The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-07-11
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- - - gteDS3y q NO. A4S0
Wheat- y 1isA oeoeiou Of Country
Descriptions q TIE Cstass
enA EoWnslm he County-
81 ~ Otiet 1oess.
PEsnrxA, June 93.-Ahout fifty yeass
40 before The StaEs Of Minnesota he'd IN
existence, that hmous s,aide, Pierre Bot.
aneau began plotting across the great
desert plains parties of emigrants nom
the northwestern British possessions to
Fort Smelling, then the most advanced
post Of the United States Government.
Some Of these elnigrants from tile north
remained near Fort Smelling and were
the first settlers Of what u now known -
the State Of Minnesota.
Commodore Kittspn Of st. Paul came
70 Minnesota from the Hudson Bay Com.
pany. and other Of our distinguished men
may be traced back thsoush antscedents
from this great company.
Since Minnesota looks 10 this northern
iorler for its beginning, It must be inter-
csting to see what there 10 now ON this
northern border.
A chapter Of interesting incidents
might he written pertaining to the border
quarrels and the feuds that took place
before the international line was pern,sn.
emily established.
Many columns could be filed with the
history Of the Hudson Bay Company,
whose existence dates back hundreds Of
years, and which has become the veal.
thiest company IN the world. In its
business enterprises this company has
established trading posts at such distan.
cs.s from its headquarters that 1t can truly
be said ~ have unknown wealth in goods,
furs and barter scattered over its tllous-
al,,ls ofsquare miles Of territory.
Just across tie line at West Emerson
We find the nearest store of the company.
Penbina began its existence under the
patronage of the Hudson Bay Company,
under the erroneous supposition that it
was within their lines, but the fnal e.
tablishment Of the boundary caused the
removal Of their stores and business in.
terests.
The boundary 10 now well defined BY
iron and wooden Posts and We can see
the royal colos ON one side and the Stars
and Stripes on the other.
In 1851 the United States Government
established custom he use ut Pembina.
which represented about ell the business
OF the town for many yeau.
We pass without detail the long wears
OF Indian trading, the time Of the sVoya-
geurs." the trains Of Red River carts, etc.,
all Of which seemslike q romance in view
Of the solid Improvement Of 1884,.
PEABINA COUNTY
is bounded on the east by the Red River,
which separates 1t from the States; on
the north by the British Pass, ON the
west by Cavileer County, and on the
south by Walsh County, embracing about
forty-seven townships in area. Of these
forty.fOur are full, and the fractions along
the river and the border amount to about
three townships more.
The surface is level prairie, excepting
two series Of ridges running north and
south through, the western part of the
county, called Gem Mountains. These
ridges are about five miles apart, and are
hills, with table lands, and good soil for
culture, rather than. mountains, as one
would be led to suppose from the same.
Few lakes are found in the county, and
none Of any extent; but the land 10 we'll
watered by numerous streams that flow
rapidly through the farms.
The rapid current Of these streams has
cut for them deep ravines. 30 that the
hanks are high, extending like deep
canal through the country. For example:
the Pembina River that flows into the
Red River at Pembina, flows at the rate
Of six miles Per hour, making fall Of
distance Of thirty miles. The rapidity
OF this stream and its deep banks render
it practicable to build dam at any point
and establish at small expense valuable
water power, for tho banks are sufficient
to hold an Immense supply without dam
ger of damage to the valuable farms by
overflow.
Near Pembina the river is twenty feet
deep ut present, but at low stage it is four
to six feet deep, and forty to fifty feet
wide. This is the best timbered country
in Dakota east of the Missouri River rs
conceded by all, for the streams have
extensive belts of timber and the same 10 |
true around each hill or mountain. The
land has all been surveyed and taken ex-
cept small amount in the western part
Of the county. There an opportunity still |
remains for the employment Of home.
stead and presumption rights.
THE SOIL
N depth and strength SURPRISES any
known. The surface mould is usually
;wenty-four to thirty inches deep,
with clay subsoil, like the rest of Da-
kota, except in the deptl, of the surface
mould. To illustrate its strength. similar
and within Manitoba has been cultivat-
ID for forty years, and good crops still
although the land had never
eturned to it any fertilizing material.
About one quarter of the land in the val.
ey IL under cultivation.
The soil Of the county is we'll adapted
o the general farming, and the spontan-
't'us growth Of grass, valuable for hay, is
still the attention of farmers
,as been wholly directed to the produc-
ion Of wheat crop, a. an index of the
arming industry. The average yield for
he season 1883, ON land sowed to wheat,
va6 nj least twpnf, h,,ohoIc ord T., ,.,...