe will be of great benefit
to certain crops, and especially to
wheat and tame grasses.
TIMBER.
There is no such word as timber
in a Dakota dictionary. You can
travel one hundred miles without
seeing any timber except the pegs
in your boots. | had great difficulty
while in Huron to get the loan Of a
piece of lath for a ruler to draw q
map with. A man that can afford
the stub of match that has been
lighted to stick in his overalls for a
button for his suspenders, is derlded
as an aristocrat, and is considered as
fit for nothing but d land agent.
There are a few willow, and coarse
box berry trees along Livingston
creek in Hand county, which |
have seen, and | am told that
there are few acres Of timber at
Rec Heights, twelve miles west OF
Miller, which | have not seen, but
will go there tomorrow.
TOWNS.
Three years ago there was not a
town on the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad from Brookings to the
Missouri river. distance of $50
miles, and now there are many, and
some of them are assuming city airs,
Huron is beautiful, healthy, thrifty
town. | was there three days, and
was much pleased with the country,
the location of the town and the
people; almost every kind of trade
and business is represented there
except saving wood and selling farm
produce The town is only two
years old and must contain about
1000 population, and but little land
was broken before last summer, and
there are enough Immigrants get of
the train there every night to eat up
all the hogs, cattle, horses, mules
butter and eggs that have been raised
III the whole county since it was first
settled.
j st. Lawrence, thirty-eight miles
west Of Huron and two miles east
of Miller, is quite an imposing town
and the first man squatted there
three weeks ago. Miller is a town
of about two hundred and is six
months old \ man is liable after
travelling over the prairie all day
seeking a homestead and timber
claim, to lie down at night. to rest
and sleep and dream of home
to wake up in the morning anc
find himself in the middle Of /;
street in a large town, with hote
on each side of him, a saloon at hi:
back, twenty -four land offices ii
front Of him, and sixty-fve lane
agents standing over him, with thei
arms and coat pockets full Of plat.
and maps, offering to take him eight
miles back into the country, to show
him some vacant land.
| will write you the details of thu
immigration that is pouring int
Oak Ia over the Chicago & North
western railroad i'll my next, but
am too much bewildercd now a
the maze of excitement that exist
to grapple with 1t.
| am stopping at the Contra
House, kept by G. J Gould, in Miller
Hand county. 1t Is the largest hote
in the town, but l cannot tel
whether it will be SO Tomorrow
morning or not. There may be
four-story brick built upon tn
European plan by that time.
Tie sidewalks are all built anC
the streets paved with prairie sod
The highways are wider here thar
in Wisconsin. The greater part D
them are forty-fve miles wide. Tn,
ROAD districts are one hundred mile
long, and are worked and kept il
repair by poll tax. The over
seer, when there happens to be ont
in the district levies a poll tax OIL
himself and then works i out OF
the al, and thus the roads ar,
always IN repair.
My next letter will be for tn,
especial information of those VIII,
contemplate going west.
o. C. SMITH.