Cooperstown courier., 1883-09-07
THE sHEYENNE VALLEY.


A Glorious Soil Where Honest
Men are Wont to Toll.
A correspondence the Portland Inter-
Ocean from town 14S, range 57-about |
II miles northeast of CooperstoWn-
speaks of that section of the county in
these glowingly truthful terms:
AS familiar as the song of 1.-THE Dying
Swami has become the name of the
Slleyenne country to the people in North
Dakota. 1t was first brought into mo-
tice by Fargo real estate dealer in
March, 1882, who reaped a reward lOcat-
ing settlers in the newly opened terri
tory. Maps, covered with contemplated
railroads and railroad centers, together
scattered to the four corners of the globe,
showing and telling Of the great new
wonderland ofgold, rubies and diamonds.
1t was not long after that hundreds
came seeking and procuring what Uncle
Sam was SO kindly offering, and but a
tshort time elapsed before the greater
part OF this golden body was exhausted.
They came from Scotland, England,
Norway. East, West, North, South, from
all quarters, climes and country, anX-
iously awaiting their turn at the wicket
which would grant them a slice OF the
bespportion of the land of No. Hard,
and obtained it. Some energetic land
shark who was far-sghted enough to
see that there was chance for specula-
ton, sent adrift the cock and bull story
of rocks, hills, sand, gravel, sWamps,
alkali, and numerous and divers things
calculated to bring disfavor and discour-
agement to any new country. That his
scheme failed is attributable to the i'll
doninitable pluck and energy that char
acterizes the hardy and determined pion-
GERS of border life. Several settlers re-
solved on giving the soil fair trial by
trial proved to them a bonanza, and the
rock and sand and swamp story died,
leaving the real estate man to look for
new fields in which to practice cut
throat games. Since that time the Shey-
enne country has rapidly filled up with
Il substantial class OF farmers who have
morey and stock and brains with which
they intend building up the best portion
of North Dakota. One year ago last
March not a single house adorned the
sheyeme valley, and to-day there are
over 400. Something over 5,ooO acres ,of OF
land have been broken and over 1000
, times this much will be torn up next
year, with the present amount i'll crop.
, The yield is quoted at from 25 to so BUSH
els to the acre, and of Il superior grade
and berry to any yet raised in Dakota.
Settlers are generally living their time
out i'm preference to proving up, thus
giving evidence that fraud and specula-
ton are not of that country.
The general character of the land is
rolling, gently rolling, and bears a stril<-
ing resemblance to the land in old east
ern states, where the wealth OfOurcoun-
try has been accumulated; the black
from two to four feet. with a rich clay
subsoil reaching ten feet farther down
which retains all the moisture necessary
for raising good crops, and u preventa
tive to drOutll. The grasses in thatcoun-
!. try are a high recommendation to the
productiveness of it's soil, standing as
high as four feet OH the level prairie
comparing we'll with the timothy and
finer grasses of the east. From many
eastern farmers we learn that This land
: : is superior to any they have get seen in
the territory, and it's prodnctiveness pal
excellence; is is a soil which will never
wear out, and generations will pass he
fore fertilixing is required.
h Regarding the water, we safely say il
cannot he excelled. Pure as the dews
from heaven. clear and sparkling as the
diamond, and as cold as ice itself. Nc
impurities can be found even after ii
has been scientifically analysed. 1t is
liken unto the spring water of the east
ern hills, and as soft as a tender mothers
love. Even tile lakes, which are alive
with the choicest pickeral, are soft and
pure. The settlement is almost, if not
quite, entirely American, and of the re.
fined and scholarly class, who have given
up homes in the east for more product
i've and healthful ones in the west
where all the general blessings may be
enjoyed alike. Here they have stakel
their fortunes and sowll the seed of sue.
cess. In consequence of SO promising {;
community, the vacant land is being
D rapidly taken, only Il few neglected quar-
ters being open for settlement. After
viewing that country it is not to he won
dered at that the immigrant sings:
'.Just west of Minnesota,
And beyond the Silv'ry Sioux,
Lies II country called Dakota,
Where the skies are ever blue"