Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-09
Central Dakota.

The following letter written by Il.
w. Sampson, formerly of this coun-
ty, gives an interesting description
of what is known us the Blue Blan-
ket country of Dakota:
BANGOR, Waworth county, d. r., Dec. H. 1884
Eds. Democrat: = Perhaps few lines from this
part OF Dakota may be Of at least some interest
to your many readers. l suppose long ere this
some of my old Iowa county friends have been
expecting to hear from me through the columns
of your paper or some other like medium. But
knowing the value of space in newspapers during
campaigns especially presidential campaigns
foreborc until your columns should become less
crowded. would say however, that the result
of the election hasn't increased or decreased the
value of Dakota soil; although the democrats
tell that since the election of Cleveland the
countcnauces of republicans have become at
least one shade darker. BE this as it may, we
Will try and give you our opinion of Dakota,
briefly. After travelling over the greatest portion
of the territory, finally struck what is known as
the Blue Blanket country, situated in Walworth
county. Any person in looking at the map will
readily see that am located at or near the geo
graphical center of the TERRITORY, and about
fifteen miles from the Missouri river. We have
had quite severe spell of cold weather for the
past two weeks-mercury indicating on the 10th,
18th, 18th, 10Th, both and 2lst inst IL 49, %, %
and II degrees below zero, respectively, Prior
to that time we had splendid weather. In fact
n great deal of breaking was done in the middle
OF November. The first frost that did any dam
age to corn came on the 2Sd of September. Now,
have heard great many who have made flying
visits to this territory, and Others who
have passed through the territory, mayhap,
on n train at the rate of thirty miles an hour,
positively declare that Dakota would not pro
duce corn. | have n sample of corn before me.
OF the ncnt variety. 1t was planted on the 10Th
of June, on breaking, and is us good as any ever
saw in any part of the country, planted at that
season. uowevcr / will not discuss its merits
further as l hope to lay n sample before We
editors ere l return in February, The wheat
crop was not quite as good this year as last: al
though Mr.. palrymple. the famous Dakota
farmer who had thirty thousand acres of The
latter planted had an average of about seven
teen bushels per acre. The oat crop is about the
same as in Wisconsin. Roots crops here are the
finest ever saw. 1t was common thing to see
a nice garden here last August on a piece of
breaking. Sowing the seed seemed 10 be about all
the attention which it received.
Upon the whole, l believe this Blue Blanket
country offers inducements TO settlers that can
not be surpassed in any part of Dakota, or the
west. The surface is gently rolling, and all is
ullable. The soil will average ttASee feet in
depth and lies upon gravel subycf SThere5s
plenty of water, and it is all good. Wood along
the Missouri is cheap, and within easy reach.
Just beyond the Missouri vast fields of coal have
been discovered, and Will soon be penetrated by
the railroads. The community is enterprising,
educated and wellto-do such, on the whole as
one never expects to find on the frontier. There
is still some land to be obtained, as the settlers
began 10 come in only last spring. Some govern
ment land can he found. Accomplishments are
procurable at low figures, and proved up claims
as yet low i'll price. Next season this country
will doubtless be reached by the road from the
east, and likely by one from the SOUTH The
companies are the t., NJ. x st. p and the C. &
( y. w, respectively, and both terminate about
| forty miles from the line of our county: conse-
Quenuy, in my opinion, those who procure land
I in the near future are most fortunate. l would
further state that many expect that congress will
repeal the timber claim and presumption acts the
present winter. If they don't there will be but
little land fit for agricultural purposes left by
next fall, in Dakota; and the homesteader will
be left out in the cold.
In conclusion, l would say that 1 have
thoroughly tested the water question on my
claim-hsving sunk well loo feet at which
l encountered such q volume of pure aqua that
it raised within So feet of the surface But
would state, however, that It is not necessary tc
so through the blue clay, as 1 did, TO get suff
cient water. Almost any claim holder can FIND
water within ilteen or twenty feet i. e. on top o
blue clay, if he but dig in the right place The
water runs in channels here. as in wiscontin.
have written much more than Anticipated
: But if anybody doubts which direction the lid,
! OF emigration tends he needs only to study tht
statistics TO be convinced that Dakota is the OBJ
jective point Of the majority. close by sayins
that receive The Democrat, giving the new
from Iowa and adjoining counties as usual.
Yours most respectfully,
R. W. SAMSON,