Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-01-11

by their sharp edges and corners,
that they have not drifted far,
otherwise abrasion would have worn
them obtuse or probably smooth.
Rev. John Morris residing a few
miles north of Mitchell, d. T., who,
as a thorough scholar has no superior
in Dakota, being a graduate of Ok
ford, England, assured the writer,
last winter, that after a pretty thor
ough examination of the geological
conformation of Washington Hills, as
to Coal indications and probably out.
groupings of the same, he has no
doubt as to the existence of it at the
base of these celebrated hills, and
that it will yet be found, diffused over
a very large area of country. The
coal here alluded to is what scientists
call Ignite, a variety Of a more re-
cent creation whereas anthracite is
of more primary origin. The first
will be found near the surface and
appear in out groupings on the es-
carpment on hills, river banks etc,
as in the coal fields, OH the upper
Missouri.
The latter will be developed in
deep diggings, requiring a greater
outlay of money to find it, but who
will now attempt to say that under
our feet, as we travel over the surface
of our grand valley, rich deposits of
anthracite coal do not lie buried deep
under the debris of the glacial drift.
And now what a magnificent pros
pect, sir, does this consideration open
up to our mental vision. A most at,
tractive vision indeed, taking into &C
count the other natural endowments
to which you give voluntary assent,
and the removal of the objections
upon which you place SC much stress,
and this vision intensely frightened
in view of the acknowledged activity
and business capacity of our people.
Their conceded moral and religious
proclivities, intelligence and refine
ment. Is it any wonder that Dako
kotaians become enthusiastic, and
presume to challenge the world for a
counterpart?
It would seem that here the argu-
ment ought to close; but peradventure
you may yet entertain some lingering
doubt, you will pardon me. therefore,
for introducing one other evidence,
and then I will stop. We have here
in Dakota one other resource in the
way of fuel upon which we place con-
siderable stress. Allow me to remark
that this reliance is not based upon a
mere contingency, presumptive at
that, as you maypossibly denominate
the preceding one, but is based on
real, substantial, uncontrovertable
evidence, which, methinks, can not be
successfully antagonized; and that is
arbor-culture, or sylva-culture, just
which you prefer. Our people here
evince no little zeal in this direction,
and young groves of promising
growth present themselves through
out u valley, though but recently
settled, presenting striking evidences
of an energetic policy, which is des-
tined at no distant day, to eliminate
in a liberal supply, not only of fuel
but timber, for the economic wants of
the farm and the workshop.
1t is to be sincerely desired that
this zeal may suffer no abatement.
Dakota, though comparatively in its
infancy, presents in its older settled
portions, striking illustrations of the
foregoing declarations, creditable
alike to the planter of the beautiful
groves and the congenial properties
OF soil and climate, presenting
indubitable proof that our Territory
possesses eminent capabilities for the
growing of young timber. No one, I
presume, will question the utility of
such aconsummation, and its potter -
in more senses than one, in the v {,
of taste and refinement. What must
be tie mental status Of that pe1ges
whose soul is not enraptured by tie
spectacle of orchards and ornamental
grounds and cool, inviting shady
groves, scenery, as accessories to it's
beauty, and particularly where the
natural outline Is so charminRly
beautiful as that of our own.
It must be admitted that you IN
Michigan outrank us now in this par.
ticular sense, but this acknowledge
----1