The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-05-02
Lelter kom DakOIa.
PIERRE, B. q AptiI25, 1883.

river, near the geographical centre of
the southern half of the territory Of
Dakota, is situated the booming young
city Of Pierre. But little more than
two years ago "the rank thistle nodded
in the wind and the wild fox (coyote)
dug his hole anscared," where now
may be seen this substantial town of
over thousand inha bitants. The To-
cation of Pierre is particularly favora-
BILE for the building up of large city,
aud it will be strange indeed if the next
decade does not witness a second
Kansas City here in the heart of Da-
kota. The distance from this place to
Deadwood is but 200 miles, and as
this is the nearest railroad point to the
Black Hills, it has become an outlet
for that poPulous mining district
The country lying between here and
the Hills is at present embraced in the
great Sioux reservation, but negotia-
tions are now pending, and it is con-
fdeDtly expected that within the next
year treaty shall have been made
with the Indians whereby they shall
relinqush all the land lying between
the White river on the south and the
CHEYENNE river on the north, and ex-
tending from the Missouri river on the
east to the Black Hills on the west
This will open up large territory of
! fertile land which will be directly tri-
butarv to Pierre, and as the Chicago
and North Western railroad will then
be extending from here to Deadwood,
this city will become the great distri'
butiDg point for all that country west
of here.
Emigra ton to Dakota during the
past few months has been most won,
derful. Every railroad leading into
the territory has been carrying
vast crowds of eager land seekers, and
there has been freight blockade on
every route since the rush began.
People are Aocking hither from all
parts of the world and it will be but a
few years until the government land
in Dakota shall all have been taken
up. The people who are coming to
this part of the territory are mostly
we'll to. do eastern farmers, who are
prepared with everything necessary in
order to make success Of farming.
Many young men, and uot few young
ladies, have come here from the east.
ern states and taken up government
land. The land is generally "pre-emp'
ted" iu which case it is necessary to
make a few improvements, and 10
establish residence on the place fol
+ the space of six months, at the end OF
which time the settler can "prove up
and obtain title by paying one dollar
and twenty-five cents per acre for land
. Residence is established by building u
! shanty (hers called a "shack") upon
the land ,and staying there at intervals
] Almost every business man in the
small towns has a claim some where
I near his place of business. Land is
a also taken up under the homestead
and tree culture laws, by either oi
f which the settler obtains the land free
. but the conditions are such that most
persons prefer 20 pre.empt. Although
it is possible to use all three rights
and thereby obtain 4S0 acres of land
> Pierre is decidedly a frontier town
and one can see sights here which are
visible only in the far west. Every
:. day the great DsadwOod stage departs
r for the Black Hills with its "Hanl
0 Monk" on the box, it's seats crowded
with passengers, and its mountain o
trunks and boxes stripped on behind
The freight wagons for the same desti
b nation are great immense affairs
o which are attached one bebinu th'
= other to the number of half dozen
q and are drawn by string of oxen a
J.. long as a funeral procession.
d "Poor Lo" may here be seen in al
o his glory; likewise Mrs. Lo, aud al
o infinite number Of little Los Uncl
e Sam provides food and clothing 70
!, these wards of the nation" and tn
AZ. o.t;.o. bor