Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-01-20

Oulon faclIic, ana used with highly sat
isfactory results for domestic and manu-.
featuring purposes, is one of the notable
resources of the Hills.
Last year 100000 barrels of petroleum
and 100000 barrels OF salt were among
the products of the Black Hills. Both
oil wells and salt springs are but par
TALLY developed.
The pine forests of the Hills are very
extensive. covering the greater portion
OF their area. The mills cut last year
2O,OOO,O0O feet of lumber.
There are about 5000 people in the
Black Hills, mostly engaged in mining
or IN commercial pursuits, but many
being farmers, and more constantly be.
coming 80.
The valleys among the foot hills and
along the streams are very fertile, and
between these valleys are che low roll.
ing hills and level plateaus, which
present vast areas Of az fine wheat lands
as can be found anywhere. Probably no
other mining area IN the country is sup.
ported by 30 rich an agricultural
domain. 80
The grazing lands are the cream o,
free pasturage of the continent. At tht
present time there are 10000 head 81
cattle herjed on the plains Of the Black
lls-subsisting this winter on the luz.
uriant wild grasses that grow there in
abundance the year round.
The Black Hills will be reached con.
nected with the world without-by the
railroads within eighteen months 1t the
outside. Besides the roads I have spoken
Of as about to cross the Missouri river
gridironing Dakota as they GO, there is :
railroad, but little heard Of yet, that ha.
built up through northern Nebfaska
alone to the Niobrara river, and is nov
within 40 miles Of the southern end oi
the Black Hills, and under contract "a
the Pine Ridge agency, fifty miles furth
er on.
There has been no accurate repor,
made Of the wheat. barley, oats, flaxseed
and other crops raised in Dakota durina
1882. Not one.third of the crop has beer
moved yet, and great deal of grain re.
mains to be threshed. Farmers generally
have been disposed to wait for spring
rise in the market, and the fact that they
are able to hold on is an evidence Of
their prosperity, if it does pave the way
for corner in Chicago.
From figures furnished by the freight
department of the Chicago and North.
western railway, and the immigration
department of Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul, am safe, I think, in estimat-
ing that the wheat yield on an acreage
in cultivation of hardly 100000. acres,
within the boundaries Of the proposed
state was over 100000 bushels. An
average of twenty bushels to the acre on
new land does we'll enough as an adyer-
tisement for any country.
Dakota is liberally provided with Wig.
orousss young towns, situated at loca]
trade centers of Importance. and among
their number one can, count q score q
coming cities.
Deadwood, Yankton and Sioux FALL
lead the list at the present time with
populations ranging between 5000 and
1000. and are beginning to adopt mum
cipal manners and to pay attention K
public improvement.
The older towns, however, while Ger
tain in any event to become thriving
cities themselves, must look to their lau,
rels, lest with the growth of the state
some of the younger villages, equally oi
more favored by geographical situation
and natural or acquired advantages
change places with them before the next
census.
In the order Of present population
ranging from 1000 inhabitants down
ward, other prominent towns are to b,
named about as follows: Huron, Mitch
ell, Wate1town, Rapid City, Canton, Mil
bank, Pierre, Vermillion, Aberdeen
Chamberlain, Columbia, Redfeld, Madi
son, Plankington, CLARK, Flandreau
Brooklngs and Salem.
There might be more said, but nothinl
need be said in addition to what by wa
of facts has gone before.
When is Bakota to be admitted?
| LAUREN DUNLAP.