Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-06
BEAUTIFUL AND en1eaps,s,ss.

tho civiliziDg race in the Dakota north
west are found in the pathway Of an ex-
ploring expedition of subjects Of the
British crown up the Red River OF the
North IN 1872. But the results OF the
first exploration of the Red River valley
were slower in being brought about than
that which followed the voyage of dis.
covery undertaken along the upper
Missouri by Lewis and Clark in 1903.
and the published report of the same in
1914.
The first white settlement in Dakota,
properly speaking, may be said to have
been at Sioux Falls in 1856. The first
settlement of Yankton followed about
two years later, and upon the orgapizs.
tion of Dakota territory in 1861 Yankton
was made the capitalize propriety of
its selection and its fitness Of location
being at that time unquestloned.
During the Indian scare of 1882, fol.
lowing the massacre OF that year in Mn
nesota, the settlement Of Sioux Falls was
abandoned. the reoccupation of the site
as military post taking place in 1865,
and the settlement of the present pros
porous city of Sioux Falls being under
taken in earnest some ten years after.
1t looked for while as if Dakota ter
ritory, then but year old, was going to
be abandoned altogether to the savsRes,
and such undoubtedly would have peen
the case but for the determined stand
made by the settlers at Yankton.
HOW THEY HELD THE FORT AT YANKTON,
They were brave band of true and
tried Dakotaians who built the stockade
around the cluster of houses at Yankton
In 1852, and who held the fort they had
established in manner to ward of the
impending attack q the Indians.
For miles around, the fleeing settlers
whose isolation oD what was the Dakota
frontier put their lives in extreme jeop-
ardy, had set out for Sioux City, Iowa.
Those of them who stopped at Yankton,
on their way down the river we're sur.
prised to see the preparations for de.
Tense undertaken so thoroughly, and for
the most part were glad to accept the
shelter and hospitality afforded by the
courageous citizens of the young capital.
1t was thus that Yankton held the fort
for all Dakota in the year 1862. and
from that year to this, from the pioneer
period proper of the territorial growth,
through the ox-cart stage of settlement,
during the years of patient waiting for
the railroad to overtake the tide Of i'm
migration, and on down to the Dakota
boom of to-day, you will find that Ysnk.
ton alma mater of Dakota, has ever led
the way IN the various movements on
this soil looking to the highest resliza.
ton started in the free American west
under the auspices of the time Ne live
/ in -o11 ono NJ o1nnEeS0;kc. Al, 6@,sSsS.
the phenomenon of discovery and devel.
opment.
THE OLD AND THE NEW IN DAKOTA,
Up to 1870, two.thirds of the popula-
ton of Dakota lived in Yankton, CLAY
and Union counties. There was no talk
of capital removing in those days. With
all the growth and development of the
past five years, the center of population
in south Dakota is still east of the james
river, and as far south, think, as forty.
four degrees of latitude. The greatnes.
of Dakota, truly is beyond even the com
plehension of to-day. The nearer til.
center Of population approaches the geo
graphical center of the proposed new
state, the grander the outlook will ap
pear.
During all these intervening years be
tween the birth of the territory and the
beginning of the boom, the people O
southeastern Dakota have been ouietl,
but effectively multiplying their re
sources. Tie writer has remarked il
previous letters from Yankton upon th
similarity Of this portion OF Dakota t.
! the more settled sections of Illinois an,
Iowa.
It is, IN fact, the extention westward
by little north, of the corn belt of th
United States. In this region wheat ha
ceased to be the principal crop, and will
the single exception of fax, no grain j
raised for export to speak Of.
II In Yankton county, for instance, th
wheat raised this season goes to th
home Touring mills, the flour produc
returning to the farmers and going t.
the citizens Of this city and adjoininI
towns.
WHERE CORN rs KING.
A good deal of the fax this wear vii
go into the tow mills at Yanktol
and Scotiand-although at the latte
, point, said to be the greatest fax marke
in the United States, over 100000 bushel
of fax will be shipped abroad besides.
The oat crop is just about sufficient TO
home consumption in this county, wher
: the best of horse flesh is making its an
pearance, and the brood-mare is gettin,
to be found on every farm.
Corn is the staple crop, and is all th
more king tor being fed to the fine cattl
, and hogs raised in this section OF Dakots
T The farmers of Yankton county hav
, come to realize the fact that their cor
will bring the highest price in the forr
, of pork and beef, and are rapidly turnin
t their capital into live stock The argu
A ment is plain and irresistible. If on
, bushel OF corn makes 101a pounds G
: pork, gross-and it will, for we have th
y proof Of it-then, when corn costs fift
-. cents per bushel, pork costs five cent
, per pound, and from these figures 1t is a
. easy as pleasant for every farmer t
calculate for himself just how muc
: money there is in his corn crib. Th
q introduction OF the pork-packing indul
! try at Yankton, concerning which I sha
speak further on, will tend to raise th
i price of the corn in pork, and increa.
{ the wealth OF the county to an apprecii
r BILE extent.
i. SELF SUPPORTING PEOPLE.
The beef cattle shipped from Ysnkto
are graded among the choicest receive
: at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago
8 It marks an auspicious day in the hi
{ tory of new agricultural state whe
n the raising of stock for the best market
becomes the leading industry of ii
farm.
r Besides cattle and hogs the farmers
q Yankton county are raising sheep, On
!. of the wool product this year one.thir
will be taken BY the Yankton Woole